Unraveling the Knot workshops explore Irish and Japanese cultural knot traditions in a range of physical and digital tools while, at the same time, connect with the personal experiences of participants.
Lessons Plans: 1. Illuminated Knots: Learn to draw and tie a range of Celtic and Japanese knots. In this introduction workshop, participants will explore the importance and symbolism of knot traditions in Japanese and Irish culture. Participants will explore creating intricate knot drawings on grid paper and then will & make their own light-up Japanese knot necklace or key chain. Drawing Celtic knots
Info sheet on history of both Japanese & Celtic knots
2. Mizuhiki Cording Bookmarks and Sculptural Fabric Knots: In this workshop, participants will explore making Celtic and Japanese knots using traditional Japanese mizuhiki cording and will design their own three dimensional sculptural fabric knots. We will draw inspiration from the Chester Beatty Library Japanese Collection, from Celtic knot patterns found in Dublin.
3. Designing Knots on the Computer: In this workshop, participants will explore designing their own knots using CAD tools on computers. How do knots look different in 3D space as expanded forms? We will explore inventing knots in two mathematical CAD tools.
Designing Knots in Turtle Blocks [lesson link to come soon]
4. Floating Knots: Participants will invent floating illuminated knots in a 3D Cartesian coordinate grid. Participants will construct their boxes, string them, and then design knots using nylon cording woven into the grid. Participant can embed a simple circuit that illuminate their creations by using Chibitronic circuit stickers.