Folk Arts - Master Artist - Judy Yeh

Judy Yeh is a master Chinese knot artist. Before moving to Washington, Judy taught classes in Alabama and Wisconsin. Since ancient times, Chinese macramé has been used to decorate palace halls as well as country households. Chinese people used these decorate knots for a variety of artistic functions such as decorating chairs, dresses, waistbands, or sachets. Since 1980 there has been a resurgence in the collection and documentation of the many practical yet decorative knots that have been passed down through the centuries in China.

As the recipient of a 1999 Apprenticeship grant, Yeh taught Rosalind Wang Chinese Knot Tying. Yeh taught Rosalind the basic twelve knots including the two-coins, button, reversed swastika, and Pan-Chang knots. The Pan-Chang knot is the primary knot upon which countless variations can be made.

Rosalind Wang is a Chinese school teacher who sought to learn this traditional craft so that she could pass the knowledge on to the students and friends in her community. Rosalind found an excellent teacher in Judy Yeh, who had instruction in this craft from masters in Taiwan.