Page 25 - Lydia Chen - The Complete Book of Chinese Knotting

02 Four Meth of Bsc Knots (17-27) rp08 5/30/08 6:01 PM Page 22

4. Overlapping the Ear Loops
A good luck knot is made by overlapping the ear loops clockwise or anticlockwise.
The more ear loops involved, the bigger the hole in the center of the knot body. To
rectify this, two ear loops can be overlapped after every two, three or more interspac-
ing loops. In this way, the hole will shrink and the knot body thicken.

Wall decoration made from a good luck knot
in which two outer loops were overlapped
after every two interspacing loops.
Good luck knot with four outer loops. Good luck knot with six outer loops.The two outer loops
are overlapped after every two interspacing loops.

The first layer of ear loops in this good luck knot are overlapped in the usual way.
However, for the second layer, the outer loops are overlapped after every one, two or
three outer loops to produce compound outer loops, giving the knot the name good
luck knot with compound loops.

Brooch made from a good luck knot with
four compound loops.
Good luck knot with four outer loops. Good luck knot with four compound loops.

The first layer of ear loops in this good luck knot are overlapped in the usual way.
Before overlapping the outer loops in the second layer, the side loops around the knot
body are lengthened and overlapped to form new basic knots. Slightly different new
knots can be devised by varying the direction of the lengthening process, the face
from which the side loops are lengthened and the direction of the overlap.

Brooches made from good luck knots with
overlapped side loops.

Good luck knot with four outer loops. Good luck knot with overlapped side loops.

22 CHINES
CHINESE KNOTTING TECHNIQUES