Page 88 - Des Pawson "Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices"

A seizing is a kind of long whipping made round two pieces of rope. It is often
used to form an eye in a piece of rope. A great deal of friction is generated by
the tightness of the seizing, and a series of well-made seizings are capable of

taking immense strain. For hundreds of years the shrouds, those heavy ropes
used to support the masts of sailing ships, were finished off with a series of

seizings. For very large shrouds made of steel rope the seizing would be made
with wire but made in the same manner.

It is important that each turn of the seizing is pulled as tight as possible and
lies close to the previous turn.

Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices

1 Make a constrictor knot round both
pieces of rope.
2 Wrap tightly round away from the end
and over the short tail left from the

constrictor knot.
3 When enough wrapping is done pull extra
tight.

4 Put the working end between the “legs’’
of the two pieces of rope, and then down
the other end of the seizing. These are

trapping turns.

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