Page 68 - Lydia Chen - The Complete Book of Chinese Knotting

05 Constellation Knot (65-80) rp08 6/9/08 3:03 PM Page 65

Constellation Knot

This knot, tied using the wrap one, pull one technique, resembles a star, hence its
name. By varying the number of ear loops and their sequence, a series of modified
constellation knots can be produced, although fairly similar in appearance.

Modified Knots

Increasing the Number of Outer Loops
Using the knotting technique of the basic constellation knot, the number of ear
loops can be increased, for example to 4, 5, 6, etc., to produce knots with a varying
number of outer loops. As with the round brocade knot, however, the more outer
loops there are, the larger the central hole becomes. This can be remedied by wrap-
ping every second or third ear loop, etc. instead of every one. In this way, the
central hole will become smaller although the knot itself will be thicker.

Constellation Constellation
knot with four knot with five
outer loops (see outer loops (see
page 66). page 67).

Changing the Knotting Sequence of Ear Loops
The constellation knot can be tied with both compound and overlapped outer
loops. Since the number of outer loops can be increased indefinitely, the number of
variations is also large.

Constellation knot Constellation knot
with compound with overlapped
outer loops (see outer loops (see
page 69). page 71).

Modified Knot Bodies
The basic knotting technique of the constellation knot can be changed by extend-
ing the ear loops, thereby increasing the number of pulls and wraps. Similarly, by
varying the wrap and pull technique of the knot body weave, four types of com-
pound constellation knots are possible.

Varying and Extending Ear Loops

Type 1 Compound constellation Type 2 Compound constellation Type 3 Compound constellation Type 4 Compound constellation
knot (see page 73). knot (see page 75). knot (see page 77). knot (see page 79).

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