Knot Know-How: How To Tie the Right Knot For Every Job

By Steve Judkins and Tim Davison

This beautiful full-colour book covers knots, splices and whippings. It begins with the ten knots everyone should know. The other knots are grouped by use so that if, for example, you want to make a loop you have eight knots to choose from. Each stage of each knot is illustrated and its uses, strong points and weak points are highlighted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fernhurst Books Limited
• Release date: Aug 25, 2003
• ISBN: 9781909911659

Steve Judkins

Steve Judkins is a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. He is a professional sailing instructor and was formerly in the Royal Navy, serving on HMY Brittania.

Book preview

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Tools of the trade

Welcome to KNOT KNOW-HOW

This book begins with the ten knots everyone should know (pages 10 to 29). It then gives lots of other knots, arranged by use (e.g. knots for tying a rope to an object). Finally, we show how to whip (stop the end of a rope unwinding), seize (sew or bind two ropes together), splice (join ropes permanently), taper and handle ropes.

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Terms

Knot basics

A half hitch is the start of many knots. So is a round turn.

Security

Length of tail Always work the knot tight, leaving a good tail.

Strength A knot reduces the strength of a rope. (Some knots may almost halve the strength.)

Undoing a knot

Some knots can be capsized – eg a reef knot.

Hold the standing part and pull back the nearest end.

You can then slide the knot off the rope.

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ROPES

Ropes can be made from a range of materials.

The table on page 8 lists some of these, and the properties of the ropes.

Once the fibres have been chosen, they can be put together in a number of ways to make a rope.

The most common ropes are 3-strand laid, 8-strand braid and core-plus-cover (see page 9).

Pre-stretched rope

The rope is stretched in the factory.

When you use it later, it won't stretch so much.

Wear

Wear causes broken fibres, or can even melt the fibres together. To avoid this, lead ropes properly so they don't go round sharp corners. Be careful with core-plus-cover ropes: the strength is in the core, but it's hidden by the cover.

Sunlight

The ultra violet in sunlight is bad for ropes.

Measuring ropes

The thickness of a rope is given as the diameter in millimetres. (Ropes used to be measured around the circumference, in inches.)

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Choosing a rope

1. First decide on the strength you need.

2. Then decide how much stretch you need.

3. Do you want the rope to float or sink?

4. Do you need a soft rope (for easy handling?)

There are many alternative ways of tying the knots in this book. And most of the knots have alternative names! As you become more proficient, you will find your own preferred methods and names.

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Ten knots everyone should know

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Round turn & two half hitches

Use: Attaching a rope to a ring or post.