Celtic Knots

Here are some examples of Celtic knots and how to draw them yourself.

How to draw a Celtic knot

	Felt-tip pen method
	Double strands
	Dots method
	Copying Celtic knots
	Non-square grid Celtic knots
	Making Celtic knots on computer

Celtic knot letters

Capital letters as Celtic knots

Extention of concept to real knots

	Reef or square knot
	Sheet Bend

Examples from

	The Isle of Man
	Dublin, Ireland
	Wales
	Govan Old Church, Glasgow
	Rest of Scotland
	Cornwall
	Northumberland
	Derby

Other examples

	Illuminated manuscripts
	Islamic interlacing patterns
	Daniel Loris' garden designs
	Mosaics
	Dürer
	Lace

Design Celtic knots online

	Simple designer
	Examples using simple designer
	More complex knots designer
	Examples using more complex designer
	Tilted knots designer
	Examples using tilted designer

Other things to do with these patterns

	Outline Celtic knots to colour in
	Outline Islamic interlacing patterns to colour in

Tapestry (needlepoint) patterns for some these knots

Celtic knots are patterns representing ropes or threads tied in a knot. They are really mis-named. They appear in Roman mosaics, and were made by Vikings and Saxons as well as Celts. Many knots are continuous, with no loose ends, and these are also called Gordian knots or Gordic knots. This refers to the myth of the knot of Gordias. It was said that only a future leader of the world could undo it. Alexander the Great cut it in two with his sword, showing that he would conquer the world by force. Another term for Celtic knots is plaitwork, or interlacing patterns.

I recommend the following books:

Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Painting by Carl Nordenfalk - buy UK or USA
Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World by Katherine M. D. Dunbabin - buy UK or USA
Design your own Celtic knots using a special technique by cutting paper - very clever!

Outside links

"Program to assist the creation, design and editing of 'celtic' style braids" - free OpenSource software
Software for creating Celtic knots as a font
Celtic knot typeface - free to download, image, and Celtic knot generator.
Hypknotix - Celtic knots website, software, artwork and resources

My links

You may also be interested in my website on mazes or mosaics or Greek keys or any of my other websites.

My name is Jo Edkins - any comments or queries to jo.edkins.knot@gwydir.demon.co.uk