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Book Review - Chinese Knotting
Chinese Knotting - Creative Designs that are Easy and Fun
by Lydia Chen
Hardcover: 116 pages
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing, Periplus Editions/ Echo Publishing Co, Ltd.; 2nd edition (August 1, 2003)
ISBN: 0804833990
Learn how to tie simple and complex Chinese knots (Chinese macrame) using these detailed step-by-step instructions. Once you know the knots, the projects will walk you through several decorative items, incuding knotted jewelry. Knots include the double coin, cloverleaf, button, longevity, dragon, butterfly, and phoenix, to name just a few of the many given in the instructions. |
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This books has it all: history of Chinese knotting, an introduction to the materials and techniques used to make the knots, detailed well-diagrammed instructions for basic and compound knots, and lots of beautiful projects to make with the knots. The book isn't about using knots for jewelrymaking, per se, but the projects are pieces of jewelry or ornaments that can be adapted for jewelry. The finished projects are stunning and attainable, even if you can barely knot your shoes! Each instruction page (11 simple knots and 14 compound knots) gives the knot's name, an explanation of the traditional symbolism of the knot, hint and tips for tying, detailed color line drawings to guide you through the steps, and a photograph of the finished knot. Once you master the knots, you can move on to the projects. These instructions are less detailed, but go hand-in-hand with the knotting tutorials. The designs of the projects are really elegant (although the make-up and clothing on the models tends to be a bit over-the-top). Minimal materials are required to learn the techniques. The knots are adaptable for more media than cord, such as wire.
I highly recommend Lydia Chen's book for those interested in the history of Chinese knotting. If you want to learn to tie the knots, this will be an indispendible reference and project book.
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