Wound Stitches

The wound stitches are those for the execution of which the thread is turned one or more times around the needle before it is sent through the fabric.

Three common wound stitches are the simple French Knot, the French Knot with Stem, and the Bullion Stitch. Of these the most useful in our work is the French knot. Old pieces of needlework show us how this may be used on backgrounds as a filling stitch. It is especially suitable for stamens of flowers when they have a certain character. It ought not, however, to be universally used in this way. We should observe nature and endeavor to indicate what we see by such means as will best fulfill the effect. So, while commending the French knot for feathery stamens, one should have some other means when this is not adequate.

Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 show various stamens which are likely to raise questions in the mind of the worker. The lines in the filaments show how effectively “satin stitch” can be managed in these cases. Fig. 1 shows in the central stamen the direction of the under filling of the anther. One often sees a French Knot in the center of a violet. Fig. 2 shows how much more expressively the center may be embroidered.

The combination of satin stitches in the center of Fig. 3 is a very pretty management and the anthers in Fig. 4 come out firm and clear when worked as indicated. This caution against the wrong use of the French knot ought to save the worker from the popular mistakes and at the same time emphasize the proper use of the pretty knot stitch.

Wound Stitches – although consisting of more than one stitch, many use the term “wound stitch” synonomously with French Knot, Twisted Knot Stitch, or French Dot Stitch.

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