Decorative Knot Tying with Christy Georg

This workshop was an introduction to sailor's “Marlinespike Seamanship” decorative knot-tying.  Though the word “decorative” implies that little or no function is served, the craft of decorative knot tying generally combines both form and function.  ‘Covering knots’ were used historically to protect blown-glass fishing net floats and ceramic jugs of water taken along on fishing expeditions.  Many variations of 'hitching' have embellished handrails, mug handles, and ship’s tillers or wheels, but you will think of countless ways to incorporate them into your artwork - decorate a picture frame, add them to weavings and knitting, embellish the ears on pots, display objects on fancy plaited mats…

Students learned to identify lanyard and button knots, plaits, chains, sinnits, turk's heads, mats, and hitching.  They then learned a few great functional knots. Georg demonstrated and taught some amazing knots, including Solomon Bar, Running Turk’s Head, Wall-and-Crown Sinnit, French hitching, the famous Monkey’s Fist, and more.