Cross-stitched Holiday Present

[marebear_marebear]

For this holiday season, I have made a cross-stitched present for my parents. Well, I'm not all too sure about my dad, but I am almost positive that my mom would love it. I started this in June 2005 and I am finally able to finish it this year!
(A picture will come when I eventually accumulate 10 posts.)

I only have a few questions so I can finally put the finishing touches on this present:
1. How do you make a french knot? and
2. How do you keep the edges from fraying when you frame the final product?

Thank you in advance!

 

[slandl38]

I found this on this website on french knots where they actually show pictures. Hope it helps

http://www.teresalayman.com/easy_frenchknot.htm


I agree that there are usually several ways of doing any given task, but I also know there is usually one way that works better than most. So, if you want your French knots to be easy to make and uniform in size and shape, my conclusion is that French knots have only one wrap.

Bring the needle up through the fabric at the location you want to make the knot.

Wrap the thread around the needle once. At this point it may only look like half a wrap, but in the next step, the wrap becomes complete.

Insert the needle back into the fabric one or two fabric threads from the original starting point.

The loop around the needle should be loose at this stage.



Push the needle about halfway into the fabric, then pull the thread so the loop is snug around the needle and rests on the fabric surface.

This is the most important part of forming nice knots. The knot is sized around the barrel of the needle, which is how you will get uniform results with every knot.

Keeping a gentle tension on the thread, pull the needle through to finish the knot.

Keeping your thumb over the thread as it enters the fabric will help keep slip knots from forming as the thread is pulled through the fabric.

Once the knot is nice and round and sitting on the fabric surface, release the tension on the thread. Refrain from giving it an extra tug because that will just make the knot too tight or pull it through the fabric. Admire your fine work!

 

[slandl38]

How are you planning on framing the cross stitch pattern?

That you are worrying about it fraying.

 

[Macca1111]

So, if you want your French knots to be easy to make and uniform in size and shape, my conclusion is that French knots have only one wrap.

Also, since you are framing, you won't need to worry about fraying - the glass and mat will keep the threads intact.