I havent been able to find info on how these beads are made on the internet. I don’t think books on plaiting will be helpful because they will probably focus on baskets and other larger objects. I tried some books on knotting that I got from the city library and they are facinating. It seems like the beads are related to the Turk’s Head knots and/or sinnets but some are woven in a twill weave. I have The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots by Philpott and The Ashley Book. Most of the pictures in Philpott are too dark and it makes it hard to follow and both of them are not for beginners. I also have 75 Chinese, Celtic & Ornamental Knots by Williams and Mann and it is beginner friendly. I learned the Chinese button knot from it but it is not hollow. Although the Hill Tribes are not using them, some of the Monkey Fist family look like they would make interesting beads.
I’ve made an assumption that the beads are made with a single strand which is the other reason that I dont think plaiting books would be helpful. But I’m not sure that the assumption is correct. There could be some clever way of tucking the ends that would keep the beads strong even with multiple strands.
Does anybody know of any sources (book, article or internet) that would be helpful for the beginner with these interests? Also any tips for the beginner overwhelmed by Ashley? It seems to me that I need to zerox or trace his diagrams and then highlight them so I can see the stages like in the pictures in the beginner friendly book. And learn the terminology.
Also why hasnt Ashley been republished in paper back by Dover?
Beverly, Austin, TX
Those are indeed related to turks heads. The ends though, cross over to do the return trail. Apart from that, ABOK #1381 comes close to what you want.
The twill pattern in knotting lingo is sometimes done with a “pineapple” interweave. These however are done with one strand.
I attach a pattern where the middle one has the twill weave. To make the short ends as the beads shown, the bights need a slight modifiication. Give me a day and I’ll present one.
Which makes me wonder if the cylindrical and square ones also have a frame that they are built over. Or maybe a removable jig like the kind used for making a monkey fist.
Exactly!
Attached drawing show how bights are skipped for the lead to do the return across the end. The top one couldn’t successfully be made skipping three bights without removing a leads worth of height (or adding). They are all controlled to work singelstrandedly. But the overs and unders are not drawn. Feel free to let your creativity loose.
This long oval bead looks like it has a wire frame of 4 ribs inside. http://www.thailandhandicrafts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=363_210_246&products_id=546
Which makes me wonder if the cylindrical and square ones also have a frame that they are built over. Or maybe a removable jig like the kind used for making a monkey fist.
The square ones are intriguing. I’ll ponder a bit about those.
Here is a pattern for the square version. Note that the ends are shifted by one half mesh. The other combinations closed the circuit before the whole knot was traced through. I hope it helps.
