Page 27 - Knots You Need to Know Easy-to-Follow Guide to the 30 Most Useful Knots

Techniques for Tying

All of the knots shown on the following pages have certain fundamentals
of structure in common. Together with a few definitions of rope parts,
these fundamentals make up a simplified and useful vocabulary of knot

tying as introduced below. Once the novice understands this vocabulary,
it is only a small step to successful execution of the two most basic knots,
the figure eight and the square, or reef, knot (opposite).

Of these, by far the most familiar both to boatmen and landlubbers alike
is the square knot. However, it is also the most unreliable. Though very
useful for quickly tying together two rope ends of equal size, it is likely to
slip and let go if attempted with ropes of unequal diameter. And unlike the

other knots, the square knot sometimes jams on itself and becomes very
hard to untie if wetted or put under heavy strain. In these latter conditions
—common in storms when the knot is used for reefing—the variation
shown in figure 5 on page 25 should be substituted.

The Vocabulary of Knots

Every knot is made up of rope parts interwoven into one or more loops.
This weaving is carried out in specific over-and-under sequences. Below
starts the rope parts and minor variations on the basic loop that form the
structure of all knots.