Page 185 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

954. An OCTAGONAL KNOT that is the first EIGHT-STRftND KNOT

to be given.

955. A SQUARE KNOT with a diagonal lead in the crown.

956. A SQUARE KNOT. This crown should be familiar, having al-

ready appeared on page 167.

957. If a left crown is tied above a right wall, the square shape will

be more pronounced.

958. A HEMISPHERE, slightly elongated.

959. A LONG SPRITSAIL SHEET KNOT with six cross strands. Be care-

9SS

ful when tightening the two lengthwise strands, which should follow

after the six cross strands have been tightened. The ends are bound

to pull downward, somewhat in the form of the kidney bean.

960. A large inverted BASKET-SHAPED KNOT.

961. Here begin the NINE-STRAND KNOTS, suitable for cables and

sinnet. This one should be beaten into a disk shape with a mallet.

962. A larger disk shape of nine strands. If these knots are intended

for out-of-door use, they should be tightened after a good pounding,

and then they should be filled (hardwood filler or casein glue) be-

fore shellacking and painting.

963. A TETRAHEDRON of nine strands must be worked laboriously

into firm and regular shape. It is about as big a practical knot as can

be worked without a core. Metal washers are practical accessories to

the larger knots.

964. Beginning the TEN-STRAND KNOTS. A firm, handsome, regular

disk, the most practical of the three knots of this size. It may be put

on the end of a TWELVE-STRAND SINNET after cutting out two widely

separated strands. In this knot, double by following above the

established lead.

965. A bigger and longer knot than ~958.

966. A large OBLONG of ten strands. The shape, not being inevi-

table, requires hard manual labor before it can be worked into satis-

factory form.

967. A somewhat similar knot of twelve strands. If more than

twelve strands are present in a sinnet I should recommend cutting

'157 out some of them, or else tying a smaller knot, using units of

double strands. Even the knot shown here is inclined to be hollow

unless worked to the limit. But it is handsome and no less regular

than pictured.

968. The next few knots through ~978 and excepting ~972 are

based on elongated DIAMOND and FOOTROPE KNOTS combined with a

crown and shaped somewhat like a cattail. Any of the smaller

CROWN KNOTS of this or the preceding chapter may be lengthened

in this way. Number 968 is a LONG TWO-STRAND KNOT, crowned

•
and doubled. To tie: Seize and lead the two strands well down the

stem, stop the strands, and tie a right wall. Tuck each strand in turn

over and under to the right, and repeat two or three times until

the length is satisfactory. Then superimpose a right crown (which

in two strands is a RIGHT OVERHAND KNOT). Double the knot, fol-

lowing below the lead as in the fourth diagram. Pull the two ends

down to the stem, using a wire loop for a tool.

969. In somewhat similar way, tie with four strands. First make a

regular diamond, tucking over one and under one as many times as

wanted. Tuck each strand in turn over one and under one, a tier at

a time. Finally, crown and tuck the ends to the stem without

doubling.

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