Fun with Chinese Knotting. Lydia Chen
rel="nofollow" href="#fb3_img_img_fe6e625b-5d4c-52f1-a6f3-19568cd44833.jpg" alt="Image"/>
The thoughtful use of single, double or multiple cord knotting techniques, either tied as a single cord or as separate cords, can give rise to a great deal of color and stylistic variation.
See project 125, page 155, for instructions on making the knot formation above.
Knotting multiple cords separately
When knotting multiple cords as one, on reaching the outer loop one or several of the cords can be used to produce outer loops or side loops, thus adding another variation. For example, in the cloverleaf knot tied with three different colored cords in diagram 8, the three outer loops are formed of different colored cord. Similarly, in the pan chang knot tied with four different colored cords in diagram 9, the outer loops are highlighted with a number of color combinations. In addition, all sorts of side loops of different colors can be created with the lengthened outer loops.
The most critical part of knotting is, of course, the tightening of the knots, especially when multiple colored cords are used. It is necessary, first of all, to determine which cords are to be pulled (usually indicated by black arrows on the step-by-step diagrams). A gentle, even pressure should be applied to make sure that no twists or kinks develop. The body of the knot should always be tightened first before pulling out the slack, loop by loop, until the cord ends are reached. It is important not to let the body of the knot loosen, or its shape will be distorted.
8
9
A necklace created by the author. Once you have mastered the basic skills, you can then apply the formation skills freely to create other graceful and elegant accessories and ornaments.
See project 129 on page 157 for instructions on making this necklace.
FORMATION SKILLS
A knot formation, as the name suggests, is not a single knot but a group of simple or compound knots linked together. This section focuses on the various ways of connecting the unrelated knots to make such a formation.
All compound knots and knot formations originating from simple knots follow three techniques: cord end extension, outer loop extension and outer loop hook-up. Coupled with the techniques of knotting single, double and multiple cords, as well as the skills of cord addition and reduction, it is possible to make fascinating and innovative knot formations.
Cord End Extension
The simplest and most common technique for making knot formations is the cord end extension technique. This involves using the end of a cord to tie another knot after a knot has already been made with one or both ends of the cord. Besides enabling the formation of a long series of knots, the technique also allows the knotter to adjust the distance between individual knots to produce a pleasing formation arrangement. This technique applies to the extension of one or both cord ends.
Extension of one cord end
The extension technique using one cord end comprises making a knot with one cord end, then making a second knot on the same cord end. In most cases, all the knots tied will fall on the same side of the cord, as shown in the cloverleaf knot in diagram 10. The few exceptions include the double coin knot as well as the button knot, as shown in diagram 11. To add variety, cords of different colors and textures can be tied using this technique.
Extension of both cord ends
The extension technique using both cord ends involves folding a cord and tying a knot using the two cord ends, as shown in diagram 12. Using both cord ends again, another knot is made. In this technique, most knots will be formed equally on both sides of the cords, with both cord ends as their centers, as shown in the cloverleaf knot in diagram 13. Variations in color and texture can be added by knotting two or more cords of different colors and textures as one single cord.
10
11
12
See projects 126 and 127 on page 156 for instructions on making the knot formations on the left and on page 15.
Application of the Extension Technique
The extension technique of using one or both cord ends together can be applied in a knot formation. The methods involved are random combination, knot body penetration and rim embellishment.
Random combination
After making a knot with multiple cords – and depending on the desired design – different cord ends can be randomly combined and the knotting continued using the extension technique of one or both cord ends. The knot formation in diagram 14 has been made by first folding four different colored cords and then tying a good luck knot, then breaking the eight cord ends into three groups of two, four and two. Each group was then tied into a knot using the extension technique of both ends. The eight cord ends were then regrouped into three groups of one, six and one. Finally, the extension techniques of one cord end, two cord ends and one cord end were used to tie the three groups into three individual knots.
Knot body penetration
When making knot formations with multiple cords, the knot body penetration technique involves pushing some cords through the knots. For example, some of the cord ends from the first knot can be used to tie a second knot, while the remaining cord ends are pushed directly through the body of the second knot to meet up with the other cord ends below. Knotting is then continued using the extension technique of one or both cord ends. However, to be able to push the cord ends through a knot body, the knot concerned must be a thick one, such as the pan chang, button, flat (see Chinese Knotting, page 58) or double connection knot. This method is normally employed when only a few cords are needed to make the second knot, and the same cords are used to make a third knot, with the non-essential cords being pushed through the second knot body, as shown in diagram 15, where double cords are used to form a knot formation.
13
14
15
The knot above illustrates the use of the rim embellishment method (page 16) to combine the green ling hua knot (page 94) with the brown side knots, at the same time embellishing the rim of the green knot.
Rim embellishment
This method shares the same principle as the knot body penetration method in that only certain cords are used to tie a knot in the formation. The difference between them is that instead of penetrating the knot body,