Knot RulesKnots Rule?

In Symmetry, Shape and Space, by Christine Kinsey and Theresa Moore, there are 7 rules given for knotting.

Rule 1. Always begin the grid with a gray dot in the upper left- hand corner. Rule 2. Never go through a gray dot, except at the corners of the diagram. Rule 3. Go through all the black dots. Rule 4. Alternate overpasses and underpasses at the crossings. Rule 5. The cord or curve forming the knot should be of uniform width. Rule 6. Corner points are V-shaped, rather than U-shaped. Rule 7. If you hit a bar, the crossings change as follows:

or changes, depending on the orientation of the bar, to or

1) In the following grid, apply the following steps:(Pencil recommended)Step 1: Make a grid for a 4 by 6 knot. (done for you)Step 2: Draw diagonals through the black dots.Step 3 Traditionally the corners are squared, going through the gray dots.Step 4: Apply the crossing rule (4).Step 5: Round off any angles, except at the corners, and thicken the lines as in rule 5.

2) Make your own knot. Choose from the following dimensions: 6 x 6, 6x 9, 3 x 9, 4 x 8, 5 x10, 6 x 10. Each person at a table should choose differently. Always begin with the upper left corner.

3) A closed knot has no loose ends. Which grids haven closed knots?

4) The number of strands is the number of strings needed to form the knot. Make a rule for how the number of strands relates to the grid size.

5) See rule 7 for how bars effect the diagrams. On the next page are some diagrams with bars.

6) Why is it always possible to alternate over and underpasses at the crossings?

The Josephine knot, or Carrick bend, aka the true lover’s knot.

From the Book of Kells

From the Lindisfarne Gospels