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

Fun with chinese Knotting-(Berkeiey)

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70 BAO MEN KNOT

Compound Knots

A compound knot is either a combination of basic knots or variations of their

designs, brought together to form a more complex and symbolically significant

configuration drawn from nature, folk imagery and the Chinese language itself.

Creating a compound knot from a basic knot, or applying the methods of exten-

sion and hook-up of outer loops with basic knots, allows the knotter to produce

unlimited variations and also to invent new types of knots.

1 2

Bao Men Knot

This knot is door-shaped, hence the name bao men, meaning “precious door.”

Based on the pan changknot (page 64), it is formed by tying a vertical pan

changknot to each end of a central, horizontal pan changknot. The door

space in the middle is suitable for attaching objects or for tying a tassel.

Tying

To tie the horizontal pan changknot, use the technique of knotting both ends

as a single cord (see page 13 above). Then, to tie each of the two vertical pan

changknots, use the technique of knotting one end of a single cord (see page

12 above). The length of the horizontal and vertical pan changknots can be

adjusted according to preference.

Tip

• During the tightening process, start with the outer loops in the middle of
  the horizontal pan changknot before working outward to the ends and the
  vertical knots.

TB