Page 177 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

A History of Life Support Knots 167

stronger than the Figure Eight Loop as an end loop, but weaker as a mid loop
in static kernmantle rope; when subjected to a shock load, the knot compacts
a bit, absorbing a part of the shock.

Fig. 33. Overhand Double Loop Fig. 34. Rewoven Bowline on
a Bight
Twin loops can also be tied round two separate objects by this reweaving
method. An Overhand Double Loop (Fig. 33) may be used [20, p. 40)[29, p. 77]
or alternatively a rewoven Bowline on a Bight (Fig. 34); Wright and Magowan
[34] first used the latter, tied this way, to make a double loop around the waist
without having to make the loops first and then step into them, but it is now
also used to attach to two points of a harness [10, p. 97]. Some combined
chest and waist harnesses have their attachment points well separated, and it
is better to have separate attachments to avoid too much movement in a single
large loop.

Fig. 35. Tape Knot
A reweaving technique is also used in some bends. The rewoven Figure
Eight Tie (Fig. 7) has been in use since 1892, and has already been described.
A similar bend based on the Overhand Knot is sometimes tied in rope [27, p.
68] [29, p. 261, [33, p. 16] but is widely recognised as the only bend suitable
for the nylon tapes now used in so many climbers' and cavers' slings and other