Four Legged Knot hand embroidery tutorial main image

Four-Legged Knot

Four-Legged Knot is a standalone decorative hand embroidery stitch from the knot stitch family. It looks like a plus sign with a knot in the middle.

To make this decorative stitch, you will make a straight stitch. Then you will add a second stitch, knotted over the first.

The visual appeal of the stitch will vary heavily depending on the thread you use to embroider it. Stiffer, bulkier threads will form a larger, more defined knot in the center, while knots embroidered with softer, thinner threads will have a smaller knot.

On the reverse side, the stitch looks like a diagonal stitch, with starting and ending knots on the sides, or jumping threads towards the other stitches, if you make filling with Four-Legged Knots.

Four Legged Knot hand embroidery sampler with purple pearl cotton image — Sampler of the Four Legged Knot hand embroidery

Four Legged Knot hand embroidery sampler reverse side image — Reverse side of the sampler

Applications of the Four-Legged Knot

Four-Legged Knot is a detached decorative stitch that you can use as a standalone element or for powdered filling. The positioning of the knots when filling can vary from evenly spaced knots stitched in lines to randomly positioned Four-Legged Knots turned at different angles.

More stitches from the knot stitch family

Peking Knot stitch embroidery with pearl cotton thread small image — Peking Knot

Spiral Trellis Stitch embroidery with green threads small image — Spiral Trellis Stitch

Zig Zag Coral Stitch small image — Zig Zag Coral Stitch

Learn how to embroider Four-Legged Knot

Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Four-Legged Knot quickly. If you are a visual learner, watch a video lesson in the tutorial or on the Practical Embroidery YouTube channel to learn this hand embroidery stitch faster.

Four Legged Knot embroidery stitch made with purple pearl cotton small image

How to embroider Four-Legged Knot

Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial

1. Decide on the position of the Four-Legged Knot you want to embroider and make a straight vertical stitch.

Four Legged Knot embroidery tutorial step 1 image

2. Pull the thread to the back and push the needle to the surface on the right side.

Four Legged Knot embroidery tutorial step 2 image

3. Lay your working thread over the vertical stitch. Pass the needle under the stitch and inside the loop you created by throwing the thread over.

Four Legged Knot embroidery tutorial step 3 image

4. Pull the thread to tighten the loop and create the Four-Legged Knot. Keep the thread in tension till the last moment, or lock the position of the knot with the needle while you pull. This assistance of the tension will help your knots lie nicely on the surface. Push the needle to the back on the left side.

Four Legged Knot embroidery tutorial step 4 image

5. Add more knots to create powdered filling.

Four Legged Knot embroidery tutorial step 5 image

Video tutorial of Four-Legged Knot

Tools and materials I used for this sampler

Disclaimer. To cover the cost of creating free embroidery patterns and video tutorials for this blog, I do sometimes link to products. Please assume these links are affiliate links. If you choose to buy through my links then THANK YOU – it will make it possible for me to keep doing this.

Embroidery fabric cotton linen neutral colors Etsy — Embroidery fabric

Size 8 DMC Perle Cotton Ball on Etsy — Size 8 DMC Perle Cotton Ball

DMC Embroidery Floss 117 on Etsy — DMC Embroidery Floss

Beechwood embroidery hoops Etsy — Embroidery hoop

Bohin Embroidery Needles Assorted Sizes (No. 3- 9) — Bohin Embroidery Needles

Embroidery Scissors Etsy — Embroidery Scissors

What’s next?

If you’re in the mood to explore more hand embroidery stitches, check out the Stitches and Techniques page for the list of other fantastic stitches available on my blog. From basic embroidery stitches to complex and playful variations of classical techniques, a whole world of stitches is waiting for you to explore and master. So, grab your hoop and needle, and let’s stitch together!

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Need More Guidance?

The top 10 hand embroidery stitches to learn is a free online course created for beginners.

White sashiko stitches on purple fabric

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