Knots

Knotting is a very versatile craft: Chinese knots, macrame, tatting,...Take your pick!

If you want to learn more about knotting I would recommend this website and knotting group: www.khww.net, it contains several tutorials with detailed pictures.

Macrame

I haven't written a pattern for plant hangers but it is very easy and you can find many on the web. The basic idea is to form a net around a pot, the most common used knots are square knots (alternated to form the net) and crown knots, but the variations are endless. You can also add beads and mix the colors. Two colors work best for me.

Chinese knots

I don't have many pictures of Chinese knots, I usually incorporate them into other projects. I have a very good book, by Lydia Chen called "Chinese Knotting", it is very easy to follow the steps. The knots are often complex and are tied on a board using pins as shown below.

Tatting

Tatting is called "dentelle frivolite" in French. I bought a book at Christmas 05.I like this craft because even if it looks like crochet it is in fact based on a knot. The knots are tied in a very clever way, allowing you to create patterns for doilies or edging. My first impression is that it is tedious, the knots are small and if you make a mistake it is difficult to undo the knots without damaging the thread. But the result is pleasing and I guess that with more experience it will get easier.

I'm doing 'shuttle tatting', not 'needle tatting', I believe the result is the same, only the method differs.

Lace

I saw a short demo of bobin lace in France and I wanted to give it a try, so I ordered a book and supplies and made a bookmark. It is interesting, but tedious and not very comfortable as you have to bend over your work. Tatting was easier. The bobins in lace making have the same use as the tamas in Kumihimo braiding: they provide tension. To keep the knots/weave in place, you use the sword in the takadai stand, and pins in lace work.