Page 417 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

The True Love Knot 411

visit to his relations; his well-known skill is of course, put in req-
uisition, and all the pitchers of his female friends which have lost
their handles are brought to him, to be supplied with new ones; and,
as a compliment for his exertions, the knot which his ingenuity has
formed is called a true-lover's knot.

Fig. 7. The True-Lover's Knot; and a use for it
In [19] the story of the Pitcher Knot is continued . Knot lore also has it
that such knots were used for hoisting cannonballs on board.
Finally the True Love Knot has had a special significance among seamen.
Most of the knots under that name consist of a loop and two Overhand Knots,
which can be either separated or pressed close together . In conformity with
the symbolism implied by this characteristic of the knot , sailors were said to
enclose such knots, tied in silk , with the Overhand Knots separated , in a letter
to their sweetheart. If she returned the knot with the knots close together, he
would know that she still loved him. If not, another interpretation would be
in order. Hjalmar Ohrvall describes this sailor tradition, which was still being
practiced around 1860 [36]. This custom also occurred on the coast of New-
foundland [1,#2420]. Remnants of it are reflected by knot names throughout
the entire European maritime literature . In Dutch, for instance, there is the
Single Fisherman Bend which is called Twee Zoeteliefjes , i.e two sweethearts.

Carrick Bends , Wale Knots and Turk's Heads

Since the middle of the 18th century relatively complicated knots turn up