Page 284 - The Ashley Book of Knots

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CHAPTER 19: SHROUD KNOTS (MUL TI-

STRA NO BENDS)

Come, thou mortal '!.L'retch,

With thy sharp teeth tbis hIOt imri1lSicate ...

'Vn.LIAM SHAKESPEARE: Antony (/nd Cleopatra

The SHROUD KNOT was formerly used for emergency repair when

hemp rigging was injured in action. It is more quickly tied than a

splice and uses less material. But since wire standing rigging has

superseded hemp, it is seldom required. It may be used decoratively,

however, on lanyards, umbrella, chest and knitting-bag handles, and

on curtain holdbacks.

The SHROUD KNOT proper is tied in shroud-laid rope, which is four-

stranded with a core. If tied in sinnet, it may have anv number of

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strands.

1560. About the neatest way of finishing off SHROUD KNOTS is to

cut out one half of the underside of each strand close to the knot

and then taper and back the remainder of each strand as described

for the SAIL:\1AKER'S SHORT SPLICE (~2652).

1561. The more common way of finishing off the knots is to

scrape and taper the strands, worm them with material from the

underneath side, tease out and fay (see Glossary) the remainder, and

then serve over the whole. Sometimes half of each strand is cut out

before worming.

1562. Cross grafting makes a strong and handsome finish. Divide

the yarns of each strand into four parts, cut out the lower quarter, I

worm the second quarter, use the third quarter in faying (see E\Y, To:

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in Glossary) and reserve the outside quarter for cross grafting (#2678; • • ,
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see also # 1294 and #3563). The length of the knot should be about .. • • • , . \

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four times the diameter of the rope. Both ends should be covered with • • •
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a snaked whipping. (See #3453.) , •
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1563. A grafted SHROUD KNOT is prepared in the same way as the \

last. The individual yarns should be tapered slightly. (See ~ 2678.)

1564. Provided they have been snugly worked, most of the more

elaborate knots given in this chapter are sufficiently secure to allow

trimming the strands close to the knots.

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