Comment broder Colonial knot
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The Colonial knot, step by step
We guide you here, step by step, to embroider the Colonial knot.
The colonial knot is worked by passing the thread around the needle in a specific figure-of-eight motion, producing a compact knot with a result very similar to the french knot, but worked with a different technique.
1 – Bring the needle up at A on the right side of the fabric. Pull the thread towards you with your left hand and hold it in place.
2 – Lay the needle on the thread. Pass the needle under the thread from left to right, pointing the tip towards the fabric. Then pass the thread over the needle from left to right. The thread forms a small figure-of-eight loop around the needle.
3 – Insert the needle at B, close to point A. Slide the knot formed on the needle down to the fabric surface and hold it in place with your left thumb at the base.
4 – Pull the entire thread through to the back of the work, keeping the thread under your thumb. The knot settles on the fabric surface. Secure the thread under the previously worked stitches.
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FOR RIGHT-HANDED EMBROIDERERS: The colonial knot is worked by holding the thread with the left hand.
FOR LEFT-HANDED EMBROIDERERS: The colonial knot is worked by holding the thread with the right hand. Tips for a successful colonial knot
Tips for a perfect colonial knot
Follow the sequence of the motion carefully: first pass the needle under the thread, then pass the thread over the needle — it is this order that correctly forms the colonial knot.
Entry point position: Always reinsert the needle very close to the starting point, without going back into the same hole, so the knot stays firmly in place on the right side.
Knot positioning: Slide the knot down to the fabric surface before pulling the needle through, so it settles correctly on the surface.
Holding the thread: Keep the thread under your thumb at the base of the knot until the entire thread has been pulled through to the back.
Smooth pulling: Pull the thread steadily and without jerking so the knot closes neatly without coming undone.
Result
On the front: a small, compact, well-formed knot with a result very similar to the french knot.
On the back: a small, discreet stitch securing the thread.
EXPLORE FURTHER
The Colonial knot, an essential stitch for learning hand embroidery
The colonial knot is used in the same contexts as the french knot: flower centres, dotted surfaces, stamens and small decorative details.
It appears in traditional embroidery as a technical alternative to the french knot, favoured by embroiderers who wish to broaden their gestural repertoire.
The final appearance is very similar, but the working method follows a different logic that is worth exploring.
Colonial knot: a gestural variation of the knotted stitch.
Its construction relies on a figure-of-eight pass around the needle, producing a stable knot that closes firmly when the thread is pulled through.
This characteristic makes it a popular choice for projects requiring great consistency across larger areas.
It holds an original place in the repertoire of expressive stitches in hand embroidery.
DISCOVER OTHER STITCHES
Why learn the Colonial knot?
• discover a different gestural technique for forming a knot in embroidery
• understand how the working method influences the stability of the knot
• broaden your repertoire with an alternative to the french knot
• enrich your compositions with a knotted stitch of its own distinct character
Learn the Colonial knot with Un Chat dans l’Aiguille
At Un Chat dans l’Aiguille, the colonial knot is taught step by step with clear, structured guidance.
Our approach to teaching is part of a complete hand embroidery stitch encyclopaedia, designed to support every embroiderer on their journey.
It allows you to progress at your own pace whilst building precision, consistency, and confidence in hand embroidery.