Anybody else have huge trouble with french knots? They never look right, and I can't get them to go how I want. In the kit I'm currently doing I can't see how the French knots I'm trying to do will end up looking anything like the picture. I hate them and I can't work out what I'm doing wrong and why can't I just use basic cross-stitch. I'm in a really odd mood today and this tiny little thing has made me unusually grumpy. I'm feeling like a complete idiot. Can anybody help me?

Many will try a colonial knot and others change to small beads so as not to have to do French Knots. I love the french knots and have never had an issue with them so I am not one to help but if you google them there are lots of videos out there to help you.

I eventally get the hang of it and then completely forget how I did it!

Grab a scrap piece of cloth and some floss from your stash (not your kit). Then find a video watch it and practice it over and over until you get it. It takes some practice for sure. Also, make sure you secure the floss behind some other stitches so that it doesn't come up while you're trying to make the knot. It may be useful to hold down the floss with another needle while you insert your threaded needle into the fabric. You want to keep that nice and tight all the way into the knot.

Though if there's tons of knots needed for the project, it may simply be easier to find some mill hill seed beads in a matching color to the floss you're meant to be using. There's guides online that will help you match the right color.

They don't take up a whole square so I just don't see how they can work, would it ruin the design if I just did whole cross-stitches instead of french knots?

As suggested do a test piece with and without the French knots and see what you think looks best

Practice, practice, practice. That's the only advice I have. Get a scrap piece, keep trying until you start getting the hang of it and they start looking right, then move to your piece. If I do them long enough I get the hang of it, but usually if I haven't done them for a while they look horribly wonky.

I used to find french knots a pain - and then one day it just clicked after I watched a video similar to this one. I find it easiest when your fabric is nice and taut in a frame or hoop and ideally you need both hands to get the right tension on your thread.

As everyone has said it's just practice, really! Mine used to disappear or the knot got halfway up the thread!

Now they're fine....apart from the odd one!!

Try a practice piece on different types of fabric...a long fine needle I found the best.

I think this one is quite good too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwlVR_WzbdE

Thanks, I have watched both videos and will do some practice ones. This kit was gift and didn't realise until I had already started that it actually has loads of french knots on it.

I agree French knots were a pain for me too.
What I did was get scrap fabric and thread look for a good video on you tube and watch it and copy them as you watch it. Do it a few times.

Now I find them so easy!

Or you could change French knots to beads give the project a totally different look

I hate them and totally agree with you! I avoid them at all costs! Good luck though. With enough determination you too can prevail! Practice makes permanent.

Can't help you sorry when I encounter a French knot I look hopelessly at my mom and hand her the piece. Magic happens

Actually LOLed on that reply.
I've found that tension is everything when it comes to making French knots. Tension on the thread around the needle as the needle goes through, as well as tension on the fabric such as in a hoop. I used to hate French knots with a passion, and now I see one in the pattern and think "eh...no problem"...and my first successful French knot was only about 2 years ago. The piece that really got my skills up when it came to French knots? Overlook Cafe by Dimensions....and I did two of them (one for mom, one for cousin's mother in law). There must've been about 30 knots in each.

I've found that tension is everything when it comes to making French knots. Tension on the thread around the needle as the needle goes through, as well as tension on the fabric such as in a hoop. I used to hate French knots with a passion, and now I see one in the pattern and think "eh...no problem"...and my first successful French knot was only about 2 years ago. The piece that really got my skills up when it came to French knots? Overlook Cafe by Dimensions....and I did two of them (one for mom, one for cousin's mother in law). There must've been about 30 knots in each.[/quote]

Agreed. Tension is important. You need to make sure that the thread is wrapped tight round the needle and keep it taut as you put the needle back down into the fabric - don't go down into the same hole you came up from, otherwise the FK will disappear, but go down close by. If you want larger French knots do more wraps around the needle or add more thread to the needle, but practice first to test the results. Good luck!

LOL! I love this.

I can't do them regularly, but I find that pulling up a youtube video and working the stitch in time with the video really helps. Pretend they're sitting right next to you, teaching you. Good luck!

I used to be so lost when it came to French knots! I just kept watching YouTube videos and one day it just clicked!

glad I found this as I have a couple coming up, the both videos are a big help! Although they make it look so simple.

I think I'm in the minority here but I find french knots fine.

I find using a sharp embroidery needle works best. It lets me go back down through the fabric slightly off from where I came up, without leaving any tell tale mark or puckering. I also keep the tension tight round the needle but not too tightly pulled through the fabric. I put the design on my knee when I do them, too, so that both my hands are free.

It took me a couple of attempts but i have no problem now. I must admit, beads give a more interesting finish.

Good luck and keep going.