Page 238 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE TURK'S-HEAD

legs to the right. Lead the legs down the rope in a right helix and

stop them. Wall the legs to the right. Disregard the stopping and

take each leg in turn, passing it over the next leg to its right, and

tucking it under the second. This process may be repeated as many

times as desired. The legs are tucked in tiers; that is, each leg is

tucked only once in turn, and at no time is any leg advanced more

than one tuck beyond the others. When the knot is wide enough,

double or triple it, as already described. 12.85

Each leg of the knot that was just described may be tucked down

to the neck as it lies, or else it may be tucked independently some-

what further, the opposing leg being withdrawn at each tuck so

that the joints are well scattered to prevent unsightly bulges. The

two opposing ends should emerge from under the same part.

1285. The foregoing knot may be doubled or trebled by parallel-

ing one end with the other. Work the knot snug, pull the ends tight

and trim them close. The number of bights is always equal to the

number of strands and the number of leads is always odd.

The foregoing describes the usual sailor's variety of WIDE STAND-

ING TURK'S-BEAD. There are really four varieties of the knot, 'II: I z84
1

and the three which follow.

Condensed directions for'll: n84 and'll: n8S are as follows: Seize

several strands and crown to the right and then helix dOM'nward.

Seize again and wall to the right, then tuck upward over and under,

any number of times. The number of leads is always odd. (This

is the common STANDING TURK'S-HEAD.)

1286. Seize, crov.m to the right and helix downward, seize again

and tuck upward, over and under any number of times. The num-

ber of leads is always even.

1287. Seize, turn down strands in a right helix (without crown-

ing), seize again and wall, then tuck upward over and under any

number of times. This is the reverse of 'II: I z86. The number of leads

is always even .

•

1288. Seize, turn down strands in a right helix (without crown-

ing), seize again and tuck upward over and under any number of

times. This is the reverse of 'II: I2 84 and 'II: I2 8 S. The number of leads

is always odd. The cycle of this is the same as that of the DIAMOND

KNOT.

By the above four methods a STANDING TURK'S-HEAD of any size

may be made.

1289. The following method, however, gives the same result, and

is the one I have found most convenient. Take a number of legs

equal to the number of bights desired. Middle the legs and seize

them at the center to a rope or other cylinder. Twist the lower set

of legs in a 4s-degree helix downward to the right and seize again.

The two seizings should mark the position and length of the pro-

jected knot. Crown the upper set to the left and (I) wall the lower

set to right, or else (z) tuck the lower set upward over and under

without walling. Proceed to tuck both upper and lower sets of legs

over and under until they meet. Opposite ends are then laid in

parallel with each other and the knot is doubled or tripled. The ends

should be scattered so that they do not all project at the same cir-

cumference, which would cause bulging. Draw the knot snug and

trim all ends. With these two starts knots of any size may be made.

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