French Knots!

Most people don't like making French Knots.  Every once in a while I put a few in a design so I thought I'd show you how I make them.

Most of the time I make a French Knot by wrapping one strand of thread around my needle twice.  Once I do this I insert the needle back down into the fabric where I want the knot to be.  I then slide the wrapped "knot" down the needle to the fabric while keeping the length of the thread taut.

Reach around to the back of the work and pull the needle through slowly so that the knot stays firmly on the needle and doesn't loosen.  The key is to push the knot down to the fabric before pulling the needle through.  The knots stay uniform and small.  Let me know if you have any more tips to add!

And yes, you've seen a preview of a pattern we are releasing in April!

Happy Stitching,
Diane

Project Box

Here is a quick project I wanted to share with you. . . . . . Last year I bought a book/box at Michael's.  It was very sturdy and had a magnetic closure which made it even nicer.

I also bought a new magnetic board which I hot glued to the inside flap of the book/box and then lined the interior with a small piece of quilted material. The board fell off a few times but I realized I wasn't letting the glue get hot enough.  Once I did that it stayed in place.

The box is big enough to hold my project keeper which holds threads and scissors and also large enough to hold full sized patterns, hoops and of course, your stitching.

I can sit on the couch and have the lid propped up with a pillow so that I can see the chart.  When I'm finished I close the lid and set the "book" on the coffee table.  I have seen these boxes at Michael's again this year so if you'd like to have a project box like this one you can with very little crafting!

Happy Stitching,

Diane

An awesome gift!

You all know Vonna don't you?  Well one day she and I were discussing penny rugs and I was wishing I had one but didn't think I had the know-how or time to get one finished.  She offered to make it for me!!  Yes she did!  Anyway, it arrived yesterday and all I can say is "WOW!"  It is simply gorgeous.  Thank you Vonna for being such a great friend AND business pal!

Happy Stitching,
Diane