Page 60 - Randy Penn Everything Knots Book

37-032-6-pp001-pp274.qxd 9/1/2010 2:49 PM Page 45

STOPPER KNOTS

The Multiple Overhand Series
The multiple overhand series is made by increasing the number
of wraps in the spine of the knot. After making an overhand knot,
pass the running end through the loop of the knot multiple times,
making a different knot in the series every time.

FACT

Multiple Overhand Knots are also called Barrel Knots and
Blood Knots. There are various explanations for the origin of
the term “Blood Knot.” One version explains that they were
tied in the lashes of floggers to cause them to draw more
blood. Another version claims the name comes from causing
bleeding fingers from tight knots in a fishing line. And yet
another claims that this knot was popular with surgeons.

When tied this way, these knots change shape as they are tight-
ened. If you tighten them by pulling on both the running and
standing parts, the belly wraps around the spine until all you can
see is the barrel shape of these wraps. They can also be tightened
by manually wrapping the belly around the spine, which causes the
spine to unwrap to a single crossing. These knots have many prop-
erties in common, including both high security and difficulty in
untying when tightened.
Another way to tie this series is to make the desired number
of wraps, and then pass the running end through all of them,
leaving it already in its final form. The Double and Triple Overhand
Knots are often tied this way. Knots of this series all have a right-
and a left-handed version.

A Starting Place
Knots in the overhand series are the starting point of many
other knots, bends, hitches, and loops. Some bends are made by
interlocking Overhand Knots, some hitches are started with an

45