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How to Draw Bantu Knots
Draw bantu knots in 14 easy steps, about 11 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the head.
Step 1: The head
In the middle of your paper draw a big egg for the head, a little narrower at the chin.
Tip Leave room above and beside the head for the knots.
Step 2: Two ears
On each side of the head draw a C ear. Start on the head line, bulge out, end on it.
Step 3: Big eyes
Below the middle of the head draw 2 tall oval eyes, 1 eye apart. Add a black dot in each.
Step 4: Nose, smile and brows
Between the eyes draw a tiny U nose. Under it draw a wide smile. Add 2 eyebrows above the eyes.
Step 5: Hairline
Start on the left side of the head above the eyebrow. Curve across the forehead and stop on the right.
Step 6: Top of the hair
Start at the left end of the hairline. Draw a rainbow hugging the head and stop at the right end.
Tip Keep the hair close to the head: it is pulled tight into the knots.
Step 7: Top knot
On the very top of the head draw a round knot, like a little ball sitting on the hair.
Step 8: Four more knots
Draw 2 more round knots down each side of the hair, the same size, with a gap between them.
Tip The lowest knots sit just above the ears.
Step 9: Partings
Between the knots draw 4 lines from the hairline up to the top of the hair.
Tip Each line splits the hair into parts, one part for each knot.
Step 10: Knot swirls
Inside each knot draw a little swirl, starting in the middle and winding out.
Tip The swirl shows the hair is twisted round and round.
Step 11: Neck and shirt
Under the chin draw 2 short neck lines. From each draw a shoulder sloping out. Add a little U collar.
Step 12: Pink cheeks, yellow shirt
Colour a pink oval on each cheek. Colour the shirt yellow.
Step 13: Light brown skin
Colour the face, ears and neck light brown, around the pink cheeks. Leave the eyes white.
Tip Press gently here, so the hair can be darker than the face.
Step 14: Dark brown hair
Colour the hair and all 5 knots dark brown. Go over your lines and you are done.
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: bantu knots, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
