The Eternal Knot

There are many interpretations of the Eternal Knot.

It is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism.

It represents the intertwining of wisdom and compassion.

Giving a gift of the endless knot is said to make an auspicious connection between the giver and recipient. It represents eternal love and friendship and the linking of past and present.

I have woven some lovely silk bookmarks using this ancient symbol. They make very special presents.

The Eternal Knot is used in Chinese fabrics. Here are two examples. 

Can you see the difference in the knots? One is a mirror image of the other. The crossing points for the circle shapes are different. 

Here is an example.  I bought this brooch in France. I have taken a photograph with the brooch reflected in a mirror. You see how the image differs from the actual brooch.  The reflected cross over point is different.

The brooch and its reflection

Other examples of the Eternal Knot.  This picture shows a pavement in a Chinese garden.

Here are two small jewellery pendants.

I wove a narrow silk band for the brooch.

Here is the pattern so that you can weave your own Eternal Knot.

pattern chart for the Eternal Knot with 21 pattern threads.

This pattern has 21 pattern threads.

If you are using a standard heddle, remember that the centre pattern thread should be threaded through a hole. For the first pick at the bottom of the chart you should raise your heddle.

If you are using an inkle loom then the centre pattern thread should be a heddled thread. The heddled threads should be on the top layer when you start to weave.


Happy Weaving

An Inspirational Wall Hanging

When I first gained the luxury of a dedicated weaving room 20 years ago, I wanted something inspirational to hang on the wall.  I saw a lovely silk hanging in a cafe in a converted old mill in Lancashire. It celebrated the past history of the mill and I thought that I would love a smaller version. I contacted the maker and we worked together to make a picture.  Here it is, although it has faded a little over time.

Illustrated are all the implements for weaving as well as weave patterns.  I also wanted some sayings on it.  I used the one she had used on the original hanging which is a quote from Longfellow.

'As the weaver plied the shuttle wove she too the mystic rhyme,

And the smith his iron measures, hammered to the anvil's chime,

Praising God whose boundless wisdom makes the flowers of poesy bloom,

In the forge's dust and cinders, in the tissues of the loom.'

A close up of the top of the hanging.

The quote  in the centre is from Virgil.

'As each has set up the loom, so shall follow the labour and fortune of it.'

The final quote is from Pliny the Younger.

'Create something and perfect it and it will be yours forever.'

This final quote I used in my Schiffer book, Weaving Patterned Bands, utilising a slightly different translation.

I love this hanging and it is a constant delight.

Happy New Year to you all.

Susan J Foulkes

Weaving handfasting bands

This is my first post as a new blogger.  I am passionate about the craft of weaving.  I love natural yarns; wool, silk, linen & cotton.

I discovered the beauty and variety of woven bands from the Baltic region and have become fascinated by the amazing patterns that can be seen in museums.

I also love designing my own versions.  I recently wove a set of handfasting bands in silk.  Celtic handfasting or the binding of hands, is an old marriage custom.

The Endless or Eternal Knot.

The pattern on these woven bands is known as the Endless or Eternal Knot.  It is one of the eight Auspicious symbols in Buddhism. It can represent eternal love and friendship.  A gift of the endless knot symbol is said to make an auspicious connection between the giver and recipient.  I wove six bands and used six colours for the symbols: red for passion; orange for kindness; yellow for joy; green for health; blue for devotion and purple for steadfastness.

Durham Weaver

June 2014

A set of six silk handfasting bands by Susan J Foulkes