The Knotted Silks

By D. Angelo Ferri

The Knotted Silks:
The Knotted Silks is a classic of Close Up Magic. All that is required are two silks made of rip stop nylon that are still available from many Magic Dealers.
As with my e-book on the Coins Through the Table, I know there are some Magicians who would like to learn this classic of Magic but are not interested in other routines that demand attention to timing patterns and specific systems of movement.
This is the identical text and photos offered in the chapter on the Knotted Silks in my e-book,The Master of Misdirection; separated out for those students who would like to concentrate on this routine.
The Knotted Silks are a wonderful introduction to my teachers Magic. The student needs no special performance conditions save a table and chair, creating many opportunities to perform, gain experience and improve.
You will learn the how to tie the false knot. This is the same knot Slydini used in his stage version of the trick.
You will learn how to recognize, tie, and upset a Granny Knot and a Square Knot.
You will learn how to secretly undo the upset knot while in the act of handing one end of a silk to the assisting spectator.
You will learn how to tie the parallel knots that enable the finish of two knots splitting in two.
This e-book contains 42 pages of instructions photos and diagrams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. Angelo Ferri
• Release date: Jan 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463713303

D. Angelo Ferri

Thank you for taking a look at my profile page. Welcome! My magic e-books are dedicated to my teacher Slydini. It is my sincere hope that some Magicians will take up a serious study of his Art and pass it on to another generation of Magicians. My e-book: The Glass through the Table is a free download, my way to introduce you to the Magic of my teacher, Slydini. . Ever since I was a kid I’ve been fascinated with Magic, those old time private eye movies, especially the Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bogart, playing cards, and all things Italian. One night, while walking through the San Francisco Financial District, the idea for my own detective stories came to me. I’ve written two e-books that will teach you how to play some great Italian Cards games. My e-book: Scopa is a free download, my way to introduce you to my detective and the Italian Card Game Scopa.

Book preview

The Knotted Silks, 2019 Edition

by D. Angelo Ferri

Distributed by Smashwords

Copyright 2019

D. Angelo Ferri

Contents

Introduction

The Knotted Silks Part One

Understanding The Knots

Separating the Silks After Upsetting the Knot

Tying Slydini’s False Knot

Cutting the Knot Short

Pulling the Knot Tight

Upsetting the First Knot

Managing the Assistants tying of a knot

Handing the Silk to The Assistant

Upsetting The Assistant’s Knot

Tying the Square Knot

Splitting The Knots

Meet the Author D. Angelo Ferri

Other e-books by the Author

Introduction

As I write this introduction in January of 2019, I am about the celebrate my 70th birthday. I am almost as old now as Slydini was when I began studying with him some 42 years ago.

In those days Slydini was living in New York City, and Dai Vernon was living in Los Angeles. Each man was a recognized master of his craft. There was a belief common to many magicians back then that in order to do Slydini’s Magic, you had to become Slydini. You had to assume his mannerisms, his gestures, etc. and so while many magicians admired his work, they never took up a serious study of it.

I, like Slydini, am Italian. I found his timing, his gestures, to be natural for me because we share a common heritage. I grew up expressing myself verbally and physically the same way as him.

The thing many magicians of his day missed was that his integrated system of misdirection is based on what all human beings have in common, the natural mechanics of the human body, the inclinations of the human mind.

In my e-book The Master of Misdirection, I cover all of the guiding principles of Slydini’s Magic.

I understand that not every magician wants to immerse himself in the Slydini System but would like to do some of Slydini’s Magic. That realization spawned this e-book and my e-book on his coins through the table.

All of the text and photos found in this e-book and my e-book on his coins through the table are taken from my e-book: The Master of Misdirection. I wanted to make this information available to those magicians who are interested in learning the silks or the coins.

I believe you will find it very useful to begin to understanding the construction of the various knots using soft magicians rope. Even better, use two pieces of contrasting colors. This will enable you to understand the construction of the knots much quicker. Don’t worry about pulling the knots tight at this point. Learn how to tie them, how to recognized them when they are tied, and how to upset them.

You will need at least one set of silk handkerchiefs. They should be about 18 inches by 18 inches. I refer to them as silks but what they really are made of is parachute silk, rip stop nylon. I believe some magic dealers still sell these silks. I’ve found rip stop nylon for sale on line and then hired a seamstress to sew the silks for me. Here are a few very important things to keep in mind. The quality of the silks will directly affect the quality of your performance.

The parachute silk you use should be strong and at the same time relativity soft to the touch. I’ve seen some rip stop nylon that is very thick and was a ‘waxy’ feel and look to it. Avoid this. The knots will ‘hang up when it comes time to upset them. The other important point is the hems of the silks. The hems should be as thin as possible. If you see a set of these silks for sale with say an ¼" hem it’s a pretty good bet the person selling those silks doesn’t do this routine. If you decide to have your own silks made, find and excellent seamstress and let her (or him) know the hems must be as thin as possible.

Study the silks mindfully, make the trick your own. Do that and for the rest of your life you will walk around with a miracle in your pocket, ready to go at a moment’s notice.

All the best,

D

The Knotted Silks Part One

Sometime in the late 1970’s, I can’t remember exactly when, I wandered into Tannen’s Magic Shop. It was at 1407 Broadway in those days. You had to take an elevator ride and when you got off you were in a small lobby. The door to the magic shop was off to the left