Fun with chinese Knotting-(Berkeiey)
D1006-54 -- 4225 --
01 Resurg of Ch Knot (4-26)FIN_ 10/16/06 7:17 PM Page 10
Fun with chinese Knotting-(Berkeiey)
D1006-54 -- 4225 --
01 Resurg of Ch Knot (4-26)FIN_ 10/16/06 7:16 PM Page 10
10 BASIC SKILLS
TB
Basic Skills
All Chinese knots, be they simple or compound, are based on the same underlying
three-step principle: tying the knot, tightening the cord, and adding the finishing
touches. Once this basic principle has been grasped and the method for making each
knot mastered, all the knots you have learned can be freely recombined to produce
boundless creative knots.
The fundamentals of Chinese knotting can be broken down into basic skills and
formation skills. Central to the basic skills is the use of a single cord and double or
multiple cords, coupled with the choice of running the cord ends separately or in
parallel, to make a multitude of knots or knot formations. Formation skills involve
the extension of the cord ends and outer loops, as well as the hook-up of outer loops.
Using these techniques, all the knots can be hooked up into a formation to make an
elegant ornament.
Making a Knot or Formation
As noted above, making a knot or formation involves three basic steps: tying the knot,
tightening the cord, and adding the finishing touches. These general guidelines apply
to every knot in this book and provide the foundation on which you can build your
knotting skills. If you want to further enrich the knot, you can always use two, three
or even more cords of different colors to make a striking multicolored ornament.
The practice of running the cord ends separately or in parallel can achieve other
desirable effects. For example, using cords of different colors, with the core ends run-
ning in parallel or separately, can give rise to very colorful and elegant knots, such as
round brocade,pan chang, cloverleaf, and good luck knots. In addition, tightening or
loosening certain colored cord(s) can produce various patterns on the outer loop,
thereby changing the design.
In the olden days, people used nothing but their bare fingers to hold the cord
in place while tying even the most complicated of knots. These days, most knotters
benefit from a few simple tools: a piece of corkboard of a shallow cardboard box on
which to place the cord as the knot is formed; a number of push pins for anchoring
the cords as they are knotted, perhaps in different colors for the body and loops; a
crochet hook or a pair of slim tweezers for feeding the cord through narrow spaces
and ensuring that the cords do not twist or bend out of shape; a pair of scissors for
trimming, and a needle and different colored threads for sewing delicate and discreet
stitches to ensure the knot holds its shape permanently.
Knotting a single cord
Basically all Chinese knots can be done using a single cord. The same result can be
achieved by knotting one end or both ends of the cord, but as it is quite difficult to
analyze the knot, beginners are encouraged to knot both cord ends to give a clearer
cord path, thus avoiding confusion arising from the tying. Hence, knotting both ends
of a single cord is the simplest and most convenient of all knotting skills.
Knotting one end of a single cord
When making a formation, there is, however, a need to use this particular technique
for better flexibility. With frequent references to the step-by-step illustrations on basic
and compound knots, starting from the last step of tightening the knot, it is easy to
follow one end of the cord to trace back to the other end and make an elegant knot
employing this technique. This knotting technique is frequently used to tie side knots
on the outer loops, or when making necklaces and belts with Chinese knots.
The Parts of a Knot
Bottom
part
The end
nearest the
cord ends
Side loops
The loops
on the sides
Corner loops
The loops in
the corners
Outer loops
The semicircular
loops fringing
the body
of the knot
Body of the knot
The core or heart
of the knot
TIPS
- It is better to use more cord
(at least 3 meters) than less so
that you do not come up short
at the end. - Seal off the ends of cords
with tape, thread, liquid glue
or hot wax to prevent fraying. - Make sure you keep the cord
flat as you follow the step-by-
step diagrams. - String on beads, etc. at the
appropriate point in the knot-
ting process. - Leave enough space for the
cord to pass through as many
times as required. - Make sure than no bends,
twists or kinks develop in the
cord as you knot. - Be patient and cautious
when tightening the cords
and pulling out the loops. - Stitch the knot at relevant
points (e.g. pendant junctions)
to help retain the shape.
Top part
The oppo-
site end of
the cord
ends
Cord ends
The loose cords
of the knot