French Knot Embroidery: How to Make Neat Knots That Stay Put
A French knot is a small raised dot made by wrapping thread around the needle and taking it back into the fabric next to where it came up. It is the stitch behind flower centres, animal eyes, berries, snow and every speckled texture in hand embroidery. It also has a reputation for being fiddly: knots pull through to the back, turn into loose loops or come out in different sizes. All of that comes down to three things, which this guide covers: where the needle goes back in, when you let go of the thread, and how many strands you use.
How to do a French knot, in short: bring the needle up, wrap the thread around the needle once or twice, keep the wraps snug with your other hand, and take the needle down right next to where it came up. Hold the thread taut until the needle is through, so the knot sits tight on the surface.
| Difficulty | Beginner, but takes some practice |
| Used for | Flower centres, eyes, berries, dots, fluffy and speckled textures |
| Thread | 2–3 strands of stranded cotton for a standard dot; up to 6 for a bold one |
| Needle | Milliner (straw) needle is easiest; an embroidery needle works too |
| Wraps | 1 or 2 |
What You Need
- Fabric in a hoop, drum-tight. Loose fabric lets the knot sink and pull through.
- A free second hand. One hand holds the thread taut while the other works the needle. A hoop stand or resting the hoop on a table edge helps a lot.
- The right needle. A milliner (straw) needle has an eye no wider than its shaft, so the wraps slide off smoothly. On a regular embroidery needle the eye is wider, and tight wraps can catch on it.
- Stranded cotton. Separate the strands and put them back together before threading: it gives rounder, smoother knots.
How to Make a French Knot
- Bring the needle up at the point where you want the knot. Pull the thread all the way through.
- Hold the thread with your non-needle hand about 5 cm from the fabric and keep it taut.
- Wrap the thread around the needle once or twice, keeping the needle close to the fabric. Slide the wraps down so they sit snugly near the needle tip.
- Insert the needle next to where it came up, one or two fabric threads away. Not into the same hole: there is nothing for the knot to sit on there, and it will slip through to the back.
- Keep the thread taut and push the needle down until only the eye remains on top. The wraps should stay snug against the fabric.
- Pull the needle through to the back slowly and steadily. Let go of the thread only at the very end, when the last of it disappears into the knot.
Move to the next knot on the back of the fabric. If the next one is more than about 1 cm away, secure the thread under nearby stitches first: long jumps on the back can show through light fabric and pull the knots out of shape.
How to Control the Size
To make a bigger knot, add strands, not wraps. Three or four wraps of two strands give a loose, wobbly knot that can come undone. Two wraps of four strands give a firm, round dot.
| Look | Strands | Wraps |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny dot: eyes, small speckles | 1–2 | 1 |
| Standard knot: flower centres, berries | 2–3 | 2 |
| Bold knot: big centres, snow, wool | 4–6 | 2 |
For a group of knots that should match, such as the centre of a daisy, keep the same number of strands and wraps for the whole group. How tightly you hold the thread matters too, so try to keep it the same.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The knot pulls through to the back | The needle went into the same hole, or the fabric weave is too open | Go back in one or two threads away from the starting point. On loose-weave fabric, add a strand. |
| A loose loop instead of a knot | The thread was released too early | Hold the thread taut until the needle is almost all the way through. |
| A big, fluffy knot that falls apart | Too many wraps | Use 1–2 wraps and add strands for size. |
| The wraps won’t slide off the needle | Wraps too tight, or the needle eye is wider than the shaft | Ease off slightly while pulling; switch to a milliner needle. |
| Knots of different sizes | Changing strand count, wraps or tension | Keep all three the same across a group. |
| The thread tangles and knots on the back | Thread twisted while wrapping | Every few knots, let the needle hang down so the thread untwists. |
Finished knots also flatten easily. If you need to move the hoop, try not to clamp it over finished knots, and keep stitched areas outside the hoop when you can.
Where to Use French Knots
- Flower centres. A cluster of yellow knots inside satin stitch or lazy daisy petals is the classic daisy.
- Eyes. One knot in 2 strands of black or dark brown brings a stitched animal to life.
- Berries and buds. Small groups of red or purple knots along a stem.
- Texture fills. Knots packed side by side create sheep wool, lilac and mimosa blossom, moss or snow.
- Scattered accents. Single knots as stars in a night sky or snowflakes around a winter scene.
French Knot vs Colonial Knot vs Bullion Knot
- Colonial knot: the thread goes around the needle in a figure-eight instead of a simple wrap. The knot sits a little higher and is easier to make identical, which is why it is popular in candlewicking.
- Bullion knot: many wraps (often 6–10 or more) pulled into a long coil instead of a dot. Used for rosebuds, small roses and curls.
If you are just starting, learn the French knot first: it is the one most patterns use. For an overview of all the basic stitches, see our complete guide to hand embroidery stitches.
Practice on a Real Pattern
Every pattern below uses French knots, along with other basic stitches. The first four are beginner patterns.
New to Embroidery? Start with a Free Pattern
All of our free embroidery patterns in one place:
French Knot FAQ
Why does my French knot keep disappearing to the back?
The needle is going back into the same hole it came out of. Move one or two fabric threads to the side, so the knot has fabric to sit on.
How many times should I wrap the thread?
Once or twice. For a bigger knot, use more strands rather than more wraps.
Which needle is best for French knots?
A milliner (straw) needle. Its eye is the same width as the shaft, so the wraps slide off without catching.
Can I make French knots without a hoop?
It is possible on firm fabric such as felt, but much harder on cotton or linen. Taut fabric is what keeps the knot from pulling through, so a hoop makes the stitch far more reliable.
