Page 169 - The New Encyclopedia of Knots
P. 169
Spunyarn see marline.
Square knot: made in two ropes, this is a symmetrical decorative knot with four standing parts, all of
which go in different directions.
Form a bight in each of the ropes and pass one through the other at right angles. Then take the farther
end of the rope forming the outer bight and pass it up through the end of the inner bight (figure 124.1).
Now take the lower working end of the rope forming the end of the inner bight around the standing
part of the outer bight and on through the second bight formed in the other rope (figure 124.2). At this
point the knot should look like interlocking letter Ss, and now you can work tight the knot by hauling
carefully on all ends.
NB: in America the square knot is not as described here but is as the reef knot (see page 130).
Square lashing: used to hold two spars or posts together when they are crossed at right angles.
Begin by forming a clove hitch (see page 40) around the horizontal post with one end of the rope,
leaving a long end of the rope which will be used to form the lashing. Begin this by taking the rope
back around the top of the second, vertical, spar, and then forward down across the horizontal spar
and back behind the lower part of the vertical spar from where it emerges beside the front of the
clove hitch (figure 125). This completes a full round of lashing which you should repeat several
times, hauling tight each round until the posts are securely held together. Finish off with a half hitch.
figure 125
Square plait: easier and quicker to make than a square sennit, this has the added advantage of being
formed on a single strand.
Begin by forming a Tom Fool’s knot (see page 173) (figure 126.1)., after which you should make a
bight in the standing part and pull it through the loop on the right-hand side, securing it there by
pulling back on the strand of the left-hand loop (figure 126.2).
Repeat the process by taking a bight through the left-hand loop, which you haul tight by one strand of
