Page 41 - Randy Penn Everything Knots Book

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THE EVER YTHING KNOTS BOOK

under. The difference could come from how you tie it or, for
example, if you were to twist a loop in an opposite direction before
finishing. Even putting the strain on a different lead or, in the case
of a loop, a different pair of leads will result in a new knot.

FACT

Remembering how to drive to a new address is easy if you
already know how to get to a place that is close by.
Sometimes it is the same way with learning new knots. You
may begin by tying a knot you already know and then just
adding or changing something!

The more you come to understand the similarities and differ-
ences between knots, the better you will both remember and
understand the wide diversity of knot tying. And with the addition
of a little practice, you will take advantage of these things without
even thinking about it.

Relying on Repetition
Have you ever noticed that sometimes you can only remember
a phone number by actually dialing it? It seems as if the memory
for the number is in your fingers. This was happening to knot tyers
long before there were telephones around. Some tyers can only
remember how to tie a knot by actually going through the motions
of tying it. Their hands play an important part in retaining their
knotting memory.
Of course, you already know that repeating something helps you
remember it, but you might be amazed at how efficiently this works
with knot tying. And with practice, your hand motions become more
efficient and effective, which also aids memory. After a time, you’ll
be able to tie a knot without even thinking about it. It is best not
to carry this to an extreme. It is actually possible to have trouble
remembering a knot if you “overthink” it. This happens sometimes

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