Jekyll2022-08-06T20:14:09-07:00http://localhost:4000/feed/tag/snowflakes.xmlKnotty Notions ][ SnowflakesA decorative knotting blog.Carol WangXmas 2008 Snowflakes2009-01-10T00:00:00-08:002009-01-10T00:00:00-08:00http://localhost:4000/project%20diary/xmas/xmas-2008-snowflakes<p><a href="http://www.chineseknotting.org/luck/gallery/luck-flake.jpg" title="bigger"><img src="http://www.chineseknotting.org/luck/gallery/luck-flake-stamp.jpg" alt="6 sided good luck knot" align="left" /></a> I started thinking about this year’s ornament sometime around November. Of course, if I wanted to make a seasonal kit to sell, I should start the process in the summer and be done some time in September or there’bouts. In any case, I was having my usual thoughts about stars and snowflakes and after a few prototypes decided to go with snowflakes.
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<p><em>I have to rant now.</em></p>
<p>Everyone has their particular <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hobbyhorse">hobby horses</a> that are unimportant to most of the rest of the world. Maybe for you it is run on sentences 8) 8), toilet seats (up, down, down with lid too?), or <a href="http://redjar.org/jared/projects/communitybike/summary/images/shopping_cart_lock.jpg" title="up in that slot they provide so the chain doesn't get tangled would be nice!">shopping cart lock</a> chains. Well one of my hot buttons is snowflakes. To be precise: <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Snowflake/">representations of snowflakes that are not 6 sided</a>. Some of them <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Paper_Snowflakes/">can be very nice</a>, but they are not snowflakes (or even representations of snowflakes)! These travesties are usually caused by people folding their paper for cutting snowflakes in a simple half then half again manner, although I have seen them in printed form and in wire with four fold symmetry as well (so what’s their excuse?). A more precise term that doesn’t need to raise anyone’s hackles is <a href="http://pingmag.jp/2008/08/28/kanako-yaguchi/">kirigami</a> (<a href="http://blog.roomservicecleveland.com/2008/09/05/i-love-paper-cuts/">via</a>). The shape of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_(molecule)#Dipolar_nature_of_water">water molecules</a>, which makes <a href="http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/photos/photos.htm" title="photos of real snowflakes">snowflakes hexagonal</a>, gives water unique properties without which life as we know it on this planet would not exist. So stop it! <a href="http://www.papersnowflakes.com/" title="teacher resource">Teach the kids</a> <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-A-6-sided-snowflake/" title="good instructable">properly</a>. Please. 8)</p>
<p><em>Ok, I’m done ranting for now.</em><br clear="all" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.chineseknotting.org/luck/gallery/luck-flake-beads.jpg" title="bigger"><img src="http://www.chineseknotting.org/luck/gallery/luck-flake-beads-stamp.jpg" alt="6 sided good luck knot with beads" align="left" /></a> It’s a simple 6 sided <a href="http://www.chineseknotting.org/luck/">good luck knot</a> (double crown on the bight, overlap of 2). For me, at least, it strongly evokes snowflakes. Up against a tree it looks pretty snazzy (sorry for the white background on the scans) although it could use some punch or bling.</p>
<p>First thing I tried was adding some beads. These beads are metalized plastic which makes them lighter, under many circumstances that’s a good thing. In retrospect I could have used actual metal beads from my collection because I have many and with one bead an ear, the weight should not have been a problem. At the time, however, I was thinking of these beads of which I only had 100 (purchased from <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=chinese+string+arts" title="map">Chinese String Arts</a> in Monterey Park, CA (greater Los Angeles area)) and at 12 per ornament, I would not have enough.<br clear="all" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.chineseknotting.org/luck/gallery/luck-flake-spike.jpg" title="bigger"><img src="http://www.chineseknotting.org/luck/gallery/luck-flake-spike-stamp.jpg" alt="6 sided good luck knot with spiky ends" align="left" /></a> While I was still just thinking snowflakes, though. I considered ways to be even more like a real snowflake. One way would be to cut the ears and rejoin them so that they were more spiky like the branches on a snowflake. Eh, not the effect I was hoping for. Plus it’s using more beads.<br clear="all" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.chineseknotting.org/luck/gallery/luck-flake-bao.jpg" title="bigger"><img src="http://www.chineseknotting.org/luck/gallery/luck-flake-bao-stamp.jpg" alt="6 sided good luck knot with 2x4 bao ends" align="left" /></a> <a href="http://www.chineseknotting.org/bao/gallery/bao-white.jpg" title="bigger"><img src="http://www.chineseknotting.org/bao/gallery/bao-white-stamp.jpg" alt="2x4 bao in white" align="right" /></a><em>But</em> the side branches on a snowflake always proceed from a strong main branch. Could I make a configuration like that? I could, using a 4 eared knot, although the side ears would not branch at the right angle without some assistance with needle and thread, I suspect. The first choice for that sort of thing is always the <a href="http://chineseknotting.org/flower/howto4.html" title="how to tie the 4 flower knot">4 eared flower</a>, but I didn’t want the square in the middle (60° not 90°). To avoid that, I could tie a 4 eared flower with a centre overlap of 2, or a <a href="http://www.chineseknotting.org/bao/howto2x4/" title="how to tie the 2x4 bao knot">2x4 bao knot</a>. I tried both and decided that the bao looked better. Completing the next prototype, however it didn’t look any more snowflake-y and was a lot more work. I could have done another with the short ears also tied in small bao knots, but I don’t think it would have helped.</p>
<p>I thought I had an instance of my final design, but it may be that I have given them all away and need to make another for posterity. So you’ll have to wait until tomorrow or the next day to see that. Sorry.</p>
<p>While I was shopping at the Chinese String Arts store, I asked about <a href="http://chineseknotting.org/book/">books</a>, of course. They had <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9575880145/skateorg">Lydia Chen’s first book</a> and a small generic Chinese book that I think I already had. I mourned the lack of books and the shop owner commiserated saying that there are few books, especially in English, but some former visitor to her shop had said that <strong><em>he</em></strong> would write one. Was she talking about <em>you</em>, <a href="http://www.theknotguy.com/">Lindsey</a>? 8)</p>Carol WangI started thinking about this year’s ornament sometime around November. Of course, if I wanted to make a seasonal kit to sell, I should start the process in the summer and be done some time in September or there’bouts. In any case, I was having my usual thoughts about stars and snowflakes and after a few prototypes decided to go with snowflakes.