tools
creations

Chinese Knotting

A knotted bracelet
A knotted bracelet I made for a friend's birthday

Chinese knotting has been around for thousands of years! The earliest known instance of knotting for accessorization is a shell necklace from about 20,000 years ago during the New Stone Age. In the following millenia the royal palace drove innovation in knot-making by housing and supporting artisans who practiced the craft.


The use of Chinese knots in everyday items, however, didn’t become popularized until the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). During this time, knots were used in everything from chairs to wall art to hair pins! In spring of 2021, my sister and I decided that Chinese knots were cool and began to learn the craft as a bonding activity.


Tools to get started

  • Cork/foam board or other surface to stab pins into to keep the knot in place as you work
  • Synthetic fiber/silk string. Amazon has a lot of good options!
  • Fire. I don't have a lighter so I use my stove. This is to seal the ends of your knot. To seal, hold your ends near the flame. NOT IN. IT WILL BURN
  • Pins. Lots of pins. More pins than you'd expect. I like the ones that are long with little spheres on the blunt ends.
  • A needle and thread for sewing knots together. Otherwise, they don't keep their shape.
  • (optional) A knotting book! Tutorials on Youtube are great, but it's also nice to have a physical guide with steps to follow

Creations

These are my favorite knotting projects so far. I've provided the names of all the knots and techniques so that you can re-create them on your own!

Kate's Birthday Bracelet

components from top to bottom:

  1. double connection knot
  2. twined cord
  3. turquoise bead
  4. common whipping to cover the transition between cord colors
  5. four-squared endless knot
  6. double connection knot
  7. macrame square knot (aka extended flat knot) to secure opalite bead
  8. double connection knot
  9. stone chime knot with all loops except the corner outer loops tightened
  10. turquise bead
  11. macrame half knot
  12. button knot

Sun Bracelet

components from top to bottom:

  1. double connection knot
  2. prosperity knot
  3. double connection knot
  4. sauvastika creeper butterfly knot
  5. button knot
  6. variant of the eleven-loop good luck knot (with two extra loops) with an opalite bead sewn through the middle
  7. button knot
  8. round brocade knot with the outer loops tightened with a jade bead sewn through the middle
  9. double connection knot
  10. tassel knot
  11. prosperity knot
  12. button knot
  13. two figure-eight knots