Page 140 - The Ashley Book of Knots

MULTI-STRAND LANYARD KNOTS

.....

by the usual sailor's method. If the ends are each tucked once more

under the next intervening strand a FULL or DOUBLE MATTHEW

WALKER is tied (jj!l678), in which each strand has three tucks.

731. A MULTI-STRAND MATTHEW WALKER KNOT with any num-

ber of strands and any number of tucks may be tied by the method

• •
Just gIVen.

Take six (more or less) pieces of banding, eighteen or twenty

inches long, seize, or stop, and "COACHWHIP" for a short length along

a rope or other cylinder of about half-inch diameter. The seizin s

should be about two inches apart. Paste a piece of paper snug y

around the cylinder. The paper should be large enough to cover the

three seizings neatly, which hides the inert part of the knot. Turn

down the top ends of banding, and stop them about three and one

half inches down the paper sleeve that was just formed, and twist

them to the right, countercorkscrew fashion, so that they form a

45-degree helix.

Take each strand in turn, and tuck it up under the adjacent strand

to the right. Having completed one entire circuit or tier, tuck each

strand again under one, and continue to add as many tiers as wished.

The knot should now resemble the third or left diagram in the sec-

ond row. Six or seven tiers will be sufficient, as it is difficult to work

a knot if the number of tucks very much exceeds the number of 73'

strands. Arrange tbe knot neatly, and take a one-inch strip of wrap-

ping or adhesive paper and wind it several times ti htly around the

waist of the knot, before pasting down the end ( ourth diagram).

Having added this sleeve, cut the stopping and remove the under- 732.

neath paper sleeve. Working the knot constantly to keep it fair, pull

each end gently in turn. The standing ends at the bottom may also

be pulled, if they are not already made up into a rope or sinnet. As

the knot is worked, the seizings may be removed, with the exception

of the uppermost, which is permanent. Keep the edges of the knot

parallel and regular. When the knot is; taut remove the outside paper

sleeve.

From these directions, Eugene E. du Pont, who had never made a

MATTHEW WALKER KNOT before, tied in my studio, without other

assistance, the TWENTY-FoUR-STRAND, TWENTy-ONE-TuCK MAT-

THEW WALKER KNOT that is reproduced among the frontispieces.

This is probably the largest MATIREW WALKER KNOT that has ever
733

been tied. It would be impractical to tie a knot of this description by

the sailor's method (jj!l678) although it could be done by the method

given as jj!l683, of which method this is an elaboration.

732. A DOUBLE SINGLE MATTHEW WALKER KNOT is tied by fol-

lowing the lead below the next bight to the right. Tie an OVERHAND

KNOT in each end after you have led it, to assist in identification.

733. A DOUBLE FULL MATTHEW WALKER KNOT of three strands:

Tie a DOUBLE MATTHEW WALKER loosely. Take any strand and lay

it parallel and below the next strand to its right. Tuck it up to the

immediate left of the strand that is being followed, and draw it out

at the top, immediately in advance of its own bight. At once tie an

OVERHAND KNOT in the end so that the strand may be identified. Re-

peat with the other two strands, putting a knot in each end as soon as

tied.

734. A CUBE-SHAPED DIAMOND KNOT. Take four strands, seize

them to the stem, and tie a wall to the right. Having done this, tuck

each strand in turn over one and under one. Work the knot into the

form of a cube.

[ I3 I ]