Page 23 - Peter Randall - The Craft of the Knot

THE MULTIPLE OVERHAND SERIES

The multiple overhand series is made by increasing the number of wraps in the spine of
the knot. After making an Overhand Knot, pass the running end through the loop of the

knot multiple times, making a different knot in the series every time.

When tied this way, these knots change shape as they are tightened. If you tighten
them by pulling on both the running and standing parts, the belly wraps around the
spine until all you can see is the barrel shape of these wraps. They can also be tightened
by manually wrapping the belly around the spine, which causes the spine to unwrap to
a single crossing. These knots have many properties in common, including both high

security and difficulty in untying when tightened.

Another way to tie this series is to make the desired number of wraps, and then pass
the running end through all of them, leaving it already in its final form. The Double and
Triple Overhand Knots are often tied this way. Knots of this series all have a right- and
a left-handed version.

These knots are also sometimes called Barrel Knots or Blood Knots—the latter possibly
because they were tied to the lashes of a cat-o’-nine-tails to help the flogger draw more

blood from his victim. Another version claims the name comes from causing bleeding
fingers from tight knots in fishing lines.

WHERE TO START?

Knots in the overhand series are the starting points of many other knots, bends, hitches,
and loops. Some bends are made by interlocking Overhand Knots, some hitches are

started with an Overhand or Figure Eight, and many friction loops and fishing knots are
based on Multiple Overhand Knots.
For the series of stopper knots mentioned here, increasing the number of wraps will

not increase their cross-section area. For a wider knot, use a different knot or double the
cord first.

There are many advantages to tying knots that are based on others. They are
certainly easier to remember because there is so much less to recall. By making it easier
to keep many possibilities in mind, you can make better choices for what is needed.

When one knot is the basis for another, it is also easier to check your progress as you
complete the knot.

BACK SPLICE

To make a Back Splice, you need to prepare the rope by adding temporary binding
where the strands separate out. This is where you will begin making the knot.