(Berkeley) Fun with chinese Knotting
D1006-54 / 422806 Creative Applic (120-160)FIN_ 10/19/06 12:39 PM Page 153
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This knot formation, symbolizing
“The Three Rams That Bring Good
Luck and Fortune,” comprises three parts:
the Chinese character ji (meaning good luck)
inside the frame; three modified golden bell
knots attached to the outside of the frame;
and the Chinese character yang(meaning
ram) just below the frame. First, wrap a rattan
frame with a cord using the tying technique
of the flat knot (1) (see Chinese Knotting,page
58). Then fold a cord through the flat knot on
the top corner of the frame and tie five con-
secutive double connection knots (2). Sepa-
rate the right cord, leave a suitable length and
tie a cloverleaf knot (3), hooking its outer loop
to the flat knot on the frame. Then tie another
cloverleaf knot (4). Repeat steps 3 and 4 with
the left cord (5, 6). Tie a cloverleaf knot (7)
with the two cords using the tying technique
of the middle cloverleaf knot within the ru yi
knot. The first horizontal stroke of ji has thus
been completed. Continue downward, tying
three double connection knots (8). Separate
the right cord and tie three cloverleaf knots
(9, 10, 12) in the same way as cloverleaf knots
3 and 4 above, hooking the outer loop of clo-
verleaf knot 9 to the flat knot on the frame.
Extend the bottom outer loop of cloverleaf
knot 10 into another cloverleaf knot (11).
Repeat steps 9–12 with the left cord (13–16),
extending the bottom outer loop of middle
cloverleaf knot 14 into another cloverleaf knot
(15). Then tie a cloverleaf knot (17) using the
tying technique of cloverleaf knot 7 above to
complete the second horizontal stroke of ji.
Tie another two double connection knots (18,
19) followed by a cloverleaf knot (20). Sepa-
rate the right cord, tie five cloverleaf knots
(21), hooking up their adjacent outer loops.
The top outer loop of cloverleaf knot (22)
should be hooked up with cloverleaf knot
- Do exactly the same for the left cord end.
Use the connecting cords from this group of
cloverleaf knots to tie a cloverleaf knot with
multiple outer loops (23) followed by another
cloverleaf knot (24). Hook up the outer loops
on both sides of cloverleaf knot 24 with the
adjacent cloverleaf knots. Hide both cord ends
inside the body of the flat knots on the frame,
thus completing the character ji.
To make the second part of the formation,
use three new cords to tie three modified
golden bell knots outside the frame – one on
the right (25), one on the top (28) and one on
the left (31). The top part of each golden bell
knot must be hooked up with the frame, as
shown. For each golden bell knot, extend the
left and right corner loops into a cloverleaf
knot with two outer loops (26, 27; 29, 30; 32,
33). After completing the golden bell knots,
sew the cord ends inside the knot body, ex-
cept that of golden bell knot 28, which must
be tied into four groups of interspaced double
connection knots (34) for hanging. The num-
ber of double connection knots in the four
groups (not all are shown) are two, three, four
and five respectively. Finally, bind the cord
ends with fine thread.
The third formation at the bottom (the
Chinese character yang) comprises a modified
golden bell knot and a double ten knot. Fold
a cord through the central flat knot on the
bottom of the frame and tie two double con-
nection knots (35). Lengthen both cord ends
and tie a double ten knot (39) to complete
the bottom part of yang.Then tie both cord
ends into a modified golden bell knot (38)
with the left and right corner loops extended
into a cloverleaf knot with two outer loops
(36, 37) as per the tying technique of knots 29
and 30 above. This completes the top part of
yang.Attach a button tassel (40) to the bot-
tom part of yangto finish off the hanging
ornament.
(Berkeley) Fun with chinese Knotting
D1006-54 / 422806 Creative Applic (120-160)FIN_ 10/19/06 11:33 AM Page 153