Chinese knots, 中国结, are traditional decorative knots used during festivals like Lunar New Year to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. These decorative knotwork pieces are sometimes paired with pendants and charms, where both the knots and the pendants have symbolic meanings. Though these knots are still culturally significant, younger generations often don’t have hands-on experience in this traditional craft.
I was invited to design an art-making pop-up for the 2025 HGSE Pan-Asian Coalition for Education Lunar New Year Celebration. I used this opportunity to share the craft of Chinese lucky knot tying with the HGSE community. By combining reflection and manifesting with a hands-on activity, I hope participants feel more connected to the ambitions that they have.
I had a multi-media learning/teaching process by having printouts of instructions, creating cardboard and split pin jigs as scaffolding tools, as well as instructed participants in small groups.
I also designed and laser cut acrylic and wooden shapes that participants added to their knots. Before tying them into the knot, I prompted them to write a hope or dream they have for the new year.
One participant of Chinese descent commented “Wow, this is a craft from my grandparents’ time. I’ve never learned this before!”
A participant started teaching other participants how to tie the knot. The participant with the yellow cord is using the cardboard jig for the first steps.
Some of the knots that participants tied throughout the event
