Page 138 - Lindsey Philpott "The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots"

132 tHe ULtiMAte Book oF DecorAtive knots

aesthetically pleasing
to cover easily frayed
surfaces. If a mariner
had a piece of leather
or canvas on hand, that
would be used, together
with a liberal coating
of tar or linseed oil, to
protect the underlying
material, whether it be
made of wire, rope, or
wood. When no canvas
or leather could be
found, the true tar (a
real sailor) could easily
turn to a piece of cord to
protect the piece, even if only temporarily. Coverings were not only used at sea. Knotting
Soon, the bo’sun’s mates and the bo’suns was used to cover the handrails of small house
themselves began to realise the effects that cord stairways, hiking staves, the handles of coachmen’s
had on otherwise ordinary objects. A tiller became whips, bedposts in fancier inns, the wearing points
something even more decorative and very readily on crossbow strings, or the handles of teakettles.
handled. A man-rope, when covered, not only Tools and tool handles were of course covered
looked good but also became more weather- whenever the opportunity arose. Some of the
resistant and somewhat easier to hold on to. A finer sea-chest beckets (the handles with which the
regularly handled piece of line, or the end of the ends of the sea-chest are decorated) are covered
hawser that held the anchor, could be covered with with coachwhipping, needle-hitching, or some
pointing to make it not only easier to handle and other covering technique. Above are some recent
easier to insert into its required anchor ring, but also examples by members of the Pacific Americas
a place to show off some fancy work. Grab-rails, Branch of the International Guild of Knot Tyers.
mast boots, rub-rails, stanchions, and all manner Take a look also inside the covers of the earliest
of tubing or ropes became the target for the eager editions of Ashley’s Book of Knots (1944) for some
marlinespike seamanship showoff. older and still great examples of sea-chest beckets as
seen below.