Page 396 - The Ashley Book of Knots

FANCY KNOTS

ends may be tasseled or finished off with OVERHAND KNOTS; if of

cord, or if of ribbon, the ends may be trimmed either with a diagonal

or swallGw-tailed cut.

2418. The TRUE-LoVER'S or TRUE LOVE KNOT is sometimes pulled

up snugly without adding loops and bights. So tied, it makes a hand-

some TWO-CoRD LANYARD KNoT and in small black silk cord is quite

effective on a monocle cord where a series of small knots assists ma-

terially in preventing slipping when any twirling is resorted to. 2418

2419. With the two side loops arranged conventionally as pic-

tured, this has been called the "SAILOR'S CROSS" and also the "SOUTH-

ERN CROSS." Tied in two cords and pulled up snugly, this also makes

an attractive TWO-CoRD LANYARD KNOT.

2420. This ENGLISH, ENGLISHMAN'S, WATER, WATERMAN'S, FISH-

ER'S, FISHI':RMAN'S or TRUE-LoVER'S KNOT is perhaps the least pleasing

to the eye of all TRUE-LoVER'S KNOTS, but it has a legend attached

to it that more than makes up for any lack of symmetry in the knot

itself. The story was first told to me by Mrs. E. E. du Pont, who had

heard it from a boatman in Sidney, N.S. It concerned a certain bash-

ful sailor who could not screw up his courage to the point of invit-

ing his girl to marry him. After some delay he sent her a TRUE-

LOVER'S KNOT tied in a piece of fishline and with the two knots

wide apart as in the left illustration. It transpires that, if the knot is

returned as it was sent, the sailor will be welcomed when next he

comes ashore, at which time he will still be on probation. If, how-

ever, the knot is returned snugly drawn together as in the right

illustration, it means that, if he can't borrow a boat with which to

row ashore, he'd better swim, for it's high time for the banns to be

published. But if his knot should be capsized and nothing remain of

it. it means: "You'd better ship around Cape Horn, and you can't

. do it too soon to suit me."

2.

But the story has it that our sailor had shilly-shallied so long that

his boat sailed codfishing before his girl had time to return his gift, so

we don't know what happened when he got back, or even whether

he caught his boat.

2421. The TRUE-LoVER'S KNOT. This again consists of two inter-

locked OVERHAXD KNOTS which form what is actually a TWO-STRAND 21-21

MATTHEW WALKER, and makes a very nice LANYARD KNOT.

2422. The FALSE-LoVER'S KNOT. The two knots are interlocked

reversely; otherwise it is tied as ~2419. The knot has a character of

its own and, appliqued in fiat braid, will make a good frog.