Page 205 - Randy Penn Everything Knots Book

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THE EVER YTHING KNOTS BOOK

using pliers will help you pull them tight. And, of course, practice
helps, because interwoven patterns always look nicer when they
are even.

QUESTION?

How do I get the decorative knots to come out more
evenly?
With practice, you will get a feel for pulling evenly on all the
strands. In the case of multistrand knots, slack needs to be
taken out a little at a time, one strand at a time. For long single-
strand knots, hold the shape of the knot during completion.

Uses for Decorative Knots
Some knots generally serve just one purpose, while others can
serve many. Mat knots usually serve as a protective layer. When made
with large enough rope, they can be used to make floor mats, or with
smaller cord for drink coasters. Sennits, like the Crown Sennit
described in this chapter, are best served as part of a handle of some
kind, as in a key fob, bell pull, or light-switch pull. Coxcombing makes
a covering for a long cylindrical object. It can act as abrasion resist-
ance when tied around the loop part of an Eye Splice, or it can help
improve grip when tied over a handrail.
The most versatile of all decorative knots is the Turk’s Head.
It can be employed as a protective covering, a binding, a hand-
hold, or tied around the wrist or ankle as jewelry. It can stiffen
weakened poles, gather a neckerchief, or stop a hitch from sliding.
You can tie one as a napkin ring, shot glass base, or even flatten
it out to make a mat.
Decorative knot tying can be as involved or as simple a craft
as you want it to be. Chapter 14 gives suggestions for further study,
or you can experiment on your own. Either way, the more you
learn about general knotting the more you can do.

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