cord), and color (Koreans tend towards the five primary colors of red, yellow, green, blue and black and often use all five in a single knot).
Unlike Chinese knots, Western knots, the best known ones being the two-dimensional flat knot and curled knot, are very simple and repetitive – almost monotonous. Not a great deal of skill is needed to tie them. Moreover, they are neither particularly decorative nor useful for tying objects. Since there is little skill involved in Western knotting, any outstanding example that is produced must have a unique design and an intricate blend of colors and materials.
Chinese Knotting Techniques
Fourteen basic Chinese knots are treated in this book, namely the (1) clover-leaf knot, (2) pan chang knot, (3) round brocade knot, (4) constellation knot, (5) good luck knot, (6) Buddha knot, (7) double connection knot, (8) plafond knot, (9) flat knot, (10) creeper knot, (11) double coin knot, (12) button knot, (13) cross knot and (14) tassel knot. These basic knots have numerous, almost unlimited permutations, which can be formed either from variations of their basic designs or from a combination of basic knots. The knotting techniques for producing many of these so-called compound knots were taught in Chinese Knotting: Creative Designs That Are Easy and Fun! and Fun with Chinese Knotting: Making Your Own Accessories and Accents. In this book, four major methods or techniques for tying knots and nine ways of modifying them are applied to each of the fourteen basic knots. Each basic knot is treated separately, with its various modifications derived from the major methods and modification skills clearly shown in words and pictures. Not only will this strategy enable you to learn the knotting techniques of many new knots, but it will also allow you to fully appreciate the concept of basic knots and lead you to create new knots yourself.
FOUR MAIN METHODS OF TYING BASIC KNOTS
From lengthy research into the knots that were first used by the Chinese for practical purposes and later as decorative motifs, Chinese knotting experts, including Lydia Chen, the author of this book and a world-renowned knotter, have identified fourteen basic knots, namely the (1) cloverleaf knot, (2) pan chang knot, (3) round brocade knot, (4) constellation knot, (5) good luck knot, (6) Buddha knot, (7) double connection knot, (8) plafond knot, (9) flat knot, (10) creeper knot, (11) double coin knot, (12) button knot, (13) cross knot and (14) tassel knot.
These fourteen basic knots have been classified not only according to their structure but also the four main methods or techniques used to tie them, which include (1) pulling and wrapping outer loops, (2) using single flat knots, (3) overlapping outer loops and (4) knotting semi-outer loops or “S” curves.
1. Pulling and Wrapping Ear Loops
Cloverleaf Knot
This is made by forming first one ear loop, then a second ear loop and passing it through the first one, then forming a third ear loop and passing it through the second one. The cord end is pulled tight to form the center knot. The cord sections between the inner loops make up the outer loops of the knot.
Pan Chang Knot
This knot is formed using the cloverleaf knotting technique, but increasing the number of ear loops on each side to two or more. The cord end is hooked up with the fourth side of ear loops two times or more using the same technique as the cloverleaf knot.
Round Brocade Knot
This involves the cloverleaf knotting technique, but an additional ear loop is pulled through every second or more ear loop in front of it. The second last ear loop is then hooked up with the first two loops in the beginning using the pull one, wrap one technique.
Constellation Knot
This knot is formed using the round brocade knotting technique, except that the second ear loop in the beginning is wrapped around the first. The rest of the ear loops are done in the usual pull one, wrap one technique. The last two ear loops are then hooked up with the first two ear loops, also using the pull one, wrap one method.
Good Luck Knot
This is tied using the cloverleaf knotting technique, but after pulling the cord end through each ear loop, the cord end is reversed and pulled through each ear loop again to make it look as though the knot is being tied with two cords. The difference between a good luck knot tied this way and one done using the overlapping ear loop method is that the cord ends will come out of the knot body in a slightly different position.
2. Using Single Flat Knots
Buddha Knot
This is made of two flat knots, with the second knot hooking through the loop of the first. The cord between the two knots becomes the top loop.
Double Connection Knot
One cord end is used to tie a single flat knot around the other cord end, then the other cord end is used to tie a single flat knot around the first cord.
Plafond Knot
The body of this knot is made by hooking up and tightening four consecutive single flat knots using both cord ends.
Flat Knot
This is formed of two opposing single flat knots pulled together.
Creeper Knot
This knot is made by tying two opposing single flat knots, then pulling the cord section on the top part into the body of the knot.
3. Overlapping Ear Loops
Double Coin Knot
This knot involves making two ear loops, one on top of the other, with a third ear loop weaving through the other two to hold them together.
Button Knot
This involves overlapping the ear loops of two opposing knots. The right ear loop with the cord end beneath it is put on top of the left ear loop. The right cord end is then woven clockwise around the overlapped loops.
4. Using Semi-ear Loops or “S” Curves
Cross
