Chinese KnotA cord. A quiet wish.

Basic knots · Lesson 16 of 18

Chinese Lucky Knot: Three-Loop Good Luck Knot

Learn the three-loop Chinese lucky knot with real cord video and eight timed images. Pin the layout, weave the center and balance the outer loops.

三耳吉祥结

The finished three-loop lucky knot

Finished Three-Loop Good Luck Knot demonstrated in turquoise cord
The shaped turquoise motif at 2:17: three main loops sit above the tails, with smaller openings around the woven center.

2:17 demonstration. Pause and repeat each movement at your own pace.

Follow the cord, step by step.

Each image comes from this demonstration. Tap its time to replay the movement.

  1. Step 1: Pin the first loop — 三耳吉祥结

    01. Pin the first loop

    Fold the cord into the first large loop and pin its base to the foam board. Keep the paired strands extending below the pin.

  2. Step 2: Set the two-loop layout — 三耳吉祥结

    02. Set the two-loop layout

    Form a second large loop beside the first. Pin the shared center and keep the lower paired strands separate from the two upper loops.

  3. Step 3: Fold the lower strands up — 三耳吉祥结

    03. Fold the lower strands up

    Bring the paired lower strands up across the pinned center, leaving an open bend below. Keep the two original loops available for the following folds.

  4. Step 4: Complete the first woven center — 三耳吉祥结

    04. Complete the first woven center

    Continue folding the loop sections through the shown openings. Use 53–72 seconds to follow the last passage; fingers and board rotation hide part of its route.

  5. Step 5: Lift the knot from the board — 三耳吉祥结

    05. Lift the knot from the board

    Release the pins and hold the loose woven center as the cord is lifted from the foam. Keep the large loops open for the next adjustment.

  6. Step 6: Dress the center by hand — 三耳吉祥结

    06. Dress the center by hand

    Follow the second set of loop adjustments shown off the board. Hold the center and draw slack through one neighboring section at a time.

  7. Step 7: Adjust the tails and edge openings — 三耳吉祥结

    07. Adjust the tails and edge openings

    Draw slack from the lower strands gradually. Preserve the main upper loops while letting the smaller edge openings settle around the center.

  8. Step 8: Compare the three-ear motif — 三耳吉祥结

    08. Compare the three-ear motif

    Check the three main loops, compact woven center and smaller edge openings against the demonstration. Balance the main loops before adding another element.

Before you move on

  • Three main ears are visible in the finished motif.
  • The smaller edge openings remain distinct from the main ears.
  • The woven center is compact and both tails leave beneath it.

Tighten and shape gradually

  1. Keep the pinned layout open through steps 1–4. The first woven center is a working stage, so do not treat it as the finished outline.
  2. At step 5, support the center as you lift the cord from the board. Preserve the main loops for the following hand movements.
  3. Follow the off-board sequence at step 6 before making the center compact. Replay 1:17–1:36 to compare the changing openings.
  4. At steps 7–8, transfer slack through adjacent sections, then compare the three main loops with each other. Keep the small edge openings visible instead of drawing all their slack into one side.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

  • The shape stops at the first pinned center. Continue to the off-board sequence at steps 5–6; the remaining movements are part of this demonstrated knot.
  • A small opening is mistaken for a main loop. Compare step 8 with your sample. The large outer loops and smaller edge openings are different parts of the finished outline.
  • One loop becomes much smaller. Pause the tail pulls at step 7. Follow the cord back through the adjacent crossing and move slack into that loop before seating the center again.

Continue your practice

A few useful answers

Before you begin

What is a Chinese lucky knot?

In this lesson, Chinese lucky knot means the Ji Xiang knot (吉祥结), also called a good-luck knot. This three-loop variant has a woven center, main outer loops and smaller edge openings. It can accompany a personal wish on a handmade ornament.

Is the lucky knot the same as the endless knot?

These lessons teach different cord arrangements. The floral good-luck knot here is separate from the interlaced Pan Chang or endless knot taught in the finished-project collection.

Why do the loops become uneven as I tighten?

Pulling one loop or the tails too far can move the slack into a neighboring section. Hold the center, follow the cord to the next crossing and move a little slack at a time. Compare the main loops separately from the smaller edge openings.

Does a good-luck knot need to be red?

This demonstration uses turquoise cord. Choose a color you can follow clearly while practicing, then select the colors and message for your own ornament.