Fun with chinese Knotting-(Berkeiey)
D1006-54 -- 4255 --03 Basic Knots (55-69)FIN_ 10/18/06 5:56 PM Page 57
CLOVERLEAF KNOT 57
Cloverleaf Knot
Chinese children have played a pulling game with clover leaves for generations. Some
have even popped the plant into their mouths, discovering that the leaves and stalk
are slightly sour, and reporting that certain varieties alleviate coughing when you have
a scratchy throat. Just as in the West, good luck is said to go hand in hand with the
discovery of the four-leaf variety.Tying
One loop is formed, another is formed and passed through it, and a third one is
formed and passed through the second one. The cord end is then woven through
these loops and pulled together to form the body of the knot. The cord sections
between these inner loops make up the outer loops of the knot. This knot can be tied
with virtually any number of outer loops. Follow steps 1 and 2 but form more loops
before proceeding to step 3 which pulls them to the center. The inset shows the same
principles used to form a cloverleaf knot with only two outer loops.Tips
- After the body of the knot is tightened and you are pulling the slack out of the outer
loops, make sure that you hold the body securely while sliding the cord through it,
otherwise the knot will come undone and be difficult to repair. - The diagrams show how to tie the cloverleaf using only one cord end. It is essential
that you learn how to do this since the knot is required in many compound knots. It
also makes it easy to add cloverleaf knots to the outer loops of other knots, lending
contrast and intricacy to their designs.
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