Sacred Knots: Create, Adorn, and Transform through the Art of Knotting

Description

A bright and vibrant guide to contemporary knot making--learn to tie decorative knots for creative projects and discover a meditative and meaningful crafting practice. Knotting is ancient craft that connects us to our past and present, helping us to tap into ancestral wisdom while also grounding us in the present moment. From East Asia to the British Isles, skillful play between hand and eye with only a single continuous cord has developed functional necessities and beautiful decor, and it remains a relevant skill today. In this modern era, knotting has the added benefit of offering us a meditative break from our hectic lives, calming the mind in a tactile, engaging way. Through a journey of creative exercises and projects, this book offers readers tools to form a knotting practice that will fuel creativity and inspire mindfulness in daily life. Sacred Knots provides clear, illustrated step-by-step instructions to learn basic knots (like the square knot, double coin, cloud knot, or sun cycle) and then develop your skills to create larger projects that focus on color, blending techniques, and experimentation with unconventional materials. Projects include Pipa Knot Earrings, a Sun Worshipper Statement Necklace, a Colorblock Woven Knot Panel, and a Double Coin Curtain. Going beyond the basics of knotting, you'll discover ways to use knot tying for meditation, as a way to manifest intentions, and as a hands-on creative practice.

LISE SILVA GOMES is an artist based in Berkeley, CA. She explores the power of symbols through her work with sacred knots, creating fiber jewelry and wall hangings with handmade thread-wrapped cord entwined in knot designs that serve as metaphors for life experiences, dreams, and deep desires. In 2013, she introduced her own line of knot-based art, accessories, and jewelry. She leads guided meditations and speaks, writes, and illustrates around the topic of creativity and ethics as an extension of her popular zine Craft & Practice.