Chinese Knotting Group

I don’t know why, but I always like to collect beautiful strings. I like to make use of them in my crafts e.g. in string bags and bracelets. I had no luck previously finding any Chinese knotting class, so I was very happy when I saw it on the WITC activities list. I joined the class in late September - a bit of a surprise to learn that I was the only expat there. Later I made some friends through the club and learnt that some people like the idea of making Chinese knots but are afraid that they won’t master the skills. I agree with them, it’s not very easy to master. But from my own limited experience I can say that the difficulty can be overcome if you keep on practicing. The more you practice, the easier it becomes - at least you can’t be afraid when you’re right in the middle of the process. And you certainly feel so clever when you finish the target knot. The whole process of making Chinese knots turns your attention away from the daily grind which is a great way to relieve stress, and enhance your concentration, your fine motor skills, and overall cognitive function.

I have only had a short period of time in this class, but I have noticed that even with just a few basic knots, e.g. Double-connection knot, Bazi-8 knot etc, you can apply them to make some interesting crafts, which are good for gifts. Also, you can have fun choosing the color of the strings for your own crafts, and then the design of the craft is yours, as original as it can be! That means you can find your creativity just by making those few basic knots you master. The key is not to be afraid to take up the challenge: making Chinese knots is actually less difficult than you think and more fun than you expected. Anyway, my comments for those who are thinking of joining this class are: believe in yourself, your skills and your creativity. It really doesn’t matter even if you create a new knot which challenges your teacher. Big smile!

By Theresa Lo Pearson Spouse of Director New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office