Page 120 - Lindsey Philpott "The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots"

114 THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF DECORATIVE KNOTS

other named sinnets
The use of sinnets was very widespread, so much
so that some styles have been attributed to specific
countries. I am not certain, but I believe that all
references to such names were simply the fancy of
whoever had tied the sinnet and felt it was worthy of
some special name, to be remembered more easily
than, say, ‘fourteen-strand variegated sinnet’, which
does not trip off the tongue quite as readily.

Sixteen-Strand Russian Sinnet
Russian Sinnet is made with an over-two, under-two
weaving method with an even number of strands as
a multiple of four e.g. 16, 20, 24, 28, etc., and usually Here is how the first pass looks.
requires at least sixteen strands to look even halfway
decent. To make the sinnet, lay all the strands tight end of a pair of lolly sticks or chopsticks. Remove
and flat together (see photograph of setup below). the elastic band from one side when you need to
Start the weave on the left-hand side if you are add a passed strand, then replace that band and
right-handed (right, if left-handed) and weave over remove the other to release a new strand to pass.
two, under two all the way to the right side. Finish As you reach the other side of the weaving you will
each pass by firmly or moderately tightening the find that you have one strand remaining. Cross this
strand you pass (but always the same tension) to the last strand down over the end of the strand woven
opposite side, while holding the remaining strands through where the bamboo skewer was inserted.
tightly with a clamp – you could also use your other The sinnet takes some getting used to because it
hand to clamp, but this becomes difficult to handle. has a tendency to buckle toward your dominant
It makes life easier if you use a bamboo skewer (such hand. Keeping the tension even in all the vertical
as is used for kebabs) to weave through the flattened strands and the single horizontal strand each time
strands where the single strand is then going to is a challenge! Cut away the first two inches and the
follow, or you could use a darning needle or a wire last two inches to get rid of the uneven tension that
loop. Be sure not to confuse the order of the strands is likely to be present. The largest Russian Sinnet of
– it is so heartbreaking having to go back and undo which I am aware was made by master knotter Skip
what you already made! Your temporary second Hipps, now living in Hawaii, who made one of 40
clamp to keep the order of the strands correct can strands.
be made by wrapping an elastic band around each
The finished Russian Sinnet.

Here is how the setup looks.