Page 260 - Lindsey Philpott "The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots"
P. 260
254 the ultimate book of decorative knots
Looking back over the directions for each of the last Unifying Theory of how to tie every single type
two knots you can see that there are two sequences. of TH Knot! The methods already explained for
First Sequence: Over one, then over two, then tying Square TH Knots are an indication that this
under one, over two, then over, under, over, under. is a challenge that should be met by most. When
Second Sequence: Over one, then over two, and considering the Wide TH Knots, you need to bear
then over two and under one, then over, under, over, in mind the number of leads or parts of which the
under. TH Knot you want is made – this generally can
A shorter way of writing this is to write down not be expanded without having a different start
the station numbers in bold, and the pass between configuration of making an extra turn or passing
as O for over and U for under when moving past the original lead to the right instead of the left.
another cord or strand that has been passed For Narrow TH Knots, the methods of making a
previously. Here are the first two knots in such a greater number of bights, while keeping the number
shorthand form: of leads or parts the same, shows that there are yet
1L, 3R, 6L, 1R-O1-4L, 4L-O1-6R, 6R-O2-2L, more complexities, none of which are unique to all
2L-O2-4R, 4R-O2-7L, 7L-O2-2R, 2R-U1-O2-5L, expansions or to all TH Knots, except, of course, the
5L-U1-O2-7R, 7R-U1-O1-U1-O1-3L, 3L-U1-O1- Golden Rule!
U1-O1-5R, 5R-U1-O1-U1-O1-1L. Start again to Good news! There may not be a Grand Unifying
double. Theory of tying all TH Knots, but there is a way
1L, 3R, 6L, 8R, 8R-O1-3L, 3L-O1-5R, you can tie any size of single-cord simple TH Knot;
5R-O1-8L, 8L-O1-2R, 2R-O2-5L, 5L-O2-7R, recall if you will that we spoke at the beginning of a
7R-O2-U1-2L, 2L-O2-U1-4R, 4R-O2-U1-7L, method of forming any TH Knot? We will use a grid
7L-O2-U1-1R, 1R-O1-U1-O1-U1-4L, 4L-O1-U1- of diagonal lines, marked off to denote the number
O1-U1-6R, 6R-O1-U1-O1-U1-1L. of leads and bights.
This formulaic approach works if you’re using For example, assume that you want to tie a TH
pins or tapes or loops to hold the bights in place Knot with thirteen bights and seven leads. We
as you progress. But what about making these know that this TH Knot is possible because neither
knots using easy-to-remember methods instead number is divisible by a common denominator
of complicated formulas? Sadly, there is no Grand (other than one). You can set up a universal grid
showing how to tie this (and any other) single-
strand TH Knot. In it, ‘overs’ are shown
as thicker lines and ‘unders’ as
thinner lines (on a sepia background
for easier viewing).
The 7B5L TH Knot (lower left)
with the 8B5L TH Knot (lower
right), the 12B5L (upper left) and
finally the 13B5L (upper right),
not one of which is commonly
shown in decorative knot books,
but which look very handsome in
my opinion.
