Page 100 - Des Pawson "Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices"

Reef or Square Knot

This is not a knot for joining ropes

together but for tying the two ends of
a binding around an object. For the
sailor that object would be the bundle

of sail that is formed when a reef is
put in. A tug on one of the working

ends and the knot will collapse and be
able to be slid apart. The ancient

Greeks and Romans believed that this
knot was invented by the god
Hercules; they thought that it had

many magic powers, including the
ability to heal wounds quickly. It is

still the best knot to tie together the
end of a bandage or sling because it
lies square or flat—the second half of

the knot is always made in the
opposite direction to the first part, to

ensure that it lies like this.

1 Put the left-hand working end on top of
Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices
the right-hand working end.
2 Bring the left-hand working end under the
right-hand working end.

3 Put the working end that is now on the
right on top of the working end that is
now on the left.

4 Bring the working end that is on top over
and then under the other working end so
that the working end you are moving

comes out of the same space that it
entered the knot. Pull tight.
5 The finished knot.