Celtic Knotwork

When I was designing Table Mk. 2, I decided that I wanted to decorate the top with some Celtic knotwork. Only one problem with that plan, I had no idea how to do so and I have very limited zero artistic talent.

A bit of internet searching led me to a tutorial at ClanBadge.com. They only have (according to their own text) this tutorial to show you how much easier it would be if you purchase their font. Full disclosure, I did purchase the font and plan on using it to decorate the new roof for the yurt.

Having done it both ways, the font is much faster, but I think I prefer the hand drawn method because it’s less perfect.

Knotwork step 1 create a square grid

1) Draw a square grid. I used one inch squares. Mark the mid-points around the perimeter.

Knotwork step 2 make a diagonal grid

2) Draw diagonals connecting the midpoints.

Knotwork step 2 completed diagonal grid
Knotwork step 3 break the grid. Step 4 add curves at the breaks

3) This is where you need to be artistic. The breaks in the knotwork are what make the design interesting. Break up your diagonal grid in a few (or several) places. Symmetry is your friend.

4) Everywhere that a diagonal ends, draw a curve.

Knotwork step 5 erase the square grid

5) Erase all the horizontal and vertical lines. Erase all the diagonal lines that extend past the curves you drew in the previous step.

Knotwork step 6 make the line thicker

6) Draw parallel lines on each side of your original line. You are trying to add thickness to the original line.

Knotwork step 7 erase the middle line

7) Erase the middle line. It’s sort of starting to look like something.

Knotwork step 8 add the over & under.

8) Add the over and unders. Start anywhere. Pick any line and follow it. Another big eraser step.

9) If your project is going to be on the paper you’ve been working on, you are now ready for ink & color in any way you see fit. I had to figure out how to transfer this image to the plywood of my new table top. as I couldn’t find any 24″ x 24″ pieces of carbon paper, I penciled in the entire back side of the project. Basically I made my own carbon paper. I then taped the design to the tabletop with the knot work facing up. Trace the knot work with the pencil. I had to free-hand the connections between the corners.

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