The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots Paperback – 30 Sept. 2021

This book gives a broad introduction to decorative knotting. While the knots shown are not as numerous as in an encyclopaedic work like The Ashley Book of Knots, it is a substantial book and the knots here are described in detail with step by step directions and photographs. The photographs are generally clear and the instructions helpful. Knots covered include flat woven knots (great for coasters and mats), braids, plaits, sinnets, covering and netting knots (including hitching and whipping), floral and star knots, turk's heads (a comprehensive chapter on these woven knots used both as cylindrical covering knots and as flat knots, which includes instructions for a pineapple knot), spherical and lump knots, traditional Chinese and Korean (maedup) knots. Supporting information on materials and tools, and covering some of the history of knotting rounds out the book. There are a selection of suggested knotting projects, but mostly it's left to the reader's imagination how to use the techniques illustrated. A delightful and useful introduction to knot craft with some new ideas for even the experienced craftsperson.

A superb volume of decorative knotting ideal for the more skilled knotter or even the beginner to see what can be achieved with practice, superb pictures thru out and descriptions to help you decide which knots to have a go at tying some are more challenging then others but that is why I purchased the book in the first place, as you can only improve your knotting by trying harder knots and different knots all in all an excellent book I would recommend it to anyone into knotting.

This book has received many positive reviews and I have little to add to them. The flaw in question is common to many knotting books, namely photographs which are unclear. When studying some of the knot illustrations it's difficult to work out whether the rope is going over or under another section of rope. This book is not the worst example , though. I've seen books where splicing with three strand rope is illustrated using white rope on a white background. That's my only quibble about this book; it's a mine of information and with lots of project ideas and some interesting detail on knots from the Far East.

Very well explained throughout

A useful book full of interesting information and history.I found most of the tying instructions/photographs very difficult to follow (some I have yet to work out). So, not a book I would recommend for learning to make knots but a good addition to my small library on the subject.

excellent

The photographs are clear and the instructions helpful but i found that some of the detail in the picture gets lost using dark string on a dark tube to demonstrate the spanish ring knot on page 234 it would've been better with white string on a dark back ground and some of the pictures seem under exposed ie; not enough light. But saying that if i was to loose this book would i invest more money in getting another one, well YES of course i would very good book indeed

Very useful for all kinds of knots, clearly written