Why Knot??!

I was finishing up Chessie And Me's "Buzzing '' Round Ewe" http://www.stitchesnthings.com/detail.cfm?ID=35943  and putting the called for French Knots (which I intermixed with Colonial Knots) to be scattered over the cross stitched Sheep' s body, and began to think how it used to be where I would rather have ripped off a fingernail than do a French Knot.   Of course, that was before I really learned HOW to execute that knotted stitch!
It was in a class with Teresa Layman that the veil was lifted from my eyes and that knowledge has never left my fingers!  
Teresa Layman Designs is the designer of those teensy little Knotted designs!  She says on her web site:  designs are small and sweet. They bring that feel-good warmth to all who see them and bring a real sense of satisfaction to those who stitch them. These are the original miniature 
knotwork designs that have made so many people gasp and say, “Oh my gosh, that’s beautiful! How do you do that?” Amazingly the technique is very simple... Simple and beautiful, is there a better combination?
http://teresalayman.com/designs.htm

The problem most have with French Knots is: 

1. they "wrap the floss" around the needle more than once.  Two or three wraps = the beginning of a Bullion Knot, which by it's very nature is a "flat knotted stitch" and that' s why your knot falls over instead of just sitting there.
2. they try to put the needle, once wrapped, back through the same hole the needle came up through.  It should go down "next to but not in" that hole.
3. they don't hold the thread in their other hand as the needle goes back down, thereby controlling the tension for "knot control".

http://teresalayman.com/easy_frenchknot.htm

AND then there's the Colonial Knot ... for when you want a larger knot (instead of doing a French Knot around a larger sized" needle) or are looking for a very round knot.  Once you have THIS knot down, you'll probably always use it in place of a French!
http://teresalayman.com/easy_colonialknot.htm

If you want to get over any "knot aversion", simply get one of Teresa' s little designs and you'll be knotting like a pro in no time!  http://www.stitchesnthings.com/detail.cfm?ID=12849
Pre-printed design on "rug" (aka very tightly woven) fabric with step- by-step instructions as to what do do first, then next. And what knots to execute where.  You just need a Hoop to tightly hold the fabric for a very firm working surface. I think what I liked most about Teresa's designs was this:

• Don't like the way a knot looks .. it's ok .. you just put knots close to it and you can't tell.
• Pulled a knot through by accident .. it's ok .. put another one in.
• How do you know if you have enough knots in .. hold it up to a light .. see any light showing through, put in another knot or two.

That' s why when you do a little knotwork design you will "amaze your friends" and "astound your enemies"!  And, never EVER have another problem with adding French (or Colonial) Knots to any other project!!   That's why I had FUN adding those French and Colonial Knots to  Buzzing 'Round Ewe (I chose both for added texture and dimension) and Why Knot!?!

   Phew!  Winter Market in Long Beach CA is over!  3 weeks later and the Nashville Market in TN is over!  9 days later and I'm in the final stretch for the shop's annual Camp Stitchalot Stitcher's Retreat!  Some may say they don't know why I plan everything so close together .. but the only thing *I* have a part of in planning is Camp Stitchalot!  And the St.Patrick's weekend has become a tradition it seems .... shortly after Nashville Market and before Easter begins!
    I always bring my shop 'on the road' with me to Camp and have a room at the hotel that becomes the SNT Boutique.  This year we will be hosting 5, count em 4 Designer Trunk Shows at Camp!  Featuring stitched designs from ERICA MICHAELS... from ROSEWOOD MANOR .. from SAMSARAH .. and from THE STITCHING BEAR!!   It's going to be interesting to see just 'how' I'll get all their stitched models AND charts set up and displayed in my Boutique room along with all the other stitching goodies & essentials that I bring.

   YOU .. the stitching public .. are invited to come to the Stitches N Things Boutique to see (and purchase) the Trunk Shows from these incredible designers!

   We'll be at the Davison Inn (previously known as The Comfort Inn) at  10082 Lapeer Rd.  in Davison Michigan ... Friday March 15 from 4pm through Sunday March 17, 2013 at 2pm  

   

Hope to see you at our Trunk Show!    And maybe ... next year ... you will join us at Camp Stitchalot for our entire stitcher's retreat!  We'd love to have you!