How to Do a French Knot (Step by Step)
To make a French knot, bring the needle up through the fabric, wrap the thread around the needle once or twice while holding it taut, then put the needle back down right next to where it came up — not in the same hole — and pull it through slowly while keeping the thread tight.
In this guide
The French knot is a tiny raised dot of thread. In cross stitch it adds eyes to animals, centers to flowers, snowflakes, berries and the dots on lettering. It has a reputation for being fiddly, but almost every problem comes down to one thing: keeping the thread tight while you pull the needle through. Once that clicks, French knots become quick and satisfying.
What you need
- Embroidery floss. Use the number of strands your pattern asks for — often two on 14 count Aida.
- A needle. A tapestry needle works on Aida. A slim embroidery or milliner’s needle makes neater knots on fine fabric, because the wraps slide off it more evenly.
- A hoop or frame. Taut fabric makes knots much easier, and a hoop leaves your other hand free to hold the thread.
How to do a French knot
- Come up. Bring the needle up from the back of the fabric exactly where you want the knot. Pull the thread all the way through.
- Hold the thread. With your non-stitching hand, hold the thread a few inches from the fabric and keep it gently taut.
- Wrap. Lay the needle in front of the thread, pointing toward the fabric, and wrap the thread around the needle twice. The wraps should sit snugly, not tight enough to bind.
- Go back down close by. Still holding the thread taut, put the tip of the needle into the fabric right next to where it came up — about one fabric thread away, or into the same Aida square but not the same hole. Push the needle partway through.
- Pull through slowly. Slide the wraps down the needle so they sit against the fabric. Keep tension on the thread with your other hand and pull the needle through to the back slowly and steadily. Let go of the thread only at the very end, as the last of it disappears. A neat knot sits on the surface.
To finish, run the thread under a few stitches on the back, or move straight on to the next knot if it is close by. Avoid carrying thread across long gaps on the back; it can show through light fabric.
How many wraps?
Two wraps is the standard and gives a neat, round knot. One wrap makes a small, tidy dot, good for tiny eyes. For a bigger knot, use more strands of floss rather than more wraps: three or four wraps tend to make loose, wobbly knots that are hard to control.
| You want | Try this |
|---|---|
| A tiny dot | 1 strand, 1–2 wraps |
| A standard knot on 14 count | 2 strands, 2 wraps |
| A bold, raised knot | 3–4 strands, 2 wraps |
Common problems and fixes
The knot pulls through to the back
You went down in the same hole you came up through. Go down one fabric thread away, or pierce the Aida block next to the hole, so there is something for the knot to sit on.
The knot is loose or loopy
The thread went slack while you pulled the needle through. Keep holding it taut with your other hand until the very last moment. Make sure the wraps are snug against the needle before you pull.
The knot is messy or uneven
There are probably too many wraps, or the wraps crossed over each other. Use two wraps and lay them side by side on the needle. A thinner needle also helps the wraps slide off cleanly.
The thread tangles into a knot halfway
The floss has twisted. Let the needle dangle so the thread can unwind before each knot, and use shorter lengths of floss — about 18 in (45 cm).
French knots on a cross stitch chart
On a chart, French knots are usually shown as a small dot or circle, often sitting where grid lines cross. The color key lists them separately, with the floss color and number of strands to use. Stitch them last, after all the cross stitches and backstitch around them are done, so they don’t get flattened or caught by later stitches. Our guide on how to read a cross stitch pattern covers the other marks you may see.
French knot vs colonial knot
The colonial knot is a close relative. Instead of wrapping the thread around the needle, you make a figure-eight around it. It gives a slightly taller, more uniform knot and holds its shape well, which is why some stitchers prefer it for larger dots. If French knots keep giving you trouble, it is worth trying.
Practice makes neat knots
Make a row of ten French knots on a scrap of Aida before you add them to a finished piece. By the tenth, the rhythm — come up, wrap twice, go down next door, pull slowly — will feel natural. Then pick a pattern from our free cross stitch patterns and add some knots for snow, berries or flower centers — a jolly snowman looks lovely with a scatter of white knots for snowflakes.
New to cross stitch in general? Start with how to cross stitch for beginners.
