Page 105 - Lydia Chen - The Complete Book of Chinese Knotting

06 Good Luck Knot (81–114) 3/23/07 4:23 PM Page 102

Plafond Knot

The plafond knot, with its spiral-like center and rectangular border, was inspired by
the decorations found on the dome-like central sections of ceilings in Chinese tem-
ples and palaces. The ceilings, which are divided into nine rectangular sections, three
across and three deep, each have a domed apex composed of a circular design filled
with auspicious motifs surrounded by a complementary motif which radiates out to
the rectangular border. This effect is echoed in the plafond knot, which is made by
hooking up and tightening a number of flat knots.

Modified Knots
The knotting technique of the basic plafond knot involves tying horseshoe-shaped
flat knots around a central axis, followed by vertical and horizontal tightening. One
cord end is used to make a double horseshoe shape around the original loop, tying a
flat knot into itself before coming down to the bottom. The second cord end then
passes through the bottom of this flat knot, around through the ends of the first
horseshoe, under the original loop and through the top of the first flat knot to make
a horseshoe of its own. On its way down, it weaves through the central knot to make
a symmetrical pattern.

Modified Knot Bodies
As the body of the plafond knot is simple and loopless, it does not lend itself to much
modification. However, the basic plafond knot can be varied by altering the number
and the direction of the flat knots to produce the long plafond knot, and by changing
the knotting technique to produce the horizontal plafond knot.

Long plafond knot (see Horizontal plafond knot
page 103). (see page 105).

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