About

What's in here --

How it all started, What's behind the knot, Common types of knots, Why rainbow ropes, Where old meets new



Hi, my name is Ai Geok, and mine are the hands behind the knots.



How it all started ---

I first came into contact with Chinese knots in my teens, and have been fascinated by the art for the past 30 odd years. Some knots are seemingly simple looking, but may be very complex and difficult to tie, taking many hours or even days to complete. From home deco to personal embellishments, good things are meant to be shared, right ?

From making for my own use, to making as gifts for friends, to trying to preserve the traditional art craft, to making to sell, my journey have taken me on a roller-coaster ride of periods of dust accumulated supplies to frenzy knotting. This is at the top of my bucket list, but I'm by no means ticking if off yet.

In our world of factory-mass-produced goods, I savor the looks of admiration for my unique creations and my skills. Whether for yourself or as a gift for a friend, I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do.



What's behind the knot ---

Knotting is an ancient technique used in many cultures around the world. It is still used today, just ask any sailor, boy scout, girl guide, or NASA.

Chinese knotting is actually a relatively 'recent' adaptation by the wives of Chinese rulers whom wanted to use them to reflect their status, gain power and enhance their wardrobe. Many times, a spiritual aspect is added to those ornamental creations.

From the need to tie the knot correctly to save your life, to the need to showcase your family's wealth and power, the art of tying knots is more than just threading the ends of strings into loops.

A brooch that's one-of-a-kind

You may want to visit some websites to get a better idea of the history of knots :

• Ancient Knots
• History of Chinese Knots

Happy iSurfing !



Common types of knots --

1.   Brocade knot 团锦结

The brocade knot represents unity. It is a very versatile knot as the loops can be shaped to look like various flora and fauna.

2.   Button knot 纽扣结

The button knot is used on traditional cheong-sum dresses as a button, hence its name. It is very useful as a starting or ending knot as it retains its shape well.

3.   Clover knot 酢酱草结

The clover knot mimics the common clover leaves, not just in form but also in the popular belief of bringing good luck. Its compact structure allows it to be formed into Chinese words or English alphabets.

4.   Lucky knot 吉祥结

The lucky knot is named by the ancient people who created it, though the actual reasoning behind it is not known.

5.   Heart knot 心结

   The Celtic heart knot can be pulled into a heart-shape, hence its name. It is a very easy knot to tie without tools, thus especially appropriate for beginners.

6.   Combination knot >综合结

Why rainbow ropes ---

I like to use rainbow coloured ropes in many of my designs.

1. I wish to be the Rainbow in your cloud !
2. to bring colours and joy to people
3. the colour setting of the end product usually surprises me
4. the product can match with many wardrobe choices
5. ropes are not easily available in the market

You can choose to customise my designs, tailored to your preferences. Spare a bit more time and attention, and you'll be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind accessory.




Where old meets new ---


Decorative knotting used to be very popular in China, especially within the walls of the Imperial Palaces of various Emperors in ancient times. Now, only a small handful of people around the world make the more intricate designs, mostly as a hobby. 

Most of my designs are one-of-a-kind, or similar but not the same. Just considering the knot itself; a tweak in type, tightness, loop length, loop size, or a combination of those will result in different presentations. Add in type, colour and embellishment, the permutations are staggering ! Not exactly the run-of-the-mill mass-produced machine-made 3 for $10 kinds that you can find at Chinatown.

I hope to revive interest in this traditional art-craft, before it disappears like many of our other traditions and culture.
1. create awareness
        a. media publicity
        b. showcase at art-shows or art bazzars
2. generate interest
        a. modernise and simplify designs
        b. explore alternative materials
        c. extend applications
3. build up pool of talent
        a. conduct workshops
        b. create interest groups
4. source of funds
        a. purchase of products
        b. grants and donations

If you are in a position to help with any of the above, or have comments and new ideas, do drop me an email. Thank you in advance.