Page 195 - Derek E. Avery - The new encyclopedia of knots

your hand to grip the standing part of the line, both to increase the

purchase on the line and to protect your hand. Pull steadily on the
standing part, and finish by trimming the end.

‘Threef’ knot: a reef knot to all intents and purposes, except that it has
been mis-tied. With the reef knot (see page 130) both ends emerge on the
top side of the knot; however, here one finishes at the top and the other
finishes at the bottom.

Form a bight in the left-hand rope, with the working end at the top. Pass
the end of the other rope upwards through this bight and take a turn
around both parts of the first (left-hand side) rope. Now take the end
back down through the bight on the bottom side of its standing part

(figure 137, bottom).

This knot is used as a telltale knot; should the original threef be untied by
a thief, the chances are that he or she would tie it up again correctly as a
reef knot, thereby disclosing the fact that the knot and the item that it
held closed had been disturbed.

Thumb knot: or overhand knot: the simplest of stopper knots, and not
particularly useful on its own except for tying parcels.

Form a bight by crossing the end over the standing part of the rope. Draw
the end upwards through this bight. Alternatively, start with an overhand

loop and bring the end up through it to complete the knot; with an
underhand loop you push the end down through the loop (figure 138).

figure 138