Page 152 - The Knot Bible

KNO TS

Stevedore knot
KNOT SCORE
Stevedores were the men who unloaded the cargo from ships after they came Strength
into port. This knot was used by them in preference to other stopper knots Security
because it’s bulkier and easier to untie – although it doesn’t fi ll a bigger hole Diffi culty Tying
Diffi culty Untying
than the overhand (page 148) or fi gure-eight (opposite) knots. From the
Usefulness
dockside, the knot boarded ship and soon gained favour among seamen too.

1 Put a bight in the end of the line, 2 Take another half turn around 3 Turn the working end through
and take a turn around the standing the standing part. the loop.
part with the working end.

KNOT KNOW-HOW 4 Tighten the knot by pulling
the end and the standing part
The fi gure-eight knot (opposite) also in opposite directions.
features in heraldic symbols, most
notably of the Italian House of Savoy.
There, it appears above the motto
Stringe ma non costringe, ie ‘It tightens,
but does not constrain’. Which sums it
up nicely. Car lovers might recognise the
knot from the Alfa Romeo badge, which
included two fi gure-eight, or Savoy,
knots until 1972.