FRENCH KNOT TUTORIAL

Hi Everyone

Hope you are all well .. .. and if you aren't then I wish you better soon!!!

It has been a busy day today in the House of Hearts but I have a card to share and a little tutorial.

I received quite a lot of emails asking about the french knots I put on my card yesterday and how I did them.  So I have tried to put a few photographs together for you to explain the process I used.

But first here is my share of the day

This used:

Image:  Hero Arts"G5311" Sillhouette Spray
Background Image:  Elusive Images "32531" Script Background
Sentiment:  Elzybells (sadly no longer trading)
Background made with brayer and Big and Juicy "Spice" Ink Pad
Heat it Up!:  Silver Pearl Embossing Powder
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Ribbon and Button from the stash box

Very different colours for me .. .. but I love them!!


Now tutorial time.

I am hoping this glut of photographs help to explain how I make my french knots.  Here we go ....

I started by laying the vellum over my base card and folding
the ends to the back

This is the back and I have sellotaped the loose ends down

Working from the front again I made two holes where I
wanted the french knot to be

Thread a needle with embroidery silk
(I didn't split the silk and used all 6 strands).
Working from the back push your needle through one of the
holes and sellotape the end down. 
(You don't want to put a knot in it or your work
won't lie flat against your card when you stick it down)

Working from the front again place your needle
behind your thread

Now wrap your thread over and over the needle.
I do this 4 times .. .. but don't do this too tight.

Next push your needle through the second hole you made

Gently pull the needle and thread through to the back of
your work and all of the thread you wrapped over and over your
needle will bunch up into a knot. 
Don't pull it too tight .. .. you want it a bit bulky.

Oops!!!  I can see distress ink on my thumb!! 
Mucky madam!!!!

On the back simply cut your thread,
pull it tight and sellotape that end down too. 
Keep quite a bit of length otherwise the thread might
work its way through and spoil your work. 

Here is a close up of one of the knots from yesterday
(because I forgot to take one of my finished knot today).

I think they add bit of texture and are a bit more artistic
than the ever faithful brads that I normally end up using.

So hopefully that has been useful for you.

I used embroidery silk here but you can also do them with ribbon, wool, thick cotton .. .. all kind of threads really.

They take a little practice.  Just don't pull the thread too tight around your needle whilst wrapping it round and you should be OK.  In fact it might be easier to practice on a piece of material to begin with.  Once you get the hang of them you can experiment with wrapping the thread round the needle more times or even less .. .. just to see what result you get.  Good luck if you decide to give it a go.

So back to the important issue of The Apprentice.  LOL!!!

Both Keryn and I still have our three candidates in the running for The Apprentice.  Neither of us lost any of our acts this week (sounds like we are on the X-Factor).  Keryn has Jim who seems to be one very lucky chappie .. .. I have never seen anyone be nominated to be taken back to the boardroom and then turn it around so that they aren't .. .. and what was that little wink he did when they were back at the house.  Mmmm... might be more to him than meets the eye!!! LOL!!!

Shame it isn't on again tonight!!  I have to wait a whole week now!!  Tee hee!!

Have a good evening everyone whatever you are doing.

Love