Another "Knotty" Needlepoint Tale by Paula Schmidt
Posted on February 05 2013
It took me thirty years to make a bullion knot and now I just can't stop using them! Truth be told - I was going to take a class that I knew by it's description called for a pattern of bullion knots alternating with rows of French Knots and I was going to master this technique! Out came my books! I watched every video I could find on the internet! I called on every friend to demonstrate for me! All my efforts to no avail. Discouraged I sat down one night with a second glass of wine after dinner. Lo and behold - I needed to just relax - and there in the privacy of my own family room in my regular stitching chair without the benefit of videos or books I made my first bullion knots!
So bullion knots have become hair - the trunks of trees - the carrot nose on a snowman - with a single strand of floss and a beading needle a single piece of asparagus - and in clumps the horns of a Bighorn Sheep. Try them in patterns - they add amazing texture. Try them in different fibers. Use any overdyed thread for another amazing effect.
Let us know in the comments below how you mastered this technique.
6 comments
What is a bullion knot? Can you show me some examples?
I love using French, Colonial and Bullion knots. All three are truly amazing stitches!
Enjoy!
Paula, what needles and threads did you use in your practice? These are still mybpersonal bogeyman!
the video is not operating – is it still linked?
The video was great. I was taught many years ago how to do this. Then, a teacher in Houston, taught me the faux bullion and I could not remember how to do the real one. Thanks for showing it so well, again.
Please show a picture or video of a Bullion knot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!