Many have tied their first braids as children, whether they used grass or threads. Most often than not, those were braids with three strings. But braids can be done with many more strings. The drawing shows the work with three, four, five and even six strings.

In this section, we will pay special attention on the interweave on stone plastic, and attept to do it using strings.

The interlace is an ornament thought to have been developed in the Christian orient, from where it was transferred to Europe. It’s a geometric shape ornament consisting of intertwined two, three and four-membered tapes. Intertwining of this nature held even in Serbia, where it experienced it’s peak on the plastic of the Moravian school. In the Moravian stone reilefs, the intertwine is, as a rule, two-membered, and each tape consists of two strings.

Lazarica, archivolt and rosette at the base of the dome.

Ljubostinja, painted decoration above the bifur on the eastern facade.

In addition to the interlaces that were sometimes painted on the windows, you can see many knots, just as they are in the following pictures.

Lazarica, the detail of the window in the northern cove.
The plate knot according to the previous image detail.

Manasija, the rosette knot.

In the Kalenić monestary, on the parsonage's southern wall, there is a cavity of rosettes that, beside the plant ornaments, contains a wonderful specimen of a pretzel knot combination in a circular series of eight knots. The same rosette, smaller in size, is located in the upper zone of the Ljubostinja monestary.

Kalenić, a Rosette on the southern wall of the narthex.
Made sample according to the previous image details.

In the southeastern part of the southern facade of Kalenić, there is another fine specimen of a rosette with ribbons in an endless twist. When you look at it a little better, you realize that it is a wonderful interlace that forms a very nice node with two threads, and that the center is covered with a flower.

Kalenić, a rosette on the southeastern wall.
Made sample of rosette according to the previous image details.

A lot of similar examples can be seen by careful observation. In addition to intertwining and knots that can be seen on the fragments of the stone reilefs of the Moravian school, decorative knots and interlaces are present on the interior decorations of the churches, on illustrations of medieval manuscripts, jewelry and other everyday use objects.

In order to better see certain interlaces, the process of their making was shown in the following images.


This was an attempt to bring you closer to the development of the Moravian school stone reilefs, and especially the intertwines and knots on it.

The book „Macramé – the art of tying knots“ is done as a manual for everyone interested in Macramé. It contains over 120 drawings and 150 photographs in color. For the beginners, everything that’s needed was given to successfully learn Macramé. The detailed instructions were given for making knots, Cavandoli bindings, strings and cords, decorative beginnings, circled bindings, clothing items, and all other interpretations that are needed for successful realization of the projects. For those that know Macramé, the works in this book could serve as inspiration for future creative activities.

The book gives a small overview of the knots and interlaces of the monasteries of the Moravian school, which gave its full contribution in the development of decorative knots and interlacing with its stone plastic.