new-to-me designer

I knew an expert or two would chime in. Thanks Erika and Dianne.

I have more fun doing colonial knots than frech knots. Are there times when a french knot must be used?

Nice Sue. You're making me think of my sad and lonely Drawn Thread piece sitting in the WIP but not touched lately piece. I worked more on Baroque - it's comeing together nicely - but taking way longer than I'd like laying in all these long stitches with weird threads. I'll post pix later.

Let me know when you find that link for hours in the day.

Ellice

I'm working on a T. Layman design - the circular rabbit in the garden piece. It is all French or colonial knots. Not very difficult really as there is no counting! I used to dislike French knots and started substituting colonial knots in other pieces because I found the "figure 8" wrapping around the needle seemed to help keep the knot from pulling through. The colonial knots also seem a little bit larger to me. Either way - the T. Layman pieces are amazing when done - like miniature impressionist paintings - and after the first 100 or so knots, you just whip along :)

MelissaD

I don't know about "must" but I think a french knot would be better when adding that little touch of white to an eye as a light reflection. The colonial is just that teensy bit bigger that it might look too big/ I am *still* working on that cute little autumn kitty pin all done in french & colonial knots. I'm more comfortable working french knots because I learned them a bazillion years before I did the colonial. So the background that is supposed to be all colonial knots is mostly french knots with small areas of colonial thrown in for a bit added texture. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

They really are fun to do - just french and colonial knots. They take a while since it can take 3-6 hours to do a square inch, but they are very relaxing. Once you start it's just like paint-by-numbers. Since they are so small, they make wonderful travelling projects. I was working on 'Kitty Corners' in the car today as we came back from Toronto.

The instructions are also well written. I did the English Cottage last year, and it turned out wonderfully. If you are into miniatures, they make wonderful doll-house rugs.

MargW

Yikes! The credit card is still in melt status! I cannot, I repeat I cannot, buy anything more!

On the Teresa Layman pieces, she uses both single wrap French knots which produce a smaller knot and the colonial knots for slightly larger knots. In some details she will call for colonial knots, but says you can do the whole thing in either knot style. I like the French knots, but when I want a slightly larger knot (for instance where it only calls for a single knot in a single colour)I will double or triple wrap the thread to emphasize that stitch.

MargW

Good explanations from everyone about the knots. I think also that the Colonial knots can look a little more like a tuffet. I do either, depending on the look, thread, etc. I do have fun teaching them - often as a sort of break in a class that's been stitching for a while. It's amazing how many people just have trouble remembering how to do a French knot, or have seen a Colonial. I think that when we do them together - they watch, and then have to practice doing several - helps them to finally remember how to do them. Seems to me knots are definitely one of those muscle memory things, and we rarely take the time to just "practice" until getting them down.

Good question, Dawne.

Ellice

You're the only person who bit on my 'must' troll. I usually use a seed stitch if/when I take the time to do a highlight.

Why is it that there is so many cat related motifs and not many dog ones?

I'm sorely tempted to get one of her pieces. They're quite small; is the design stamped on fabric? If so, how difficult is it to see the design?

They're stamped. I don't think it's difficult to see the design (it's not super faint or anything), but my eyesight is pretty good so maybe I'm not the best judge. The pieces are small, and some are more detailed than others so there are some pretty tiny areas to stitch, but it's not as difficult to see as working on silk gauze or 40+ count linen over one or anything like that! ;-)

Best wishes, Ericka

I believe that GA uses DMC for her base, though she may have switched. She's really nice - I got a lovely bag from her at the trade show last June. Weeks & Crescent use Anchor, and I believe that Threadworx does as well, for their base. Carries Creations uses DMC.

The wools are very nice, and soft. IIRC she came out with them for people to use in replicating history, when stitching was also done with fine wool. I've seen some folks use it with primitive type samplers - along the lines of a La-D-Da or Carriage House piece. It's okay on 28 ct, but not on anything finer.

I like the look of GA, but not always the feel. But, those wools are lovely.

Ellice

As Erika says they are stamped, and very clearly. Teresa says to do the fine details first, and do the background last. That way you don't accidentally stitch over the pattern lines

You can see that some of them are more detailed than others, but they are a lot of fun. I found it frustrating at first since you cover a very small area in any one stitching session, but once I got onto it, the rhythm of the French knots is quite relaxing.

MargW

I've seen them from several places, the names of which escape me at the moment. Just put Teresa Layman designs into google and see what comes up. I'm sure you'll find them somewhere local.