Page 320 - Lindsey Philpott "The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots"

11 ornamental

knots

What is the difference between an ornamental a past president of the International Guild of Knot
knot and a decorative knot? Perception. Ashley’s Tyers. Brian was a master at understanding flat
Book of Knots contains a chapter called ‘Decorative knots and I have reproduced some of his works here,
Marlinespike Seamanship’ that covers not only with my own instructions on how you can re-create
items found at sea, but also curtain holdbacks, them. Ornamental means then that the knot is part
lanyards, and bell-pulls. of the original work, while decorative means that
He did not add leatherwork used in horse tack the knot may be incorporated into another structure
to that chapter, nor ply-split braiding anywhere else or it may be a separate entity, depending on how it is
by name, although he did add Chinese Knotting to perceived.
various other chapters, and also included a chapter Chinese Knotting and other Asian knots make
on fancy knots and square knotting (also known as up a large part of this chapter. To finish, I have
macramé). The term ‘Ornamental Knots’ was used included some of the canvas work and split-ply
by John Hensel in his wonderful book of the same braiding work of sailors and fibre artists. Covered in
name. Most of the knots in his book focused on the following pages are:
the expansion of the Carrick Bend and the square
knot. It was his work that inspired me to understand Cruciform Macramé
knotting that could take on beautiful forms using Chinese Tatting
only basic, simple structures. Ornamental knots are Korean Canvas work
not strictly flat mats, globe shapes, or braids. One of Japanese Ply-Split work
my ornamental knotting mentors was Brian Field,