Page 204 - The Ashley Book of Knots

DOUBLE- AND MULTIPLE-LOOP KNOTS

1079. SISTER Loops. Double back one end of a short rope. Treat

the doubled end as if it were the standing part of the rope and tie

a BOWLINE to it with the other end. Then adjust the length of the

loops before drawing taut.

This brings us to DOUBLE and MULTIPLE Loops tied in the bight,

a much more prolific family than DOUBLE and MULTIPLE Loops tied

in the end. In fact there seems to be no end to the number of knots

of this nature that are possible. Of those to be given here the Bow-

LINE in the bight '/I: 1080, '/I: 1081, '/I: 1083 and the SPANISH BOWLINE

(l!~ 1087) are well known. Number 1088, the SHEEPSHANK, was pub-

lished in Sea Stories in 1925 and '/I: 1097, '/I: 1I02, '/I: 1105, and '/I: 11 13

are well-known "fancy knots." Number 1110 is the rather rare

"THEODORE KNOT," of the cowboys. The remainder are mostly the

result of my own investigation.

1080. The BOWLINE, on, in, or upon, the hight, or a bight, was

mentioned by Lever in 1808, who called it "BOWLINE upon the

bight." Roding gives a picture of it in 1795. It consists of two parallel

rigid loops which may be used individually if desired. The pull on

the two ends should be approximately parallel. It is the knot generally

used at sea for lowering an injured man from aloft. One leg is put 1080

through each loop and if conscious the man holds the double stand-

ing part in hand, but, if unconscious, a SINGLE HITCH from the stand-

ing part is placed around his chest and under his armpits.

To tie: Double a line, and with the loop end, tie a BELL RINGER'S

KNOT ('/1:1147), as in the second diagram. Then open the single end

loop and pass it around the whole knot and close it about the neck

of the knot, as pictured. Draw out the two loops and the knot will lOS 1

be complete.

1081. A second method of tying the BOWLINE on the bight:

Double a rope and tie an OVERHAND KNOT with the looped end.

Following the diagram, fold the loop up over the front of the knot,

placing the bight across the neck. Holding the loop in place, pull

forward the double part that is indicated by the arrow in the second

diagram and work the knot taut.

1082. A third way to tie the BOWLINE on the bight: Tie an OVER-

HAND KNOT with a looped end, exactly as in the foregoing knot.

Double the loop back, but this time double it underneath instead of

on top. The doubled bight that is marked with an arrow in the right

lower diagram forms the two loops. The material from the single

loop is worked out and the knot drawn taut.

1082.

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