Coffee Loving Papercrafters

Hello Coffee Fans!!

Happy New Year!! It’s time for a new Brew & Craft Your Stash! We are looking at French Knots! (don’t panic if you don’t know how to do them!!) If this is the first time you are seeing my feature or need a refresher, click here for my very first post, it gives a little background explanation of my feature!!

French Knots is part of the Bonus Techniques in the Paper Crafting Tips & Tricks a 2012 magazine by PaperCrafts!  Maile Belles has some great ideas for using French Knots

• Create a border with french knots
• Add French knots to buttons
• Use french knots to attach die cuts to your project
• Selectively add french knots to pattern paper or stamped backgrounds
• Add flowers, berries or buds to stamped images
• Stitch along with your french knots
• Stitch French knots in an interesting shape
• Use french knots to add dimension to the eyes of animals.

Now, I know not everyone knows how the do a french knot. I have been cross stitching for longer then I have been a card maker, so I’ve long perfected my french knots!. But, never fear! I found a nice video that does a good job of explaining how to do one: here.  My project uses DMC floss, the thread in the video is a bit thicker. You can make french knots out of baker’s twine, jute or really any thread like the material you might have in your stash!!

If you are not a video person here is a little step by step!:

1. Bring the thread up from the bottom, wrap the thread around needle two times. (Two times is the average size, wrap three or more for a bigger knot!). Keep good tension on the thread as you wrap it.
2. Keeping the tension, push the needle in next to where the thread is coming out. On fabric, you push it in one thread over, but on paper, I pushed it in next to the original hole, which really just makes a bigger whole. But paper holds up pretty good so it’s not a big deal. That being said, you will get better results with thicker paper!
3. Pull the needle through, still holding the tension on the thread pulling it tight to make the knot.
4. Tips: Even though you might not use it, having a long bit of thread is helpful, at least half of your forearm. Also, keeping your tension very tight can result in small knots. Keep then tension loose, but not too lose can make bigger knots. Size will also depend on the thread you use and how many strands. I used DMC floss with two strands.

Okay, on to the card!! I started by die cutting a fancy rectangle from white cardstock. With my MISTI I stamped the teacup, sugar cubes and macaroon from Waffle Flower Stitched Cup of Tea stamp set. Because my plan was to stitch the stamps I used Papertrey Ink’s Fine Linen ink and inked it lightly. I wanted to be able to see it stitch but not through the stitching when it was done.

After stamping I used a paper piercer (basically a sharp needle on a handle) and the foam pad from my MISTI (I don’t care that it gets a little holey!!) to punch holes at the ends of each X.

From my current cross stitch project, I pulled DMC threads to stitch the images and do the french knot border. I used 153, 369, 414, 415, 722.

When my stitching was done I used Waffle Flowers Rain Check and Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist to stamp the sentiment I’m Here For You above the teacup. I added some matching pattern paper to a white card base and added the stitched panel with foam tape. Last I rounded the corners of the card!

I hope this inspires you to break out your thread and make some French Knots!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Dana

Supplies

Stamps: Waffle Flower Stamps – Raincheck, Stitched Cup of Tea

Pattern Paper: WR Memory Keepers – Chalkboard

Ink: Papertrey Ink – Aqua Mist, Fine Linen

DMC Thread