Page 115 - Lidya Chen "Complete Book of Chinese Knotting"

06 Good Luck Knot (81–114) 3/23/07 4:23 PM Page 112

Button Knot

The fascinating little buttons found on traditional Chinese clothing, especially the
openings of jackets, blouses, and dresses, are made from simple button knots. This
knot is formed by overlapping two opposing outer loops, much like the double coin
knot (page 106). Here, the right outer loop with the cord end beneath it is placed on
top of the left outer loop. The right cord end is then woven clockwise around the
overlapped layers. This knot does not lend itself to many variations.

Modified Knots
The knotting technique and the tightening process can be altered slightly to produce
some modified knots. For example, the knotting process can be reversed, the knot
body spread out and the four cord sections surrounding the knot body tied into four
side knots. The knot body will make a 90-degree shift with a more pronounced three-
dimensional effect. This modified knot is called the three-dimensional button knot.

Three-dimensional button
knot (see page 113).

Modified Knot Body
The basic knotting technique of the button knot can be changed to make both cord
ends come out from two ends of the knot body so as to increase its applications. This
modified knot is called the single cord end button knot.

Single cord end button
knot (see page 114).

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