Fun with Chinese Knotting - Making Your Own Fashion Accessories & Accents

(Berkeley) Fun with chinese Knotting

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06 Creative Applic (120-160)FIN_ 10/19/06 11:33 AM Page 138

138 CLOTHING ACCENTS

TEXT

BLACK

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This complex decorative knot comprises four similar knot formations surrounding a

central round brocade knot with ten outer loops. First, fold a dark colored cord and

tie a cloverleaf knot (1), a round brocade knot (2) and a pan changknot (5). On completing the

last side loop at bottom right, turn back the cord and tie a cloverleaf knot (3) with the middle

side loop. Do the same on the left side (4). Once the pan changknot is completed, pull a light

colored knot through the top right side and out the top left side of the knot. Tie the right cord

end into a round brocade knot (7) and extend its top outer loop into a cloverleaf knot (6). Then

pull this cord end through the knot body to unite it with the dark colored cord end at the bot-

tom of pan changknot 5. Repeat the steps with the left end of the light colored cord (8, 9). On

completing the formation, tie the light colored cord ends into a round brocade knot (28) with

ten outer loops. Extend the middle outer loops on the right, left and bottom of round brocade

knot 28 into a formation similar to steps 1–5 above. Do not tighten round brocade knot 28 too

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Ancient Chinese called the tortoise

“Suen Wu,” hence this tortoise-like

knot is called the Suen Wu knot. Fold a cord,

leave a loop, then tie a double connection

knot (1) to form the tail, followed by a six

unity knot (6). Extend the two double connec-

tion knots on each side into two more double

connection knots to form the four legs (2, 4;

3, 5). The six unity knot becomes the body of

the tortoise. The head is formed by a double

connection knot (7) and a button knot (8).

Hide one cord end inside the knot body. Turn

back the other cord to make the mouth, as

shown above, then sew it onto the button

knot. Finally, sew beads onto the tortoise’s

head to make the eyes.

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Fold a cord and tie a cloverleaf knot

(1) followed by a round brocade knot

with six loops (4). Extend the middle outer

loop on each side into a cloverleaf knot (2, 3).

After completing the round brocade knot,

hide one cord end inside the knot body and

tie the other one into a cloverleaf knot (5),

then hide the end of that also.

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To make the knot at the top, fold a

cord and tie a round brocade knot (1)

followed by a pan changknot (8). Extend the

second side loop at top right into a cloverleaf

knot (2), the corner loop into a round brocade

knot (3) and the second side loop at bottom

right into a cloverleaf knot (4). Repeat the

steps on the other side of the formation (5–7),

making sure the two sides are identical. After

completing the pan changknot, hide one cord

end inside the knot body. Tie the other cord

end into a round brocade knot (9), then also

hide it inside the knot body.

The knot formation at the bottom is similar

to the “Four Good Luck Seasons” (see project

55, page 134), except that the cloverleaf knot

on top of each ru yiknot is replaced by a

round brocade knot.

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(Berkeley) Fun with chinese Knotting

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