Fun with chinese Knotting-(Berkeiey)
D1006-54 -- 4225 --05 Tassel Designs (111-119)FIN_ 10/19/06 2:35 AM Page 118
TBCreative Applications
In this chapter, detailed notes and diagrams are given for 135 knotting appli-
cations: 1–123 are illustrated in the color photographs in “Living With Chinese
Knots” (pages 27–54) and 124–135 in “Designing Chinese Knots” (pages 8–26).
It is important to note the following, with reference to the diagrams on page 119:- Finished knot formations may differ a little from those shown on pages 27–54
because everyone knots in a slightly different way. However, the tying of the
basic and compound knots does not change. Read “Designing Chinese Knots”
(pages 8–26) carefully before attempting to tie any of the knot formations in this
chapter and keep referring to it as you follow the instructions. - The description of each knot formation starts with the first knot and proceeds
step by step to the last knot in the formation. The numbers on the diagrams
generally indicate the order in which each knot is completed. For example, in
diagram A, the ru yi,pan changand button knots are completed in the order 1,
2, 3. But things are a little different in diagram B because a knot that is tied first
does not necessarily mean it will be completed first. The central round brocade
knot is the first to be tied, but it is not the first to be completed because a clover-
leaf knot has to be tied on the outer loop on each side first before going back to
the round brocade knot. Hence, the central round brocade knot becomes knot
number 3 in the diagram. Another example is given in diagram C. Although the
stone chime and round brocade knots on both sides are tied first, they are not
tightened immediately. Another cord has to be introduced into the stone chime
knot and woven in the reverse order before being extended into a series of
cloverleaf knots, after which both cords are tightened. Thus, even though the
stone chime knot is the second knot to be tied, it is numbered 12 in the diagram.
In the case of complicated knot formations like these, it is important to refer
closely to both the written description and the numbered diagrams. - When making a knot formation consisting of compound or extension knots, we
normally follow the example shown in diagram B of tying the right side of the
knot formation first, followed by the left side. Similarly, in the tying process we
normally follow the directional words given, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left part,”
“right part,” “left cord end,” “right cord end.” But this does not necessarily reflect
how the completed formation will be used. Take the knot button in diagram D
as an example. When applied to clothing, this formation is placed horizontally.
However, during the tying process, knots 1–3 actually form the right part and
knots 4–6 the left part of the button. Diagram E is another example. At a glance,
most people would think that the knot formation was tied from the bottom
upwards. In actual fact, knot 1 is the top part of the formation and the butterfly
(20) and the cloverleaf knots (21, 22) the bottom part, since we need to use the
cord ends to decorate the top part of the evening gown. - When a long formation is made using several knots of the same type, the knot
is usually indicated with a single number. For example, in diagram F only one
number is used to indicate all the double coin knots even though the number of
knots tied can be reduced or increased to suit one’s needs. - Each number in a diagram indicates a complete knot. Hence, all rim embellish-
ments, whether in or around the knot, are not given numbers. For example,
upon the completion of the pan changknot (1) in diagram G, one of the cord
ends is used to embellish the rim before the winged pan changknot is tied. Here
the rim embellishment is not numbered.