Page 180 - The Ashley Book of Knots

MULTI-STRAND BUITONS, TIED ON THE TABLE

An enlarged copy of a crown is made on a sheet of paper, and a

hole is pierced (with a pencil point) where each strand is to be intro-

duced. A single right wall having been tied, the strands are rove up-

ward through these holes in the paper diagram in their proper order,

after which the stem and WALL KNOT are lowered down through

the hole in the cork board or table. The diagram is flattened out on

top of the board, and the crown is tied over the diagram, one strand

at a time being pinned at frequent intervals. After this the knot is

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removed and drawn taut.

'08

908. The knot illustrated here is TACK KNOT '/I: 846, now called

MANROPE KNOT. Sometimes it is easier to double a knot before re-

moving it from the board. Often it is simpler to work it into smaller

compass before doubling, particularly if the strands are short. In

doubling, the lead may be followed either below or above as de-

scribed in '/1:672.

909. A very simpk TWO-STRAND CROWN is given here, and the

knot is doubled by following below the lead, which is the common

way. The ends of the strands are tucked to the stem after the knot

has been doubled or tripled. The larger knots of this series, however,

are often left single, the pictured form being of ample size. Many of I .

the SINGLE-STRAND BUTTONS of Chapter 4 may be tied as Two-

STRAND BUTTONS. (See '/I: 980 and '/I: rooo.) 90<)

The following knots are at first limited to a few strands, but the

number of strands increases as the chapter progresses, a TWELVE-

STRAND KNOT appearing on page 180. If sinnets of more strands are

tied the strands may be seized and the superfluous ones trimmed out.

Beyond twelve strands the knots become hollow and require a core.

910. A TWO-STRAND BUTTON that is based on a CARRICK BEND

CROWN. After a TWO-STRAND KNOT is completed the ends and stand-

')10
ing parts may be laid up together into a neck of FOUR-STRAND

SQUARE SINNET or else four-strand plain-laid rope.

911. A THREE-STRAND BUTTON KNOT. The crown that is pictured

here, if added to a single wall, makes the same knot as a DIAMOND

KNOT with a superimposed single crown. The crossings in all these

crowns are taken alternately over and under. It does not appear

necessary to elaborate the drawings of each one. Sufficient is drawn

to indicate the order of the over-and-under. After the initial wall, the

first tuck of the crown is always over and then under.

Any diagram composed entirely of lines with an even number

of crossings is a potential crown for a BUTTON KNOT. <) I I

912. A larger knot than the foregoing, also of three strands, the

top aspect of which is somewhat similar.

913. A FOUR-STRAND KNOT that gives the same result as a DIAMOND

~ND CROWN of four strands.

The forms of many of these knots are more or less inevitable, pro-

vided they are evenly worked. But some have to be prodded and

molded before they take shape. Knots, like children, should be

gently nrged in the direction it is hoped they will follow.

912

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