Page 199 - Adlard Coles "The Knot Bible"

Crown knot

Whether it was to prevent wear or stop tools falling out, sailors devised KNOT SCORE
ingenious knots that not only fulfi lled their purpose but looked beautiful Strength
too. The crown and its close sister the wall knot (page 200) form the basis Security
of many of these more elaborate creations. It can also be used on its own Diffi culty Tying
as a stop, to prevent a rope fraying, until a more permanent solution is Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness
found. Conveniently, it’s the first step for a back splice (page 262).

In a world where crews were pitted instance, how the killick hitch (page rope artefacts to sell when they
against extremes of weather and 58) might be turned into a covering got into harbour. Hence the craft
had to do without home comforts for a bottle, for the purely pragmatic of macramé was born.
for months on end, sailors were reason of preventing that bottle The trade in marlinspike
understandably proud of their macho breaking if it fell over. seamanship continues to this day.
credentials. You couldn’t be a sissy if Many decorative knots started as Lanyards, which were originally
you had to climb a 100ft mast to furl stopper knots in the ends of lines, created to prevent knives and other
the topgallants in a Force 8 gale. to prevent them slipping through tools dropping overboard, are turned
Yet, when they weren’t doing all blocks. Others, such as the elaborate- into necklaces and bracelets. Bell
manner of incredibly arduous and looking turk’s head (pages 230–237), ropes are turned into handles for

often filthy tasks, sailors were quite were devised to prevent chafe on almost anything, and the monkey’s
happy to spend hours on end fi ddling a rail or spar. Rope mats (pages fist (page 160), originally devised for

around with bits of string to perform 238–241) too were tied to protect the hurling messenger lines ashore, is
what was known as marlinspike deck from wear, and subsequently now more commonly seen on key

seamanship. Basically, macramé. developed into objects of art. rings than flying through the air.
Originally, most of the fancy knots The popularity of fancy knotwork Ships might not have topgallants

aboard ship fulfilled strictly practical among the general public meant that to furl anymore, but the sailor’s craft

functions. It’s not difficult to see, for sailors began increasingly to make from the Age of Sail lives on.

1 Seize the line a distance 12 times its 2 Pass the centre strand over the 3 Pass the left-hand strand over the
own diameter from the end, and tease right-hand strand. The knot should centre strand.
the strands apart. Stop the ends of the always follow the lay of the rope.
strands with a constrictor knot (page
38) or butane whipping (page 251).

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