Page 38 - Lindsey Philpott "The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots"

32 the ultimate book of decorative knots

SquaRe-Shaped Flat KnOtS you can easily double your mat using the same cord.
(Some of the mats presented in the oval and ‘other
squaRe Mat shapes’ sections can only be made with one pass
The square flat knots are really a category unto of a single cord because the ends finish in different
themselves. Square is a relative term in knotting, as places on the mat, effectively preventing a follow-
these knots are usually only approximately square around to make a doubling. Doubling these mats
when made with one cord. When made with two requires adding a second cord.)
cords they are squarer. Square Turk’s Head Knots
are those that have one fewer or one more part than
bights. So Turk’s Head Knots with five parts and
four bights as well as those with four parts and five
bights are both ‘square’. (See Chapter 9 on Turk’s
Head Knots for more explanation of the terms used
here). A true square knot is not possible as a Turk’s
Head Flat Knot because Turk’s Head Knots are
made with only one cord. The loops and turns for
true square knots require more than one cord, just
as you will see in Celtic Knots, which are designed
more for carving or for calligraphy. Here is a Celtic
Knot design of a single cord, as well as a square knot
requiring two cords, from Aidan Meehan’s book
Celtic Design: Knotwork.
To make a square knot mat you should first
determine how many bights or bumps you want on A square knot of two cords, again from Celtic
each of the knot’s sides. You’ll also need to identify Design: Knotwork.
the number of passes you want to make. Note that
in square knot mats made from a single cord, both
ends of your cord will finish in the same place, so

Make a clockwise
overhand loop, over,
1 over, over.
2 Continue clockwise and go under,

over, under on the right-
hand side.

16 spiral knots, from Celtic Design: Knotwork.