Sacred Knots: Create, Adorn, and Transform through the Art of Knotting

This book is so much more than a text on knotting technique. While you will learn everything you need to know to create your own art, it’s is also aesthetically beautiful, well researched, and well written. Right now it adorns my coffee table because it is in constant use, and when it isn’t it is such a piece of art in and of itself. How lucky we are to have Lise share her Hard earned knowledge, skill, and style with us.

The book is nice, but it arrived damaged due to how it was packaged for shipment.

Sacred Knots absolutely mesmerized me! I found it so fascinating that I read it straight through in the course of an afternoon and then imediately jumped on internet sites to look for supplies to take up this art form myself!!The book is beautifully done in every way. Gomes shares a lot of information about an art-form she clearly loves and one that holds a high importance in her life. She is an able and capable teacher. There is a grace and calmness to her writing style - hard to explain, but it definitely comes through.She covers the history of knotting, information about general materials needed, how to choose cords with pros and cons to each type, making your own cords, how to dye your cordss to get just the color you have in mind. She then give diagram instructions on how to make several beautiful knots, as well as how to finish and embellish them. Her designs and work are stunningly beautiful.It's sometimes hard to breakdown an art/craft into clear instructions that will bring a successful result to a newbie, and only time will tell how successful the author is in that aspect. I can only tell you that she has spread her enthusiasm to me, and I plan to give it a try!My thanks to NetGalley and Roost Books for allowing me to review a copy of the book. It is expected to be published on 11/3/2020. All opinions stated in this review are my own.

Definitely all about knots, putting an artistic twist into the mix. Interesting and filled with color.

I've always been drawn to the act of knot making and this book provided exactly what I was looking for. While there are a few projects provided, the majority of the book lays the groundwork for the reader to develop their own knotting practice. From selecting materials to finishing and displaying the creations, every step of the development of the practice is covered. I especially enjoyed the final chapters on incorporating not just the final product, but the act of knot making, into one's spiritual practice.

I love this book, and keep it nearby in my studio for inspiration. I really appreciate that its not just a how-to on knotting and macrame techniques (which it has lovely illustrations for) but it also explores how learning and practicing new skills can be an opportunity to slow down. It approaches knotting technique as a meditation, which I love, and the photos are absolutely stunning!!

I am a lifelong crafter but had never considered knotting as a specific, separate craft. In other crafts that I do—like knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and latch hooking—I use knots as a means to a specific end. I had hoped this book would provide a new crafting avenue for me, but I didn't find this book much help for a beginning knotter. It is laid out in three parts: knotting basics, projects, and the “sacred” aspect. My general feeling is that this book more looks good than is actually practical, especially for a beginner. I first felt that way just looking at the author's description of the types of materials you can use to make knots. Instead of just showing all the different types in a few picture arrays, she chose to show them in different parts of the basic section and in different ways. As someone who has really only worked with yarn and embroidery thread for my crafts, I really wanted to see and understand the different knotting materials better. In general, I thought they chose the photographs in most of the book for their “look” rather than how helpful they might be to the reader. Later in this basics section, the author shares what she sees as being foundational knots. As a rank beginner in knotting, I found these diagrams and descriptions more confusing than helpful; I ended my attempts in utter frustration. Also, throughout the book, the book’s graphic designer chose to use a variety of text colors—some of which are hard to read against the backgrounds—and a script font (i.e., hard to read). These problems were actually quite extensive throughout the book, not helping with comprehension. I didn't think the knots or the projects were described or shown in ways that would allow the beginner to actually do them. The sacred section seemed tacked on and not really related to the rest of the book. All in all, I did not like this book.I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

This is a good book for anyone wanting to take up the craft of making things out of knots. As a knitter, I found it interesting. I especially appreciated that the author suggests this craft as a quiet, meditative activity. Lots of nice photos and project ideas.

Utter waste of paper. A crafting book so useless it made me angry.The author spends page upon page talking about herself and there’s barely any practical projects- and those which are present are frustratingly novice. The utility in this book can be burned through in 5 minutesThere’s tonnes of Instagram friendly photos but it cannot be denied that many of the knots pictured are just bad knots... or worse not even knots at all- just some cord glued together.I know you may be reading this thinking it must be just some over-the -top negative reaction and not really a representation of the book, but honestly- the book is vapid and not fit as a resource for making knots. The worst bit is that there’s photos in the book of other antique knot books that they use just for dressing. But will you find even a fraction of actual knot making learning taken from them and applied here? nope. What’s the point?