How to Do Colonial Knots

A colonial knot is commonly used in embroidery.

A colonial knot is an embroidery technique that creates a three-dimensional design on the fabric, and resembles a French knot. Like all embroidery designs, it takes practice and an understanding of basic stitching techniques to tie a colonial knot. Colonial knots are sometimes referred to as figure eight knots because of the way the thread is looped around the needle to create the knot.

Things You'll Need

• Needle
• Thread or floss
• Embroidery backing

Instructions

1. Insert the needle through the fabric from the back. Slide the needle under the thread where it comes out of the fabric.

2. Lift the long end of the thread and loop the thread around the top of the needle, going from right to left. This will make a figure eight around the needle.

3. Pull on the long end of the thread. This will tighten the thread around the needle.

4. Push the needle back down through the fabric from the top, near the same area that you initially brought the thread up through the fabric.

5. Reach behind the fabric and gently pull the needle and thread all the way through the back of the fabric.

References

• Unique Homemade Gifts: Basic Knots for Hand Embroidery
• In A Minute Ago: Colonial Knot Stitch
• Embroidery; Colonial Knots; September 2009