Knot Stitch How-to with Photos and Drawings

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© 1998 S. Marshall

This stitch is called Love Knot, Lovers' Knot, True Lovers' Knot, Solomon's Knot or Hail Stone. It's great for an open, lacy look. In the past, a common use has been as an overall stitch for shawls ... but in contemporary crochet patterns, it's often combined with more solid stitches, for an interesting effect. I've also seen it used as a second layer overlay on a more solid crocheted background.

Make this stitch as short or as long as you want, determined by the length you make the center loop.

© 1998 S. Marshall

Ready to try it? I used thread for these examples but you can practice with yarn just as well.

© 1998 S. Marshall

How to do the Knot Stitch: Starting with one loop on the hook, draw this loop out to the desired length,

© 1998 S. Marshall

thread over the hook and draw through (as you would if you were making an ordinary chain stitch), but with the single back thread kept the same length as the first long loop,

© 1998 S. Marshall

keeping the single back thread of the long chain separate from the two front threads.

© 1998 S. Marshall

Next, insert the hook under this single back thread.

© 1998 S. Marshall

Wrap the thread over the hook again

© 1998 S. Marshall

draw a loop through and wrap again.

© 1998 S. Marshall

Draw through both loops on the hook.

Repeat the above instructions for
each additional knot stitch.

Here are the same directions again:

How to do the Knot Stitch: Starting with one loop on the hook, draw this loop out to the desired length, thread over the hook and draw through (as you would if you were making an ordinary chain stitch), but with the single back thread kept the same length as the first long loop, keeping the single back thread of the long chain separate from the two front threads. Next, insert the hook under this single back thread. Wrap the thread over the hook again and draw a loop through. Wrap again and draw through both loops on the hook.

© 1998 S. Marshall

When crocheting further rows of knot stitch, you will work back into the 'knots' between the long loops.

When you're ready to make something with this stitch, the Checkerboard Square I designed might be a good first knot stitch project to try. To make it easier, I did more step by step photos (see the bottom of that pattern page) to show how to do that particular type of knot stitch combination.
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa030699.htm

Vintage Patterns: A small thread project is the Love Knot Sachet. Patterns for two delicate Love Knot Edgings are listed on the same page:
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa021900.htm

After that, you may feel ready to move on to a more advanced knot stitch project and may enjoy making this beautiful Love Knot Yoke With Irish Style Roses, that was designed by crochet designer Emma Farnes in the year 1920. It's a timeless pattern, just as gorgeous today as then.
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa021000.htm

Feature and photos copyright © 1998 Sandi Marshall

Photography by Sandi Marshall, licensed to About.com.
Stitch graphics drawn by Sandi Marshall, licensed to About.com.

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