Page 201 - Lindsey Philpott "The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots"

purely decorative knots 195

The insertion of a Star Knot into any kind of Clarified Single-Strand Star
decorative work is a mark of true accomplishment, Knot
as you can probably tell from the above instructions! The Single-Strand Star Knot is a superficially
However, not all Star Knots can be made in the similar knot to the regular Star Knot of several
process of making another element. For instance, strands, but it is not the same knot. An excellent
what if it looks right to have a red Star Knot in the explanation of the Single-Strand Star Knot is given
middle of a pole or rail that is in Harrison’s Book of Knots, and the venerable
already covered with Geoffrey Budworth IGKT shows, in his Complete Book
white Half Hitching or of Decorative Knots [1998], an original solution to
square knots? Seem the method offered by Solly as an improvement
impossible? Here are a over Harrison’s method. Solly does not like the
couple of methods that jointing in Harrison’s knot, and offers his own
a Star Knot of any solution in the form of an extension to the method
number of Points’ of the Double-Chain Braid, shown above. Although
may be made the method offered by Harrison is less than clear
and inserted into a from his text, it may appear easier when seen in
piece of work without disrupting the flow of the photographs, which I cannot find anywhere else
base work, or may even be inserted after all the in the literature available to me. That having been
other work is complete. It is known as a Single- said, it would seem appropriate then to offer this
Strand Star Knot and is, indeed, made from a single slight improvement in the literature through the
strand of cord. If it is likely that the Star will be addition of clear photographs, at least as it applies
poked, prodded, or pulled (people seem to want to to Harrison’s finish. Stages 13 to 25 below show the
pull on knots for some reason), then you might want finishing of the knot, with the basic formation found
to insert the start of your strand into the underlying in the first twelve stages – recall that we are trying to
cords or, if there is no underlying cord, glued into a make something complex in easier steps.
small hole drilled in the base piece specifically wide
enough to receive the starting end of the cord you
are working with.
The first method shown here was introduced
by Thomas Solly in Knotting
Matters, Spring 1985:11.

1 We will start by making a fourteen-point

Single-Strand Star Knot. Make a Lark’s Head

Single Strand Star Knot, made according to Solly’s near the end of the cord over a pen, pencil, or
other rod-shaped object. Wrap the right cord
‘recipe’ given in IGKT Knotting Matters, Spring (standing part) over the left and hold it with a
1985. Single Strand Star Knot, side view. Note finger.
slope of doubled strands entering each loop.