Knot Stitch

The Knot stitch is also called Knotted, and is used in ornamental embroideries to form lines decorated at set distances with Knots and in Drawn Work to tie threads together in variously arranged patterns. Lines ornamented with Knots are made in several ways; the simplest is worked as follows:

Knot Stitch Illustration 1

Work along the line to be covered, and at even distances, a succession of raised dots (see Fig. No. 1). Make each dot by working two Back Stitches over each other, and run the working thread at the back of the material between each Knot.


Knot Stitch #2

To work Fig. No. 2.:

Knot Stitch Illustration 2

Bring the needle from the back of the material into the spot where the stitch is to be formed, put it down to the back, and bring it out again, only taking up a few threads of the material. Wind the cotton twice round the point of the needle, and keep the cotton tight. Draw out the needle, and then put it back into the material at the spot where it was first inserted, drawing the two threads wound round the working thread up tight, so that they stand up upon the work. Bring the needle up where the next Knot is to be made, and repeat.


Knot Stitch #3

Fig. No. 3 is made as follows:

Knot Stitch Illustration 3

Carry the thread along the surface of the work for a short distance, and hold it down with the left thumb, then twist it once round the needle, insert the needle into the material, and bring it up again. Twist the cotton twice round the point of the needle, and draw up until the thread is quite over the first twist, put the needle down into the material at this place, and bring it out again at the other side of the Knot. Then take a long stitch, commence to twist the thread round the needle, and make another Knot.

French Knot

To make a Knot upon the surface of the work, i.e., the Knot that is called a French Knot:

Bring the needle up from the back of the material, hold the thread between the left thumb and finger, twist the thread once round the needle, and put it back into the material a little behind where it came out. Work this Knot with coarse thread or silk.


Knot Stitch #4

To make a Knot with drawn threads:

Knot Stitch Illustration 4

Hem Stitch a dozen drawn threads together for the first row. For the second, take 6 threads from one Hem stitch, and 6 from the next, and Overcast them together at the distance of an eighth of an inch from the first row (see Fig. No. 4.). Fasten off or run the thread along the drawn threads and commence another Knot, take 6 threads from one stitch and 6 from the other, and work until all the stitches are divided and knotted. For the third row, divide the first stitch, and make a Knot with 6 of its threads. Then make a Knot with the 6 threads left from the first stitch and 6 taken from the second stitch, and take 6 stitches from one stitch, and 6 from the other, and Overcast them together for the entire row. Work the fourth row like the second, and the fifth row like the third.


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