Colonial Knot

The Colonial knot is an embroidery stitch that makes a small, neat, raised two-part knot. Wrap the thread twice separately around the needle, insert the needle back near the entry point, then pull through to form a tidy round knot. It’s often used for flower centers, eyes, and textured details.

Even though the Colonial knot and the French knot look very similar, there are small differences.

Difference from the French knot:

• Structure: Colonial uses two -part wraps and a controlled return angle for a more defined, symmetrical knot. French knots are made by re-entering at the exact entry point and can be less uniform.

• Stability and look: Colonial knots are firmer and sit more consistently on the fabric; French knots can be looser or more irregular.

• Consistency: Many find Colonial knots easier to make uniform; French knots usually need more practice to keep size and tension consistent.

Colonial Knot Stitch demonstrated by a cat