Page 254 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE TURK'S-HEAD

FOUNDATION METHODS

1369. A guide cord or PILOT KNOT.

The proper number of pins for the knot should be placed in two

rows around a wooden cylinder and a temporary structure of black

linen thread laid around the pins, following the line of the projected

TURK'S-HEAD, all crossings being over.

Tie an end of black linen thread to a left pin, lead it away in a right

diagonal of 45 degrees and around a right pin. Next lead the thread in a

left diagonal to a left pin. If the knot is to have eight leads, this should be

the eighth left pin beyond the initial one. If the knot is to have eleven

leads, it is the eleventh left pin, etc. Continue to lead the black thread

parallel with the initial leads and, if the Law of the Common Divisor has

not been violated, the two ends will meet when all the pins have been

rounded.

Tie the final knot over the PILOT KNOT with other material, taking the

crossings over one and under one.

1370. The "PERRY BASKET" was originated by Manuel Perry.

A FOOTROPE KNOT (*743) is tied with tarred codfish line, making a

stiff basketlike structure. This knot is doubled and tripled with a single

piece of other material, after which the initial basket is removed. The

method is ingenious but the stiff basket is difficult to remove without

capsizing the knot: The inventor found that his knots sometimes could

not be made with a single cord, and he finally adopted the WIDE STAND-

ING TURK'S-HEAD method (*1284) when he required a large knot. I was

told that he always had started his BASKET with a CROWN AND WALL 1

KNOT. If he had also employed a CROWN AND DIAMOND (*708), his diffi-

culties would have been lessened. For with these two starts all possible

ONE-STRAND TURK'S-HEADS can be formed.

1371. The clue method provides an accurate way to make a large

knot.

Although it require~ considerable preparation it is one of the easiest

to tie. The pins having been arranged as usual, fasten a black linen thread

to a left pin, and lead it away from you in a 45-degree angle to the right.

Secure it with a SINGLE HITCH to a convenient right pin and cut off the

end at two and a half times the length of the diagonal. Tie another end

to the next left pin and lay a second cord parallel with the first, securing

the end and cutting it off in the same manner as before. Repeat until all

pins are occupied with a series of right diagonals.

Take anyone of the long ends, round the right pin, and tuck it, once

only, away from you and to the left. If the number of leads is to be odd,

this tuck is over the first contrary strand, and under the second; but if the

number of leads is to be even, the first tuck is under the first contrary

strand. Having tucked an end once only, proceed to tuck each of the

other ends in the same manner, until all have been tucked, thereby form-

ing a tier of single tucks; then tuck each strand again, over and under,

and continue to repeat, one tier at a time, until the number of strands

crossed by one thread is one less than the number of leads that is planned.

Then tie each end to its proper left pin. 1371

To tie the permanent knot on this foundation: Take a single cord of

different material, middle it and tie the center temporarily to a left pin.

Follow the lead established by the clue until the cord has been doubled

or tripled, using both ends of the cord as needed. Then remove the pins

and the original thread, cutting the clue with scissors wherever necessary.

Work the knot taut.

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