Fun with chinese Knotting-(Berkeiey)
CD1106-16 -- 4225 --01 Resurg of Ch Knot (4-26)FIN_ 11/6/06 8:10 AM Page 18Fun with chinese Knotting (Berkeiey)01 Resurg of Ch Knot (4-26)FIN_ 11/16/06 10:49 AM Page 18
18 FORMATION SKILLS
TBOrnament Design
It is important to consider the purpose of making an ornament before deciding on
its size, form and color. It is usually helpful to draw the ornament on a piece of paper
and think of which basic and compound knots could be used to make it. The four
concepts below – traditional lucky designs, general design principles, application
compatibility and planar (flat) options – provide guidelines on ornament design.Traditional lucky designs
A casual glance at traditional Chinese knots tells us that the majority of them are tied
with a single cord, with both sides being equal and the front and back exactly the
same. They also exude auspiciousness, for example, the five happiness knot (page 86)
and prosperity knot (page 99). Ornaments can also be designed with a traditional
flavor. Diagram 27 shows how the butterfly knot has been modified into a bat knot
and double coin knot. The ornament is named “Good Fortune Bat,” denoting luck
and good fortune, since bat and luck have the same sound. Diagram 28 shows how a
swastika knot (Chinese Knotting, page 44) can be combined with a longevity knot
(Chinese Knotting, page 64) to produce a knot named “Long Live the Good Fellow.”TIPS- When making ornaments from decorative knots, it is necessary to consider the
purpose and the occasion for which the ornament is being made. - It is also important to think about the size, the most appropriate knots and the
most suitable colors. - Consider what other embellishments, e.g. tassels, beads and bindings, can be
incorporated to enhance the beauty of the knots in the ornament.
Chinese knots tend to follow lucky designs.
Hanging a longevity tassel tied with yellow
cords on a knot formation will impart good
wishes.See project 130 on page 158 for instructions
on making this knot formation.2728