Page 409 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

light, capstan, wheel and bell covers and, on whalers, line tub covers.

Bell and yoke ropes and occasionally even manropes were square

2.48S"

knotted. Spray screens for launches, and also "eye screens," for

accommodation ladders, were required at a time when women were

less frankly bifurcated than at present. Knotted belts, handbags,

watch guards, leashes, lanyards, light, shade and bell pulls are made

at the present time, and no longer ago than last summer I saw, in a

magazine advertisement, the photograph of what was unquestion-

ably a knotted bathing suit.

Square knotting is essentially a variety of lacemaking that is closely

related to tatting and pillow lacemaking. Like tatting, the com-

ponent knots are simple and few and the beauty of the product

depends on both the design and the uniformity of the workmanship.

Only two elementary knots are essential. These are the HALF KNOT

(called the "MACRAME KNOT") and the HALF HITCH (called the

"T A'ITING KNOT"). Various combinations of these two, in varying

numbers, are termed bars. About a dozen of these bars are important

enough to bear distinguishing names.

Merchant seamen are apt to introduce sailor's knots into their

square knotting, but the great majority of examples of square knot-

ting that I have seen contain no knots beyond the two that have

been named.

Square knot design is too large a subject to be considered here,

even if design were not outside the scope of the present work. The

basic knots and bars of square knotting are given and several ex-

amples of the work will be described, including the sailor-made

handbag that is reproduced among the frontispieces.

Those who are interested in square knot design will find the fol-

lowing current books of assistance. They are replete with practicable

designs and suggestions and moreover are inexpensive. Herwig,

Square Knot Book (elementary instruction); and De Dillmont,

Macr(l1ne, which is very handsomely illustrated.

2485. Square knotting is started with a series of cords made fast

to a foundation cord, which may be either single or double. For

close spacing, the cords are middled and secured to the heading or

foundation with Cow HITCHES (~56). The length of the cords re-

quired is generally about seven or eight times the length of the fin-

ished product. Each cord is middled and made fast to the foundation.

2486. If wider spacing is , secure the cords to the founda-

tion with CLOVE HITCHES ( 53) which may be either single or

double. Long cords may be either wound on bobbins or they may

be wound over the fingers and held with elastic bands (~308 5).

2487. To add two strands to one, in a lanyard or other pattern:

Tie a HALF HITCH in the shorter cord around the center of the long

or leader cord.

2488. The HALF KNOT is ordinarily used in adding two cords to

a double warp, but the ends are not quite at the same level.

2489. The CONSTRICTOR KNOT will be found firmer and more

symmetrical for the purpose, although it bulks somewhat larger.

2.

2490. The HALF HITCH, also called the TATTING KNOT, is one of

the two basic knots of square knotting, the HALF KNOT being the

other one. One or the other or both of these appear in every square

knotted bar.

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