Page 139 - Lydia Chen - The Complete Book of Chinese Knotting

08 Creative Designs (130-147) 3/23/07 5:06 PM Page 136

27 Plafond Designs
TYING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Use two different color cords. Split into four
groups and tie a central round brocade knot with
24 ear loops, wrapping every fifth loop. The word “plafond” refers to any flat, vaulted or domed ceiling, especially one having
2. Use the two cord ends from every cord section some painted or stucco ornamentation. The ceilings often have a circular design in
to tie a round brocade knot.Then tie each outer the center with repeating patterns, often in clearly defined segments, radiating out to
loop into a cloverleaf knot to form the second
layer. the edges of bordering rectangles. Such ceilings were common lining the verandas
3. For the outermost circle, tie the orange and and staterooms of ancient Chinese palaces. As its name suggests, the plafond knot has
yellow cord ends into button knots, then arrange a central focal point, usually containing an auspicious motif, with other knots radiat-
the remaining cords in a semicircle around the
knot body and hide the cord ends inside it. ing symmetrically in all directions.

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TYING INSTRUCTIONS
1.Tie a purple and a green cord into a round brocade knot with 72
ear loops, wrapping every second loop.
2.Tie the purple cord into two loops with sufficient length to be
used as broken cords to tie the outer circle (see step 5 below).
3.Then tie the green cord into two ear loops, a cloverleaf knot,
three ear loops, a round brocade knot, three ear loops, a cloverleaf
knot and finally two ear loops as one single unit. Pull the green
cord into the inner circle, complete another unit and pull out (see
step 6 below).
4. Use the purple cord to tie a second unit.
5. Tying the outer circle: Cut the purple outer loop, then tie both
cord ends into a double connection knot, a cloverleaf knot, a pan
chang knot and a cloverleaf knot respectively. Separate the two
cord ends and tie a double connection knot followed by a clover-
leaf knot with a single cord end, then tie this cord and that from
an adjacent unit into a double connection knot and a button knot.
Then tie a cloverleaf knot with a single cord end and hide all the
cord ends inside the button knot.

6. Tying the inner circle:To tie a single unit, first tie half a double
connection knot, half a cloverleaf knot and half a button knot, then
turn back the cord end, leave an outer loop and carry on knotting
a ru yi knot and a double connection knot.When knotting the last
unit in the inner circle, use the “single cord end and it must come
out from somewhere else”technique to tie a button knot.Then
tie a cloverleaf knot with multiple outer loops to form a hexagon.
Finally, pull the cord through the button knot and complete the
entire unit.

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