Example of a Bend

Decorative and Functional! One of the oldest symbols known to man is the knot. While many of the original meanings have been lost, today the knot is seen as a binding of two separate entities, hence the "love knot". The Chinese "endless knot" (pan-zhang) means long coil or twist and is commonly known as one of the eight primary Buddhist symbols - representing a long life interrupted by setbacks. In Medieval Europe, specific knots became identified with specific royal families and are referred to as heraldic knots.

There are four basic groups of knot types:

- Bends (to join)

- Hitches (to attach)

- Stopper Knots (to stop unraveling) and

- Loop Knots (to form fixed or running loops)

The pictures shown are examples from these four classes of knots.

To read more on knots check out these resources:

The Ashley Book of Knots by Clifford W. Ashley

The Complete Book of Knots by Geoffrey Budworth

The Art of Knotting & Splicing by Cyrus Lawrence Day

Knots & Splices by Cyrus Lawrence Day

Encyclopedia of Knots and Fancy Rope Work by Raoll Graumont and John Hensel

The Book of Decorative Knots by Peter Owen

Heraldic Knots by Charles Warner

History and Science of Knots, J.C. Turner and P. van de Griend editors

Example of a Stopper	Example of a Bend