Peking Knot


Peking Knot is also known as

Chinese Knot / Forbidden Stitch / Blind Knot [EN], Nudo de Pekín [ES], Point de noeud de Pékin [FR], Peking-Knotenstich [DE], Ponto de nó de Pequim [PT].


How to do the Peking Knot

This type of knot is particular to the rich Chinese silk embroidery where patterns were filled with rows of such fine knots. The name ‘Forbidden Stitch’ took shape probably because of the knots’ association to China’s Forbidden City, the home to the Emperor. This stitch was used to decorate the royal wears, so pretty much forbidden to be used outside the city. It could also be that to avoid ordinary people from using it, a ‘belief’ was floated that it could cause blindness, due to which is also called the Blind Knot.

This stitch can be done in two variations. The first one is where the knot is left loose to look like a ring. These were used in close succession to fill motifs. The second variation is where a tight knot is made. It looks like the french knot, but flatter, since we wrap the thread around the needle only once instead of twice as in the french knot. In fact, there is a slight difference in the way the knot is made too, which will be shown in the tutorial below. These knots are also used to fill in motifs and can be pretty tasking to the eyes. But the effect it leaves, especially when shadings occur, is splendid.

I will work on both variations. The first four steps of both variations are the same and differ only towards the end.

Variation 1: the ring
Fig 1: Bring the needle out through A. Leave the thread towards the left side as shown.Fig 2: Now, using your left index finger, wrap the thread around and twist it to make a loop and place it above the point A, as shown.
Fig 3: Keeping the loop as it is, put in the needle at a point inside the loop, as close as possible to A, but not A. You may use your left-hand thumb to hold the loop down when you do this.
Do not pull out the needle yet.
Fig 4: Now, pull the loose end of the thread to tighten the loop to the desired size.
Fig 5: Now, pull down the needle completely. You will get a ring sitting on a knot as shown in this picture.
Variation 2: the knot
Fig 6: Keep pulling the loose end of the thread till it holds tight around the needle.Fig 7: Now, pull down the needle completely to get a knot like this.

Learn to do Peking Knots/ Chinese Knots in 2 minutes!


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