Page 417 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

2541. A method of tying this familiar knot with one hand. If tht;

technique given is followed carefully, after a little practice it will

be found that the knot can be tied almost instantaneously. After

the position of the third diagram is reached and the cord grasped

with the two fingers, the hand should be held erect (fingers up)

and at once the loops will fall into the position of the fourth dia-

gram; which completes the knot as the thumb and forefinger are

brought together.

2542. To tie a CLOVE HITCH with two fingers is far simpler than

it appears. It is based on a common practical method which fol-

lows this, in which two hands are employed. Hold the right hand

palm up. Place the forefinger under the string, which is laid flat

on the table. Hold the left hand palm down, forefinger on top of

the string. Grip the string with the forefingers and rotate each hand

a half turn. Then without turning them further place the hitch from

the right finger against the tip of the left forefinger, which com-

pletes the knot.

2543. The last two knots, jjf 2 541 and jjf 2 542, should be tied in

small material but this one is ordinarily tied in heavy rope or hawser.

It was shown to me by E. E. du Pont under the title "STEAMBOAT

-- HITCH." It is employed on coastwise and river steamers. In a large

hawser the bight, which in the first diagram is pictured as a straight

piece of rope held between two hands, should be gathered into a

loop or bight containing sufficient material to pass around whatever

object the hitch is designed for. If this is a pile on a wharf, as much

as six or ten feet of rope may be required between the two hands.

2542
The hitch formed will be in diameter about one third the length of

this bight, but sufficient allowance must be made so that it will

drop easily over a post, bollard or pile.

The arms are crossed as far as possible, backs of hands are held

'V_

uppermost and with right forearm on top. The rope is grasped

firmly, and, with the backs of the hands kept constantly uppermost,

the arms are rotated until the left hand is on top in the position of

the last diagram. Examination will show that a CLOVE HITCH of

large size has been tied. Although often tied as a trick, this is one

of the most practical ways to form the knot.

2544. The bale hook method of tying the CLOVE HITCH was shown

to me by a North River stevedore. It is the same thing as the com-

mon sailor's way of picking one from the deck with one hand while

his other hand is occupied. In the latter case use a hand instead of

a hook. A little practice may be required to learn the ways of the

25"43 bale hook, unless you were born a stevedore.

2545. This knot was mislaid.

2544