Collage Tips - the French Knot
Adding Embroidery techniques to your collage arsenal
Since taking an introductory embroidery class several years ago, I’ve been intrigued by how thread can be manipulated and how that might be useful in making various art forms and, most recently, in the art of collage. It wasn’t until this week, however, that I finally took the time to understand how to make that elusive little French knot.
The French Knot
The first time I saw an artist use the French knot embroidery technique on paper was in 2020, with the beautifully detailed and composed vintage postcard embroidered art by Han Cao on Instagram. Her work contained a fascinating charm with its whim and wit combined with technical mastery. I have since also become enamored with the German collage artist Petra Heidrich, who was also posting her little postcard-sized colorful treasures on Instagram (including this sea of French knots on a vintage postcard from 2019) and has since included a variety of materials and techniques to her process, which I continue to find beautifully surprising and highly intriguing as I look at all the little details she manages to bring together in her work.
Inspired, I occasionally tried my hand at this type of art making, including this little 4x4-inch photograph embellished with cross stitch from April 2020.
Every time I tried to add a French knot, however, I struggled to understand how it worked. The stitch would repeatedly collapse back into the hole I so carefully made for it, and, in frustration and with many other irons in the fire with which to entertain myself, I eventually gave up.
As with many things, however, success could be found if I dedicated just a few more minutes to examining the technique in another way. This is how, when I needed a delicate way to embellish some of my recent digitally edited photographs (such as “Waiting for You” pictured at the top), I finally watched this short YouTube video.
How to Do a French Knot by Cutesy Crafts
I have since learned (thanks to Instagram follower Pricilla Newberger!) that I should also try the Colonial Knot, which she notes is “easier and more reliable.” Interesting!
Additional Tips
As with any new skill, practice, practice, practice! As soon as I learned how to wrap the thread around my needle correctly and then pull the thread through to keep it from tangling or unraveling, I made many more knots to engrain it into my muscle memory1.
Pre-punch paper to be embroidered (preferably from front to back) using a bookbinding awl, sewing machine (without thread), or sharp sewing needle. A self-healing mat will help prevent stabbing holes in unwanted places (such as your tabletop).
Make sure the width of your thread strand(s) is wider than your needle (so that they don’t just fall back into the hole you’ve made (specifically with French knots) and so that the holes are less visible. (Don’t use a thick embroidery needle with a strand of sewing thread.)
For free-form designs (e.g., not following a precise pattern with your embroidery, as you might with a Sashiko stitching technique VintageBlueJapan.com), I recommend punching just enough holes at a time to manage your thread length. I typically use a thread about the length of my arm, but work with what’s comfortable for you or shorter if you’re changing colors more often or adding just a little embellishment.
After watching the video several times and repeating the motions myself, I now have this new tool for mark-making (French Knot) and I am excited to try it at the collage table today with something a little more complicated.
Today at the Collage Table
To start, I’ve collected some of my painted paper scraps, a stitched postcard from another project, a vintage children’s book drawing, and a section of vintage embroidery.
Next, I used a few spots of glue stick to keep the pieces from moving around and trimmed them to 4 x 6 inches (for an upcoming postcard show that requires a specific size). Then, I started using my newfound skill to attempt cohesion between the different elements.
Now, I am remembering the love language that is art—because what else would cause a person to stab and pull thread through paper repeatedly, hour after hour?
Needless to say, I have many more knots to go to create the harmony I wish to convey, so I am leaving this Friday's collage post unfinished for now, but…
I hope to leave you with a couple of thoughts before I go.
We are never too old to learn something new - even if we’ve previously failed.
Embroidery on paper is a fun way to embellish your work.
What is your love language?
Happy collaging,
Jennifer
How Does “Muscle Memory” Work, Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-new-brain/202106/how-does-muscle-memory-work