This stitch is quite easy to manage successfully as long as you have the correct equipment. As for French knots, the needle needs to go through a series of tights loops of thread, so selecting the correct needle for the job is critical.

So before we start, I STRONGLY suggest you check you have the correct needle in hand:

How to select the right needle for the job

1 Now that we have the correct needle (ie. a milliner needle), we can start working on this pretty stitch.

Step 1 • Bring the needle out of the fabric at the tip of the stitch (A). Pull it right out.

Step 2 • Push the needle back through the fabric at the base of the stitch (B), and straight back up again through the tip of the stitch. Leave the needle halway out of the fabric.

2 wind the thread around the tip of the needle.

The number of times you’ll need to do so depends on the length of the stitch: the “coil” of thread (once tightened around the needle) should cover the space between the tip and the base of the stitch.

3 Gather the loops together around the needle (but don’t over tighten), pinch the needle and loops between your left index and tumb, on either side of the fabric, then gently pull the needle with your right hand (making sure you keep hold of the thread coil). Of course, if you’re left handed, use your opposite hands.

4 As the thread is pulled through the coil and the stitch tightens up, you’ll feel the coil gradually lie flat against the fabric. Once they’re fully flat and the whole stitch is in position, push the needle back through the fabric at the base of the stitch (B), and pull the thread. Tie the stitch at the back of the fabric.

Fancy seeing it stitched in action? Here’s a short video:

Shall we recap?

Happy stitching!