Page 22 - Peter Randall "The Craft of the Knot.."

Chapter 1

SIMPLE STOPPERS

The best place to start learning knots is with stopper knots, or knots that
are tied at the end of a cord. Stopper knots have many uses and provide
an excellent learning base for practicing a wide variety of other knots.

STOPPING AND MORE

Stopper knots, also known as terminal knots or knob knots, are tied at
the end of a cord. In its strictest sense, the use of the word knot refers to
a stopper knot.

A rope with a knot tied in the end of it is a completely different object
than a rope without one. It is easier to hang on to, it cannot be pulled
through the same size openings, the end will be less inclined to come
unraveled, and it will look different, too. All these changes in the

properties of the rope are accomplished with a simple stopper knot.

Basic Usage

To stop a cord’s end from running through a small opening is part of

how a stopper knot earns its name. By “stopping” the rope, the knot
allows us to suspend something from it. If the cord runs through a lead
or pulley, a stopper knot can keep the line from running all the way out,
or unreeving. This is commonly done on a sailboat, where the Figure
Eight Knot is used for this purpose. It also stops the end of thread from
passing through cloth and similar materials in needlework.

A simple stopper knot is often used to make cordage easier to grasp,
whether you make it with the string doubled through the end of a
zipper, or with larger rope to get a better grip. Several stopper knots can
be tied, and spaced out, to give many handholds. When tied in the ends