knot in the back

[dryseptember]

I recieved Siminoffs book and am now carving the maple back. I have a blemish in the maple that has now turned into a full on knot. i had kept carving hopeing that it would turn into an interesting little swirl of wood. I can now see through the back. it is not a hole just abit of a crack. it doesnt' look too bad and i think after staining it will cover up nicely. But should i bother? will this mess with the integrity of the mando? Should i press on? Scrap it and start over? I have been trying to decide for a few days and so im putting it out to you. thanks for the help.
this is my first mando. so the craftsmanship is just OK Im not looking to be perfect as far as looks.

[HoGo]

Look at my first in the post a pic section... It has a knot in the back about 2mm thick goes about 1 1/2" across the back- visible from both inside and outside. It's hardly noticeable when finished. The mando is structurally fine, sounds fine too. If it is your first just don't worry and keep working.

[Tom C]

Cut it out and call it a rear sound hole.

[Michael Lewis]

Keep on going with it as the knot is only a cosmetic flaw. There is a concept of "if you can't fix it, feature it". Sometimes these irregularities can be attractive and endearing, and it depends on how you perceive it.

[Spruce]

A lot of makers in the violin world actually seek out knots in their wood...

The violins that influenced them often had little beauty marks (or big ones such as the silver-dollar sized bark inclusion in the back of the Strad Castelbarco 'cello in the Library of Congress), and, IMO, add charm to new work.

It also shows confidence by the maker to feature wood with "flaws"--wood that otherwise is ideal in it's weights and texture.

[whistler]

As long as it is stable and there are no loose bits, it should not be a problem.