Hello! I did it! I made some Korean knots. It wasn’t easy… it is a very precise art. One wrong turn usually means the end of that attempt. How did I do them? Read on!
First I tried finding a chart with the main Korean knots. I found these:
These come from a book you can buy in Etsy HERE.
Finding a cord to do them with was not easy… I opted for a cord that was satin and came in a packet with many colors. This cord turned out to be too smooth and slippery, so I would try to get something rougher but of the same width. I think working with bigger cord is helpful to a beginner.
My first attempts were simple:
The Hwaman knot. I could not find a meaning or explanation for this knot, but it was one of the simpler ones:
I used this video to make it:
The Dangcho knot. The Dangcho knot, also known as the “Creeper knot”, is a Korean knot that gets its name from its intertwining nature, similar to the creeper plant.
I used this video to make it:
The Simple Maehwa Knot. It also can look like a butterfly.
This is the video I used to get it:
The Maehwa knot. The plum knot is a knot named after its resemblance to a plum blossom. It simbolizes perseverance, hope and renewal.
This took me like 10 tries… I was so happy when I finally got it! I definitely learned to persevere with it! These are the videos that guided me:
This channel is filled with incredible projects. HERE is her Maedeup playlist. It is amazing!
The Good Luck knot. Also known as the Chrysanthemum Knot and One Mind Knot originated in China and can be seen in images carved on a statue of the East Asian Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin, which was created between AD 557 and 588, and later found in a cave in northwest China.
This was my favorite of all I accomplished… it is such a geometric beauty and it is the same in the back. And it was not as hard for me as the previous one. These is the video that helped me get it:
Here is diagram and other variations:
You can find step by step photos here: http://www.free-macrame-patterns.com/good-luck-knot.html (This is where the yellow knot above came from)
This was not my first time creating Korean knots. I had the chance of taking a Korean Knot class in the Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul in 2018. This old area of Seoul is filled with traditional homes from the late Joseon Era (20th century). I went to a place called the Donglim Knot Workshop. These are photos from then:
Some people call this the Donglim Knot Museum, but it is not a museum, like it says on its facade it is Workshop space. When you go in you see many incredible knot creations. So inspiring!
We made a bracelet first… they gave use these incredible beads… I really wanted to learn to make those but there was not time.
Here it is how it is now… I treasure it…
Then we made what I was totally looking forward to: a dragonfly!
I really enjoyed making the body. And it was so nice to have the chance to recreate it…
Here are two images from working on it. I found pins helped to keep my piece from slipping so much. I actually like it even more than the one I made in Seoul because its head really reminds me of one. I have yet to decide what to do with its tail but I’m in no rush! ^ ^
I will post a video in my the ‘myvirtualworldtrip’ Instagram account if you are interested in seeing a bit of how I did it. This is the video that guided me:
I was not able to get these but they are on my list to accomplish next:
Gosh the day I can do those butterflies…!!!
This channel: https://youtube.com/@kukuyatube?si=r6T7-J5hFCnE2Y67 is also really good and she uses pins sometimes to hold down her work and I found that useful.
How I love this craft!
Are you ready to try it?! You can do it! ^ ^
This is a photo of me photobombing another tourist in the Bukchon area that day! A beautiful memory… ^ ^
My Virtual World Trip 