I was wondering if we could create a table of different decorative knots that resemble all of the letters of the english alphabet. I can’t figure out good ways to tie all of them, and i’m sure that they would have enumerous applications as a reference for doing fancy knotwork.
It is a good idea ! Perhaps some of the letters can be simple, recognizable knots, and the silhouette of the letter be approximated by properly trimmed standing ends and tails.
However, this is a very difficult thing ! To design a complete series of fonds is difficult even when they are not supposed to resemble anything else than themselves - you can imagine how difficult would be what you have in mind…Go on ! 
Celtic Knots Alphabet Letters
http://img3.etsystatic.com/000/0/6272512/il_fullxfull.316046143.jpg
http://www.canstockphoto.com/vector-clipart/celtic-knots-alphabet-letters.html
http://www.cafepress.com/artoffoxvox/966949?pid=4079
http://encyclopediaofneedlework.com/images/891.jpg
http://encyclopediaofneedlework.com/images/892.jpg
http://encyclopediaofneedlework.com/chapter_15.html#fig_880
Struktor
Beautiful ! I had even discovered a decorative bend I had once tied, in the " B " ! (1)(2)
I imagine one could possible do the same thing, using practical knots instead of decorative celtic knots. That way we would have an alphabet of fonds/letters, and an alphabet of the most important practical knots, at the same time ! A useful educational tool.
I thought the IGKT knot charts had a set of Celtic-ish letters, but not the online PDF… Am I confused?
I did up a set of letters to spell “KNOTTY”. You can see them here. All but one of the 'T’s are compound knots so it may not be what you’re after.
Inevitably some of the letters would be compound knots - although they do not have to be extended knotworks. As we move to simpler knots, the task gets MUCH more difficult - and I do not even know if it would be feasible at all…
Geoffrey Budworth designed rope letters for all of the alphabet as part of the knot charts - these are individual PDF files of which 2 are attached. They were not included as part of the knot charts on the website to save space (I think). If anyone would like a set drop me an email and I’ll try and put them all into one file (there are obviously 26 in all at the moment) and send them to you.
Barry
As much as I appeciate this work, I would like to see more practical knots or compounds of practical knots, so the series could possibly serve as a mnemonic and educational device.
It might be possible to use practical knots as the core of letters or numbers if only as a reminder of the (loosely) dressed form of the knot - and an overhand knot makes lower case b. p, q and d if you leave a very short tail so only 22 to go!
Barry
A good start is half job done - so they are 13 - 4 = 9 !
Of course, for those willing, it is always possible to represent morse code using a rope tied with either figure 8s or overhands (fig 8 for - and overhand for .). Perhaps we could improve on this to make a simple table of different knots to correspond to different letters, and then be able to enjoy the same ability to convey information, but with the requirement that the ropes must be decoded.
An alphabet of knots:
http://archive.org/stream/cu31924014519940#page/n109/mode/2up
Alphabet pattern bracelets:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDmW0IlZDu4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzaDIViPBIs
Since you bring up that rope alphabet, that is essentially a coded alphabet, and kd8eeh brings up morse code, I’d like to reiterate my thought that a knot system based on braille would be an excellent knotted language, especially since the same 2x3 dot system can code for any language. All that’s needed is two 2 strand knots that take the same amount of space: one that makes a nice distinct bump and one that does not (relatively speaking).
“Decorative Woven Flat Knots” by Skip Pennock (ISBN 0 9515506-6-7). This book has designs that can be enlarged & printed, then placed on a cork board. Then just “follow the pattern”. It has a full alphabet and numbers. The copyright page also indicates that this is “An IGKT Publication”. I hope this info provides some help.
String alphabet for the blind, 1850, David McBeath and Robert Mylne, Edinburgh Asylum for the Blind.