Week 16 French Knots
Oh it is only French Knots, don't you believe it. There are over 20 variations on what we call a French Knot and as I couldn't fit them all on this sampler I decided to try four kinds of knots and three knotted stitches.
Firstly I tried in a perle thread but you can't see the differences so then I did them in wool, and it is still hard to see the differences. In the reference books French Knots can have anything from one to 5 twists around the needle. After that it becomes Bullion stitch. I then tried Chinese knots, I love these. They are also called the forbidden stitch because according to legend they could cause the stitcher to go blind, which I can well believe. I was fine with the isolated stitches it was when I tried to put them into a straight line that I started seeing double but I persevered and this is a stitch I will use again. Colonial Knots are two twists, one behind and one in front of the needle, I use this constantly. Danish Knots are worked over a little bar and this is a stitch I will explore further.
The three combination stitches were Knot Stitch, which is kind of like a cross stitch with a knot worked into it. Pistol Stitch, which is just a French Knot worked at the end of a straight stitch. Then there was French Knot Borders Stitch. This has been used a lot in French Embroidery and has great potential. Using different thicknesses of thread can change the look of the stitch but it stays a knot.
I enjoyed researching this stitch and found lots of interesting information about it's history and uses across the globe. Two articles I found interesting were;
Forbidden Stitch in Chinese Emboderies and
Needlework Through History: An Encyclopedia - Catherine Amoroso Leslie - Google Books
I loved the work in this doublet found at Reconstructing History.
Link to Pintangle Link to Flikr
Danish stitch is new to me - I can see I need to do more research!
Posted by: RachelandDesign | April 23, 2012 at 01:35 AM
You have put a lot of work into your research. Very interesting to read and see. Thanks for the links, too.
Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Queeniepatch | April 23, 2012 at 09:10 AM
I found all the history of these stitches fascinating. I found this in Mary Thomass Dictionary of stitches.
Posted by: Carolyn Foley | April 23, 2012 at 09:40 AM
Thank you.
Posted by: Carolyn Foley | April 23, 2012 at 09:42 AM