Page 15 - Des Pawson "Des Pawson's Knot Craft" 2 edit.

KNOTCRAFT 2009:Layout 1 23/10/09 12:16 Page 14

Simple Key Ring

HIS COMBINATION OF THE single and then the doubled
Tboatswain’s whistle lanyard knot has a simple beauty. I must
have made tens of thousands over the years and I am still satis-
fied each time I make one. As well as being used as a key ring
decoration or identifier, it works very well as a shackle release, or
a zip pull, although you may then prefer to make it in 2mm line.
With the addition of the appropriate fitting, a pair will make
pretty earrings, green and red will give you port and starboard.
Use 3mm for the big earring look, 2mm for a fine look, and if
you really want to struggle, work with even smaller line. At the
other end of the scale, tied in something like 6mm line, you will
have a basic bell rope. You could also make a couple of the sin-
gle knots before the double to make it longer.
I like the name ‘boatswain’s whistle lanyard knot’, but this
self-same knot can be known by a number of other names: the
two-strand diamond knot or sailor’s lanyard knot. Whatever
name you use this knot is closely related to the Chinese button
knot, said to be the most tied knot in the world; you might
believe it when you think of all those Chinese jackets with their
knotted buttons.

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