Page 431 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

2606. To remove a ring (or key) from a doubled string which is

passed around the two thumbs of a spectator, without disturbing the

spectator. Neither of the loops is to be lifted from the spectator's

thumbs.

Two bights are made, one in the back part of the string at the left

of the ring and one in the front part at the right of the ring (from

the performer's viewpoint). These bights may be treated in two

ways; they may be moved one at a time and placed over the left

2.6 0 6 thumb of the spectator in the order A, B or bight B may be placed
B

A over bight A and then the two together may be placed over the

spectator's left thumb (which is, of course, the thumb at the right

side of the diagram). In either case do not let go until the spectator

starts to s read his arms. The spectator's hands have been at first

held loose y in order to allow bights to be formed and placed over

the thumbs, but when the performer casts off, the spectator's hands

are stretched apart and the ring or key drops off the cord.

2607. To replace the ring. First stick a bight from the near side of

the string through the ring and hold in place with the right hand.

Next, with the left hand place a bight from the rear part of the

string over the spectator's thumb and then place the bight from

the ring also over the thumb. When the spectator's hands are spread

apart the ring is found neatly restored to the string.

2608. To knot a ring to a single string, the two ends of which are

tied around your wrists. (If preferred, this may be done around the

wrists of a spectator.)

A loop (a BOWLINE KNOT) is tied around each wrist. They should

not be tight enough to cause discomfort. Pull forward a bight from

the center and stick it through the ring, give it half a left turn and,

keeping the pictured side uppermost, reeve it up through the loop

that is around the left wrist, then over the left hand and down the

left wrist until it has passed under and below the loop that was first

2608

tied around the wrist. Now lift it off over the hand. The ring will

be found securely knotted to the string.

To remove the same knot: Take the left bight of the knot which

is shown in the right final diagram and lace it over the left hand

and over and below the loop that was . rst tied around the wrist.

Then reeve it up under the original loop and cast off over the hand.

2609. To tie a FIGURE-EIGHT KNOT in the bight without removing

6 8 the loops from the wrists: The first diagram shows the finished
0

aspect of the trick. In the second diagram is shown a full left turn

made in the bight, which is to be pushed up under the loop around

the left wrist, and then brought down over the hand and under the

wrist loop and finally is cast off over the hand and wrist loop. To

remove this knot proceed exactly in the way described for the

previous knot (~2608), the left bight of the FIGURE-EIGHT being

well opened and pulled out before proceeding to untie.

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