Page 223 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

1171. The CROSSTNG KNOT, per se, is known and used wherever

parcels are made up, but it is seldom that the knot is tied in the most

expeditious way. Generally the end is tucked twice, although one

tuck is all that is needed. As lashing and parcel tying are discussed

at some length in Chapter 28, little need be said here about them.

Ordinarily a NOOSE is tightened around the girth of a parcel and then

the cord is led at right angles to the NOOSE around the length of the

parcel. Wherever the cord crosses itself a CROSSING KNOT is added

to hold the lashing firm.

\\71 To tie the preferred way, with a single tuck: The lashing having

reached the position of the first diagram and the cord having crossed

the original NOOSE, make a HALF HITCH as indicated by the arrow.

The cord is then tightened by first pulling it back as in the second

diagram and then forward as in the third. The end is secured on the

reverse side with Two HALF HITCHES.

1172. The usual shopkeeper's way of tying the knot is the reverse

of ~ I 17 I. The end is rove under the NOOSE and is hauled back and

tightened. It then is tucked a second time under its own standing

part. This is "end-for-end" but otherwise the same as the former

knot.
1173

1173. There is still a third way to tie the same form. The end is

lea across the original NOOSE and tucked backward under it. It is

then led over its own standing part and stuck forward under the

originaL NOOSE. This knot is the upside down of 'II: I 172 and the "up-

side-down" and "end-for-end" of 'II: I 17 I.

1174. To tie -:he CROSSING KNOT in the bight over a stake: Seize

11"14 a bight, twist it one full turn and drop it over the stake. Tighten the

knot by hauling the end back as in the second diagram of 'II: I 171,

then lead the end forward to the next stake.

1175. Sometimes, if the cord is not so strong as might be wished,

11 TS"
it is reinforced by leading it twice around a parcel. In such a case

it will usually be sufficient to tie a CROSSING KNOT on the second

circuit only. The end is laid as in the first diagram of 'II: I 171 but it

is tucked under the two parts that have formed a cross on the top

side of the parcel.

1176, 1177. Although the name CLOVE HITCH is given by Falconer

in his Dictionary of 1769, the knot is much older, having been tied

in ratlines at least as early as the first quarter of the sixteenth century.

This is shown in early sculpture and paintings. A round turn is taken

with the ratline and then a hitch is added below. The forward end is

always the first to be made fast.

I Diagram 'II: I 176 shows the outside view of the starboard shrouds

1176 and 'II: I 177 the outside view of the port shrouds.

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1177

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