Page 421 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

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2562. The method of tying a SHEET BEND to a short end was J

taught me many years ago by Mrs. Thomas Knowles, who used it I

in her yarn while knitting. It is a knot with which to astound even (

2S62 the initiated. Few sailors know it, probably because it is unsuitable 1

for large material. I

A little practice will be required to find just how short an end •

may be tied, which varies with the material used, and also just how 1

snug the NOOSE is to be drawn before it is slipped over the short end. 1

A spectator is asked to hold up a short end and a slack NOOSE is

slipped around the upheld end. The two ends of the NOOSE are then
,

pulled apart, until the short end that is held by the spectator is

"swallowed," when it will be found that a SHEET BEND has been tied.

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2563. In the next few tricks, certain well-known symmetrical knots

are produced unexpectedly from a few simple turns or hitches. Their

interest depends entirely on the ease and celerity with which they

are tied. The first to be shown is the sailor's MASTHEAD or JURY
2563

MAST KNOT, which is employed practically as a temporary strap to

which stays are led when erecting a jury mast or derrick. Three

hitches are made, fairly large, and the three are extended as indicated

by the arrows. Sometimes the top loop is pulled out with the teeth

in lieu of a third hand, but a skillful sailor uses only his two hands.

The side loops should be completely interlaced and then all three

loops are extended in the same instant.

2564. The SPANISH BOWLINE, when put in heavy rope, provides an

excellent means for slinging a ladder as a staging. When tying the
25"64

knot as a "parlor trick" the two extended loops of the final diagram

are drawn simultaneously through the upper loops shown in the

first diagram. Start the knot as in the first diagram of ~ 2 554, twist

the two top loops a half turn each, turn the knot around and arrange

as shown in the first drawing here.

2565. The FARMER'S Loop. I found this knot in a farm bulletin,

published at Cornell University and written by Professor H. W.

Riley. Three loops may be taken with a soft cord around the left

forefinger. Then with the right hand these loops are jumped, right,

left, right, with dazzling rapidity, to form the finished loop, which is

2565" shown partly drawn out in the fourth diagram and completed in

the fifth.

2566. The trick method of t ing a SHEEPSHANK KNOT. Three

hitches are made exactly as in 2563 for the MASTHEAD KNOT but

only the center hitch or loop is extended. For this reason the center

hitch may be larger than the end ones. The two sides of the center

hitch, shown in the first diagram, are held with the thumbs and

forefingers and the ends of the cord are encircled with the little

fingers and pulled upon. The end hitches close around the two end

2S66 loops. The knot is produced with what appears to be a single jerk.

This will require a little rehearsal.

2567. Cut the knot that was last tied, as shown in this diagram,

and two spectators may be allowed to pull steadily on the two ends,

but if jerked upon, the knot is apt to upset.

2S67 2568. The SHEEPSHANK WITH AN OVERHAND KNOT, also called

"SWORD KNOT." So far as the sailor is concerned, this is purely a

trick knot. Four hitches are made and then the four bights are pulled

or jerked through opposite sides of the knot. Do not be concerned

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