The Ultimate Book Of Decorative Knots by Lindsey Philpott
Skyhorse Publishing Inc. (New York) 2010 ISBN-13: 978-1-60239-242-7
Within this hardback book and glossy dust jacket are no less than 627 pages in 11 chapters titled: Getting Started; Materials, Methods, Measurements and Tools; Flat Knots; Braids, and Plaits; Sinnets; Covering Knots; Purely Decorative Knots; Netting and Woven Knots; Turk’s Head Knots; Knob knots; and Ornamental Knots. Five appendices are headed: Projects; a List of Contacts; a Glossary (from ‘Bosal’ via ‘Knittle’, ‘Pleaching’ and ‘Skiving’ to ‘Yarns’); a Bibliography (79 titles from 1847 to 2009); and an Index; followed by 13 lined but otherwise blank pages for the reader’s own use labelled My Favourite Knots.
Weighing 1.5kg and measuring 28.5 cm x 22.5cm x 3cm, this hefty manual has around 1,700 coloured illustrations of step-by-step tying stages – many life-sized – plus the completed specimens. I counted some 150 individual knots, but multiply this number by the uncounted enlargements and elaborations, as well as alternative tying methods. Complementing them are several evocative knot pictures from worldwide sources … see the English actress and model Keira Knightley on the red carpet at the 2006 Golden Globe Awards.
Lindsey is a leading light – ashore and afloat – on the south Californian rope-work and rigging scene, a founder and past-president of the Pacific Americas Branch of the Guild, and the current editor of Knotting Matters. This book follows his earlier (2005) Knots – a Complete Guide. A civil engineer by profession, he is at heart a teacher, keen to demystify fancy knotting, who laces his text with helpful tying tips, and answers to knotting FAQs. He defines and differentiates terms such as ‘decorative’ and ‘ornamental’ as well as ‘braid’, ‘plait’ and ‘sinnet’. Could the latter actually come from ‘sennite’ (outmoded English: a seven day week)? Also, whenever possible, he unselfishly names those individual knot tyers – often Guild members – who deserve a mention and credit.
The book’s knotty nomenclature is mostly standard, with the caveat that where nationalities are assigned – Celtic, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Korean (rarer, this one), Russian and Spanish – these adjectives may derive from usage rather than fact. The prettiest couple of names to catch my eye are the Blue and Golden Rose Knots; while two that were unfamiliar to me, because I have always known them by other titles, are the Chinese Buddha Knot and the Emperor (of Snake Band) Sinnet.
This action-packed compendium enables beginners and improvers to do ambitious fancy knotting; and it may also enhance the repertoires of more accomplished exponents.
Geoffrey Budworth