Band Sampler: French Knot
One of the things I do with my clients a lot is give them a little distance from their artwork. I hold up a painting far from their face, which provides a new perspective and sometimes facilitates insight.
Looking at these photos of the section (a form of distance) lends itself to some funny realizations. For instance, I see how some of my confusion and consternation from last week may have seeped into the work.
I had originally intended to do some sort of starburst or circular pattern with the knots, but this image kept coming back to me. Almost like molecules or birds rushing toward some intended end but running into an invisible barrier. Ideas and thoughts and scenarios getting backed up — stopped up and hung up — to impede any progress at all. People rushing for an exit, in danger of being trampled. Something that seriously needs to get unstuck.
If you’re interested in trying your hand at french knot, here are some tutorials:
- A video from Getting Stitched on the Farm
- Purlbee’s tips and tricks
- Mary Corbet’s excellent video tutorial
- Primrose Design has very clear photos
- Sublime stitching for righties and lefties
- Katxena on Craftster.org did a tutorial post with good tips
No related posts.
Ooh that is lovely. I do like French knots
Comment by Sue — 24 March 2009 @ 12:37 pm
Know what you mean about moods seeping in. I am doing an embroidery course and last week involves wrapping and knots. I hated every minute, not that it was difficult, just because my head was else where. Sure enough people are saying there is something strange about the two squares I completed. Almost alien!!!
Comment by jo — 24 March 2009 @ 1:01 pm
Hi! Found your blog through this photo in flickr. The french knots are beautiful! I’m terrible at them.
I have no patience.
Comment by Melissa — 25 March 2009 @ 5:21 am
another good way of providing distance from your artwork is to look at it upside down! this works really well if you been looking at your work for a while and no longer see it as it really is.
Comment by aneela — 25 March 2009 @ 1:36 pm
@aneela: What a great idea! I’m totally going to use this.
Comment by Mal — 26 March 2009 @ 3:38 pm
@jo: This is totally something that I see happening in my work all the time.
@Sue & Melissa: Thanks for your compliments. I don’t know why, but I have always taken easily to french knots. Maybe because I learned them so early? For me, the trick is to place the work on a flat surface or my lap and use both of my hands to even out the tension.
Comment by Mal — 26 March 2009 @ 3:41 pm
I see your french knots “backwards”. Idea taking off, and oozing out from somewhere, too many to be kept in one place, or in my case, in my new idea notebook.
Comment by Miss Erika — 29 March 2009 @ 3:08 pm
@Erika: How interesting! Maybe I will look back at the image in hindsight and agree with you. For now, I think I am still too stuck in the confusion and frustration of that week. I’m glad for your perspective, thank you.
Comment by Mal — 30 March 2009 @ 11:07 am
hi, i wanted to ask you what fabric do you suggest for a band sampler? i’m thinking of working my way through Mary Thomas’ Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches, which would be a life’s work fer sher, but if i get started now i might could be finished when i’m 173 years old. could you do a tute on formation of the sampler? one of the links you have has disappeared, i’m very sorry to say, and sharonb’s 100 foot band sampler is pretty daunting for a humble beginner. plus i don’t see her saying what fabric to start with.
Comment by jeannette — 30 March 2009 @ 3:17 pm
@jeannette: Good questions! I will plan a post with some more information in the very near future. Thanks!
Comment by Mal — 30 March 2009 @ 6:00 pm