pom pom in blue

French Knot

the french knot on knitted fabric

The French Knot creates a small bobble on any typed of fabric. Unlike working a knitted bobble it is easy to use a contrasting colour.

You will need:

  • yarn
  • tapestry needle
  • fabric

Technique

Bring the needle through to the right side of the fabric at the position where you want to embroider the knot.

Diagram showing the needle and thread position when beginning a french knot

Wrap the yarn over the needle twice.

Diagram showing the yarn wrapped around the needle

Return the needle point through the fabic at almost the same point it emerged (in tightly woven fabric you can return the needle though the same hole and the knot will not be able to squeeze through, knitting is often a bit too loose to trust the knots to stay in place). At the same time tug on the yarn to tighten the knot around the needle.

Diagram showing the yarn wrapped around the needle and forming the knot

Before passing the needle back through the fabric make sure the yarn has been pulled into a knot, flush against the fabric. Return the needle all the way to the wrong side of the fabric to complete the knot.

Links:

For some very clear step-by-step diagrams try:
Sublime Stitching.