I know that many stitchers are a little wary of French knots - but once you are aware of a few tips then it really isn’t too hard to work them successfully. As in all things, practice makes perfect, and I must admit I was very comfortable with working French knots by the time I finished this little polar bear cub way back in 2010!

1. Think about the number of twists in your knot. I never use more than three twists as I think the knot can get messy and loose. But if you want messy and loose then that’s fine of course.

2. Always keep your working thread taut to avoid knotting and tangling. The wraps should sit snuggly snug on your needle, but not so tight that the thread thins out and loses its natural plumpness. If you’re really pulling tight on that working thread to keep the wraps on the needle, it’s harder to pull your needle through the wraps and your knot will end up looking miserly. So, once you begin to pull the working thread to the back of the fabric while forming the knot, keep a constant, even, but not too tight, tension on the working thread on the front of the fabric.

3. Don’t take your needle in and out of the fabric through the same hole as on the return journey if you pull a little hard you may take the knot back through the hole as well. Always take your needle back down through the fabric a little to the side of where you brought it up and remember - your French knot will sit over the place where you take your needle back down through the fabric and not where your brought it up. Important if totally accurate positioning is required!

4. Work slowly and carefully. If you try to pull your thread through the wraps too fast it is very likely to tangle and knot. This is frustrating!!

5. Use a needle with a long thin eye so that it’s easier to pull through the wraps - if you’re going to be working a lot of French knots (see above) then you might like to try using a milliner’s or straw needle.