Page 89 - Lydia Chen - The Complete Book of Chinese Knotting

06 Good Luck Knot (81–114) 4/10/07 12:18 PM Page 86

Type 1 Good Luck Knot with Small Outer Loops
Besides adding more ear loops in order to increase the total number of outer loops, it
is also possible – after knotting the first layer – to lengthen the small outer loops
around the knot body so that they form the second layer of ear loops for overlapping
and pressing together. This method not only increases the number of outer loops, but
also improves the overall appearance of the knot.
There are five ways of tying modified good luck knots with small outer loops:
1. Lengthening the small outer loops on either the front or back face of the first layer.
2. Lengthening the small ear loops clockwise or anticlockwise.
3. Overlapping and pressing together different numbers of small outer loops to form
ear loops for the second layer of the knot body.
4. Doing method 3 clockwise or anticlockwise.
5. Overlapping and pressing together the big and small outer loops to form the
second layer of the knot body.
Variations in the tightness of the knot body, the arrangements of big and small
outer loops, and the presence or labsence of special lines all produce different results.
For the five types of modified good luck knots taught here, the first layer of each
is tied anticlockwise using the basic good luck knotting technique. The second layer
is done by lengthening and knotting the small outer loops clockwise.

For Type 1 Good Luck Knot with Small Outer Loops, working clockwise, pull out
each small outer loop on the back of the first layer to lengthen it. Systematically press
every other loop and insert it into the next loop.
TYING INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1. Tie the first layer using the basic good luck knotting technique, then pull out
each small outer loop on the back. Step 2. For the second layer, press small outer loop
1 on 2 and insert into 3. Step 3. Press small outer loop 2 on 1 and 3 and insert into 4.
Step 4. Press small outer loop 3 on 2 and 4 and insert into 1. Step 5. Press small outer
loop 4 on 3, pull through 1 and insert into 2. Tighten the cords in the direction of the
arrows.
HINTS
• When lengthening the small outer loops on the first layer, do this anticlockwise on
the front and clockwise on the back to prevent the knot body becoming loose.
• When lengthening the small outer loops, anchor the long and short outer loops on
a piece of chipboard or a cardboard box with round-head pins to prevent the loops
getting messed up and the body misshapen in the second round.

2
1 2
3

Step 2. 1 + 2 – 3
Step 3. 2 + 1 + 3 – 4
Step 1. 1 + 2
2 + 1 + 3
3 + 2 + 4 1
4 + 3 – 1
4

86 GOOD LUCK KNOT