100 stitches - threaded backstitch

The next stitch I have just learned from the 100 stitches book is the "threaded backstitch" (stitch #7 - includes both backstitch and threaded backstitch). It looks much more complicated than it actually is to do! First you do a simple backstitch - shown in the aqua color. Then you start a new thread, - shown in pink - coming up through the fabric right next to one side of the start of the backstitch line. You simply weave this thread under the backstitch stitches without picking up any fabric. It just lays on the surface of the fabric but under the backstitch stitches. The third thread -shown in brown - comes up on the opposite side of the backstitch line and weaves under the other two threads!

Here is a little closer look: it is really fun to do and very easy after you practice a bit.

100 stitches - french knot

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am working my way through an embroidery book called 100 Embroidery Stitches. Stitch number one was the back stitch . The second stitch I am going to show is found in the knotted stitches section of the book and is: the French knot (stitch #52).

To demonstrate my learning of this stitch, I am using a beautiful orange floss.  This is DMC color variations number 3840.

The first step is to bring the needle up through the fabric:

Pull the floss all the way through:

Now bring the needle around close to where the floss first emerged:

Wind the floss around the needle -  over, under

Over, under.  This makes two wraps around the needle:

Carefully tighten the wraps so they are snug but can still slide against the needle.  Do this by holding the needle and carefully pulling on the floss:

As the floss is tightening, carefully move the needle point into position to go back into the fabric right alongside where the floss first emerged.  As you are doing this, keep pulling on the floss and the wraps will naturally slide to the bottom of the needle:

Push the needle right through to the underside and as you draw the needle through, keep pulling on the floss - you can see in this picture I am keeping the floss taut - this keeps the wraps in place while the knot is forming:  

Keep pulling and drawing the floss through:

all the way....

et voilà a French Knot is formed:

This is a look at the underside of the line of French Knots: