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The Resurgence of Chinese Knotting

Chinese knotting, sometimes referred to as Chinese macramé, is a craft that is increasingly gaining popularity in both the East and the West as more and more people come to realize the benefits of traditional handwork in a frenetic world of urban industrialization, mass production, modern transportation and computer technology. This traditional craft provides not only a wonderful means of relaxation but also allows the artistic satisfaction of producing a personalized work of art, especially on clothing and objects and in home décor. Asian fashion designers often add the finishing touches to their work with knots, while homemakers add elegance to their houses with this fine art. Nowadays, handcraft traders in the East send huge quantities of Chinese knots overseas, while specialty shops selling ornamental Chinese knots have mushroomed in both the East and the West.

Chinese knotting, literally “the joining of two cords,” is an ancient and revered art form in China and an integral part of Chinese life. Since ancient times, Chinese knots have been fashioned from cotton and silk for a variety of practical and decorative purposes: to record events, aid in fishing and hunting, wrap and tie items, embellish personal attire, ornament other works of art such as ancient portraits, and communicate. Knots in the form of tassels were used to enhance the appearance of chopsticks, fans, scepters, talismans and even spectacle cases in the later Ching Dynasty. The earliest recorded use of decorative knots is on bronze vessels dating to the Warring States Period (700 BC). Chinese knots have decorated both the fixtures of palace halls and the daily implements of country folk. They have also appeared in paintings, sculptures and folk art. In Chinese poetry, knots symbolize the emotional ties of lovers, and ornamental knots are traditional keepsakes exchanged by lovers.

In China up until the late 1930s, decorative knotting was a widely practiced pastime in both rural and urban areas. On festive occasions and during important rites of passage such as weddings, intricate and beautiful knots, tied by family and friends, were visible everywhere, lending both a festive and personal air to important occasions. The knots were an aesthetic expression of Chinese folk symbolism, expressing wishes for good fortune and wealth or the joys of love and marriage. From the 1930s up until the late 1970s, when the art of macramé became popular in the West – causing a simultaneous revival of interest in Chinese knotting – traditional knotting was barely seen except in museums where examples were shown as relics of an ancient culture or in antique shops where they were greedily snapped up by foreign buyers intrigued by the intricate craftsmanship and magnificent color combinations of the exquisitely symmetrical knots on sale. Today, the art of knotting has attracted worldwide attention, achieving breakthroughs in both design and application.

This second book by Lydia Chen, a well-known and highly respected authority on Chinese knotting and a pioneer in the revival of the craft, builds on her first one, Chinese Knotting: Creative Designs That Are Easy and Fun! (Tuttle, 2003) and opens up a brand new world of Chinese knotting applications. In this book, the author focuses on the use of Chinese knots as fashion accessories – hair ornaments, earrings, necklaces, pendants, brooches, belts, bracelets and rings – and as accents on clothing, as well as accessories on other objects, in the hope that readers will be encouraged to revolutionize the art form by developing their own styles. The author builds on the basic knots by introducing more complex examples – combinations and variations of the simple knots – and also teaches readers how to make tassels. Moreover, the repertoire of materials has been extended – from silk and cotton cords to those made of leather, cloth, plastic, metal, paper and clay – thereby stimulating further creativity and innovation.

The traditional folk art of Chinese knotting has spread to every corner of the globe, very largely in response to Lydia Chen’s first pioneering book. Today, both men and women, young and old, practice this ancient craft. As crafts people, you should not be satisfied with a knowledge of only a handful of basic knots. You should, instead, aim to extend your knotting repertoire, devise your own knots and incorporate this elegant art form into every aspect of your life.

This practical manual starts by recapping the basic principles and skills required to tie knots, as well as the materials that can be used, and gives handy tips on knot formation and color blending. Full color photographs in the second part of the book illustrate how knot formations can be applied to clothing and other objects used in everyday life. The next two parts – the technical sections – present clear two-color, step-by-step instructions for making nine of the most basic knots in the Chinese knotting repertoire, nineteen compound knots created by the author from the basic knots and, for the first time, five tassels. The last part of the book presents sketches and step-by-step instructions for making the 135 knot formations illustrated in full color throughout the book. Once the knots have been mastered, the sky is the limit for the creative and dedicated knotter.

Design and make your own Chinese knots. Charm everyone you meet.

Just as each person has his or her own personality, each Chinese knot has its own unique beauty and character. Here, ten charming girls display with pride and joy some of the knot formations taught in this book as fashion accessories and accents on clothing: belts, pendants, and decorations on hats and bags.

Let your imagination run wild in the world of Chinese knots. A vast variety of materials can be used, either singly or in combination, to make single knots as well as more complex knot formations. The lucky knot shown here is made of metal cords and its loops embellished with love beans. It will make an ideal gift for your partner. The graceful butterfly knot below it is made from plastic cords, a modern and trendy material which will appeal to the younger set.