How to Sew a Colonial Knot Embroidery Stitch

Co-authored by Lois Wade

Last Updated: December 23, 2021

A colonial knot looks a lot like a French knot, and is often used in its place. It is also commonly used in candlewicking, so it's a valuable embroidery stitch to learn. See step 1 below to begin.

Steps

1
Thread your needle and tie a knot.
2
Place your fabric in an embroidery hoop to help maintain tension on the fabric and keep the stitches from puckering the fabric.
3
Pull the threaded needle up through the cloth from the back side.
4
Make a backwards "C" shape with your yarn.
5
Lay your needle down over the curve, and tuck the point in behind the yarn next to where you came up from the back side.
6
Wrap the "working end" of the yarn around the tip of the needle to form a "figure eight" on the needle.
7
Pull on the working end of the yarn to snug down the figure eight.
8
Poke the loaded needle down next to where it came up (not in the same hole, but just next to it).
9
Keep a gentle tension on the working end of the thread as you pull the needle through and snug down the knot.
10
Repeat as often as you like for a very easy "French knot" substitute!