Page 427 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

2588. Puzzle: To make a regular PENTAGON with an OVERHAND

KNOT. The answer: Take a ribbon of paper and tie an OVERHAND

KNOT in it. Draw up gradually and closely, keeping it flat at all

times. When snug, fold back the ends and as perfect a PENTAGON

will result as can be secured with drawing instruments.

2589. Puzzle: To make a regular PENTALPHA with the same mate-

rial and a pencil. Hold the knot against a lighted windowpane and

a PENTALPHA or five-pointed star is silhouetted. Outline this with

your pencil.

'2585

2590. To make a regular OCTAGON. This is from Admiral Luce's

Seamanship (1862). The knot is given as a method of making the

straw button required in the top center of a sailor's hat.

Take a paper ribbon and tie an OVERHAND KNOT in it, tying from

left to right. Every time the ribbon is folded, the end is turned

downward. Be certain that the OVERHAND KNOT takes the open form

of the first diagram. Now turn down the end at point 5 and reeve it

through at 3 and lead it to 6. Stick the end down at 6, lead it over I
, I and through 4 to 7. Turn it down at 7 and stick it through 2 and 5.

, T urn it down at 8 and stick it through 3 and 6.

Cut the standing end (I) off even with the edge of the OCTAGON

and leave the working end just long enough to turn down and sink

out of sight on the underside, in the direction of 2.

2591. To tie an OVERHAND KNOT with a pair of scissors: Take a

paper ribbon one inch wide and about two feet long. A piece of

. ......
• paper from a narrow adhesive-paper roll is excellent, as the ends
7 • E •
•

are to be pasted together and the adhesive on such rolls dries

quickly. Twist this ribbon three half turns and stick the ends to-

gether.

When the ends are secured, take a pair of scissors and divide the
---- ----. ribbon lengthwise in two. It will be found to be still a single ribbon,

but of twice its original length, half its original width, and with an

OVERHAND KNOT tied in it.

2592. To make an ELLIPSE by means of a piece of cord, three brads

and a pencil.

Draw two lines at right angles to and crossing each other in the

middle. They should equal the length and width of the proposed

ellipse. The distance C-D is equal to A-B. Take the distance A-B

2S" on a pair of compasses or a ruler and, using D as a center, establish

C-c. Now drive three brads (at C, C, and D). Tie an inelastic

cord snugly around the three brads. Remove the brad at D and

insert the point of a sharp pencil on the inside of this continuous

cord. Keeping the cord at an even tension around both remaining

brads, draw an ellipse along the periphery that is allowed by the

cord.

Aside from being an amusing puzzle, this is an exceedingly practi-

cal way to draw any wanted ellipse.

2593. Snare (I). Bend together the two ends of a string five or six

feet long and hold the knotted part in your hand. Without turning

I "- " , the hand lay the cord on a table from east to west, to south, to

I --- ... ....

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