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Knotted buttonhole stitch icon
Knotted buttonhole stitch

This stitch is a variation of buttonhole stitch: it is wider-spaced than a typical buttonhole stitch and has a knot at the end of each of the buttonhole’s ‘leg’.

It is often confused with knotted blanket stitch - an edging stitch with an additional knot in each buttonhole loop.

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Knotted Looped Buttonhole Border Outline Edging Surface

Knotted buttonhole stitch is generously sponsored by Jill Pawson

Method

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Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 1 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Starting from the left hand side, bring the needle and thread to the surface.

Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 2 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Wrap the thread around the left thumb.

Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 3 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Take the needle under the thread toward the tip of the thumb.

Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 4 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Slip the loop off the thumb and take the needle down into the fabric.

Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 5 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

Leaving the needle in the fabric, bring the point up again on the base line, ensuring the needle goes over the base of the surface thread to anchor it (as you would for a normal buttonhole stitch).

Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 6 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

Tighten the thread against the needle.

Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 7 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 7 photograph
7

Pull through the thread to complete the first knotted buttonhole stitch.

Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 8 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 8 photograph
8

Repeat the sequence

Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 9 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 9 photograph
9

to complete another knotted buttonhole stitch.

Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 10 illustration
Knotted buttonhole stitch method stage 10 photograph
10

Continue along the line to produce a border.

Knotted buttonhole stitch

Structure of stitch

Knotted Looped Buttonhole

Common uses

Border Outline Edging

Embroidery Techniques

A border stitch sometimes used to simulate fringing.  It can also be used an edging stitch.

Surface

Related Stitches

Buttonhole stitch Blanket stitch

References

  • Mrs Archibald Christie, Samplers and Stitches (1921) , p.26
  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.24–5