Page 252 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE TURK'S-HEAD

1359. Start "B." 7L X sB. 13L X 9B. 19L X 13B. 2sL X 17B. Between

pins 1 and 27 over-all. Between pins 27 and 17 over-all. Between pins 17

and IO pass over. Between pins IO and 31 pass over, over. Continue with

ever-and-under contrary to the established parallel lead. The first cross-

ing at both rims is over.

1360. Start "B." 4L X 3B. IOL X 7B. 16L X lIB. nL X ISB. Between

pins 1 and 27 over. Between pins 27 and 17 over. Betwet:n pins 17 and IO

under. Between pins IO and 31 under, over. Continue with over-and-

under contrary to established parallel lead. Crossings at the right rim are

over. Crossings at the left rim are under. The illustration shows a com-

pleted 4L X 3B. TURK'S-HEAD. Continue as directed to complete a TURK's-

HEAD of nL X I sB.

VARIOUS DIRECT METHODS FOR TYING TURK'S-HEADS

The Disk Method

1361. There are a number of direct ways by which TURK's-

HEADS that do not lend themselves readily to one of the "enlarge-

ment" methods that have been given, may be tied.

The projection of a TURK'S-HEAD on a plane has certain advantages.

It is easy to plan, easy to form, and the whole knot is visible at all times. 10

But it is not so easy to work as a TURK'S-HEAD that has been tied around

a cylinder, as the knot is distorted by having one rim much larger than

the other. This is not always important and there are certain complicated

knots that can hardly be projected by another method. (See jIj? 1394 and

~ 39S.) For regular knots, a large disk may be used with radiating lines
I

and equispaced circles about the center and with pins at all crossings,

around which different-sized TURK'S-HEADS may be tied. But the method "
1

is unwieldy. When a knot is to be tied on a plane surface, it will prob- 1

ably be found easier to make a diagram that agrees with the knot, such

as the two which follow.

1362. Take a twenty-fIve-cent piece, place it in the center of a

sheet of paper, and pencil a line around it. Divide the circumference

with a pair of dividers into a number of parts equal to the intended

number of bights.

Make a series of regular triangles around the outside of the circum-

ference just made, using the ends of each arc to limit one side of each

triangle. From each apex of these triangles, draw two divergent legs,

each foot of which meets the foot of its neighbor. This completes a di-

agram for a THREE-LEAD TURK'S-HEAD. To make a wider TURK's-HEAD,

continue to add other legs in the same manner. When certain that the

diagram consists of only one line (the number of bights and leads have no

common divisor), you are ready to tie the knot. But if the diagram rs

found to consist of more than one line, add another tier of legs. Then, B
... . .... ..... . - - - - - -

c_~~_ --'-sLilrtmg- aT"lne <Colic', }Jura COHTaiolIg-tiic iIlle;-n~pt:ai.n~g-ailcrllalciy al - -~- --- ---- -- - - --- -- -----==--,,--~
~-_\\_--.;

the crossings, "Over, under," etc., and tucking the end accordingly. Use

a cork board and pin with large flat-headed tacks.

At every point on a diagram four lines meet, or else two lines cross, __ ....: 2.

which is the same thing. To make a crossing with a cord at such a point,

leave one line to the right, one line to the left, and follow along the line 15'"

that remains, which is opposite the standing end. 7

When a knot has been tied it may be placed around a cylinder, dou-

bled, and worked as already described. There will be considerable surplus

material to be worked out of the rim before the knot takes a proper

cylindrical form.

1363. Another and perhaps easier way to tie a knot on a disk

is to use the system of notation that has been described in Chapter

I, as jIj? 128.

[ 243 ]