Page 224 - The Ashley Book of Knots

CLOVE HITCH AND OTHER CROSSING KNOTS

In tying up heavy bundles and bales the CLOVE HITCH is the CROSS-

ING KNOT favored by manufacturers, since the whole lashing is not

apt to give way if any part of the cord or rope chafes through.

1178. When placing a CLOVE HITCH over a post or stake it may be

tied in hand by first making two turns and then bringing the lower

turn atop the first one. (See first diagram.) Or a SINGLE HITCH may

be tied around the post and the rope tightened and held while the

second hitch is added.

Additional ways of tying the CLOVE HITCH are given in POST 1J78

HITCHES, Chapter 23. "Trick" ways are shown in Chapter 33.

1179. Frequently it is a great convenience to be able to rie the knot

with one hand. The rope, as shown here, comes from the left and

is led beyond the post. With the palm of the right hand held away

from you, grasp the rope on the right side of the post. Cross the

hand to your left, and turn the palm toward you. This imparts a

twist to the rope which is then dropped back (away from you) over

the post. Take the end again in your right hand, pull it to the left to

tighten the rope, then make and place a second turn, over the top of

the post, exactly as described for the first one.

1180. If it is desired to haul the line between posts very tight, the

following is the way to do it. Pull with both hands and when the 11'79

rope is taut, hold what you have gained with the left hand. Twist

the ro e to the right with the right hand, which will cause a turn

to be ormed, and allow this turn to drop over the end of the post.

Pull this turn tight around the post with the right hand, without

rendering any that is held in the left hand. Hold all taut with the

left hand while adding a second hitch to complete the CLOVE HITCH.

1181. An AFRICAN RAFTER LASHING from the 38th Annual Report

of the National Smithsonian Museum. The framework of the hut is

of bamboo and the roof is thatched with grass. The rope is brought

from the left parallel with the purline. It passes a rafter on the under-

side and takes a turn around it; it then takes a turn around the pur-

1

line and is tucked forward again under the first turn that is around

the rafter. The knot is repeated at each rafter crossing.

1182. The TRANSOM KNOT (see also # I 255) is closely related to the 1181

CONSTRICTOR. It was first made to hold together the crossed ribs of a

kite. 1£ unsupported it is more secure than the previous knot, and has

little or no initial slip. It may be used for a series of knots in a single

rope or it may be tied singly. 1£ pickets, pales, or transoms are spaced

widely apart much material will be saved without any loss of security

by closely clipping each knot. "/ ---;)

1182

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