So here’s the creeper knot. You’ll notice the free ends extending to either side versus the usual free ends making up an ear of the knot. That’s because the creeper is meant to wrap around an object, like the bow on a package. The description in the book makes me think that she maybe wanted “vine” versus “creeper” but…

So, if I already have a mat knot and a polygonal knot then do we need a mystic knot? Polygonal knots are such a distinct class (which conveniently intersects with the vast family of mystic knots) that I think it’s beneficial to show it in this context.

To better illustrate the midpoint I redid this knot with one of my fused cords. These cords that I often use to tie example knots are actually shoelaces, sold locally as “oval shoelaces”. They look like president’s cord with the edge parts in a contrasting colour. I would love to find some real president’s cord in these designs as (a) shoelaces are a very expensive way to get string and (b) shoelaces are meant for dragging through the muck and aren’t exactly woven in a very refined way, so (c) real president’s cord takes the curves better and would probably have made a fine double coin example.

Since the double coin didn’t like being tied in president’s cord it seemed best to use regular satin cord and, for colour contrast, outline in black.

So, I was thinking about making a knot anatomy illustration to follow up on the cord anatomy (to be followed sometime in the future with a tassel anatomy illustration). I certainly needed at least a polygonal knot of some kind and then a mat knot, maybe Lydia Chen’s creeper knot as well.