Page 321 - Lindsey Philpott "The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots"
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ornamental knots 315
There are many other forms of ornamental some elegant pieces from Brian Fields, a former
knots that I do not cover. Much remains for you to president of the International Guild of Knot Tyers
discover. (IGKT) using instructions amended from his fine
Few things can convey the concept of work in an IGKT publication called Concerning
togetherness better than a decorative knot. An Crosses. Another true devotee of the flat knot is
untied or incomplete knot represents disharmony. Skip Pennock of Maryland. He also committed
But when two strands act as one, gaining colour his patterns to a publication of the IGKT in 2002
and shape, as well as inexorable binding, they and has been very encouraging in helping others
become united in spirit. Wander for a while among make similar woven flat mats and crosses. Crosses
these decorative and ornamental knots; browse can also be made as a solid piece, as we see later
this sampling of work from around the world, in courtesy of Patrick Ducey of the Pacific Americas
different fabrics, different colours, and different Branch of the International Guild of Knot Tyers.
shapes. Harmony awaits! The shapes we share with you here of Celtic-based
cross forms may be thought of as pagan, but really
CruCiform Knots they are Celtic only and have long histories. Let’s
These are really braided knots, made from short start the cruciform shapes with some regular
intersecting pieces, or arms, into the forms of X-shaped pieces.
crosses, including the ‘X’, the Christian faith-based These first few are from Brian Fields.
T-shaped cross, and even the Calvinistic cross with A simple Carrick Knot Mat follows.
two sets of horizontal arms. I have reproduced
1 start with a clockwise
round turn, which is
then crossed over itself
to form the base start
of a Carrick Knot.
2 finish the Carrick Knot shape under, over, under, 3 Here the Carrick Knot shape is defined and
doubling has been started.
over, under.
Note that the Carrick Mat Cross is built clockwise
if you tuck the overhand knots as left-hand knots
instead. Here the mat progresses anti-clockwise as
each right-hand overhand knot is made.