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T H E C O M P L E T E
V I S U A L G U I D E
DES PAWSON
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Contents
LONDON
Project Editor Ed Wilson 6 Introduction
Project Art Editor Keith Davis 7 About This Book
Production Editor Ben Marcus
US Editor Jennette ElNaggar
Production Controller Mandy Inness
GETTING STARTED
Jacket Designer Silke Spingies
10 Rope Construction
Managing Editor Stephanie Farrow
Managing Art Editor Lee Griffiths 12 Rope Materials
Photography Sam Scott-Hunter, 14 Rope Maintenance
Tim Pestridge 16 Storing Rope
DELHI 18 Terms and Tools
Senior Editor Nidhi Sharma 20 Techniques
Editor Pallavi Singh
Designers Simran Kaur, STOPPER KNOTS
Vikas Sachdeva, Kanika Mittal
28 Overhand Knot
DTP Designer Shanker Prasad
DTP Manager Balwant Singh 30 Slipped Overhand Knot
Managing Art Editor Romi 32 Double Overhand Knot
Chakraborty 34 Best for ... Sailing
Managing Editor Saloni Talwar 38 Figure-Eight
This American Edition, 2021 40 Slipped Figure-Eight
First American Edition, 2012 42 Stopper Knot
Published in the United States
44 Sink Stopper Knot
by DK Publishing, 1450 Broadway,
Suite 801, New York, NY, 10018 47 Stevedore Knot
49 Monkey’s Fist
Copyright © 2012, 2021
Dorling Kindersley Limited 54 Crown Knot
DK, a Division of Penguin Random 56 Wall Knot
House LLC
21 22 23 24 25 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 58 Matthew Walker Knot
001–322078–Jan/2021 61 Manrope Knot
All rights reserved. 72 Diamond Knot
Without limiting the rights under the
copyright reserved above, no part of
this publication may be reproduced, BINDING KNOTS
stored in or introduced into a retrieval 80 True Lover’s Knot
system, or transmitted in any form, or
by any means (electronic, mechanical, 82 Sailor’s Cross
photocopying, recording, or otherwise), 85 Square Knot
without the prior written permission of
the copyright owner. 87 Slipped Square Knot
P ublished in Great Britain by Dorling 90 Slipped Square Knot Doubled
Kindersley Limited.
92 Granny Knot
A catalog record for this book is 94 Thief Knot
available from the Library of Congress.
96 Surgeon’s Knot
ISBN 978-0-7440-2847-8
98 Surgeon’s Knot with
DK books are available at special
Second Tuck
discounts when purchased in bulk for
sales promotions, premiums, 99 Turquoise Turtle
fund-raising, or educational use. For
102 Packer’s Knot
details, contact: DK Publishing Special
Markets, 1450 Broadway, Suite 801, New 105 Clove Hitch
York, NY 10018 [email protected]
107 Clove Hitch—
Printed and bound in China by Second Method
Leo Paper Products.
1o9 Constrictor Knot
111 Timber Hitch
114 Boa Knot
117 Turk’s Head—Three-Lead
Four-Bight
For the curious 124 Best for ... Household
www.dk.com
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128 Turk’s Head—Four-Lead 248 Bowline with Stopper
Five-Bight 249 Figure-Eight Loop
133 Turk’s Head—Five-Lead 251 Threaded Figure-Eight Loop
Four-Bight 253 Overhand Loop
255 Double Overhand Loop
BENDS 257 Double Overhand
140 Sheet Bend Sliding Loop
142 Tucked Sheet Bend 259 Bowline on the Bight
144 Double Sheet Bend 262 Portuguese Bowline
146 Rope Yarn Knot 265 Spanish Bowline
148 Carrick Bend 267 Angler’s Loop
150 Hunter’s Bend 269 Single Figure-Eight
152 Lanyard Knot Loop on the Bight
155 Ashley’s Bend 271 Englishman’s Loop
157 Fisherman’s Knot 273 Double Englishman’s Loop
160 Double Fisherman’s Knot 274 Best for ... Fishing
164 Best for ... Climbing 278 Blood Dropper Knot
168 Blood Knot 280 Bimini Twist
172 Water Knot 283 Basic Net
285 Cargo Net Knot
HITCHES 287 Jury Mast Knot
176 Rolling Hitch
178 Mirrored Rolling Hitch BRAIDS AND SENNITS
180 Round Turn and Two Half Hitches 292 Three-Strand Flat Braid
182 Buntline Hitch 294 Four-Strand Flat Braid
184 Fisherman’s Bend 296 Five-Strand Flat Braid
186 Best for ... Camping 298 Six-Strand Flat Braid
190 Cow Hitch 300 Seven-Strand Flat Braid
191 Pedigree Cow Hitch 302 Best for ... Gifts
192 Cow Hitch with Toggle 306 Ocean-Plait Mat
194 Sheepshank 311 Oval Mat
196 Sheepshank Man o’ War 316 Chain Sennit
199 Marlinspike Hitch 319 Four-Strand Round Sennit
201 Highwayman’s Hitch 321 Eight-Strand Square Sennit
203 Waggoner’s Hitch 324 Round Crown Sennit
205 Snelling a Hook 327 Six-Strand Round Crowning
207 Clinch Knot 330 Square Crown Sennit
208 Improved Clinch Knot
2o9 Palomar Knot SPLICES AND WHIPPINGS
211 Square Lashing 334 Back Splice
215 Diagonal Lashing 342 Eye Splice
218 Best for ... Gardening 347 Short Splice
222 Sheer Lashing 364 Tapering a Splice
225 Icicle Hitch 370 Best for ... Horses
228 Prusik Knot 374 Common Whipping
230 Bachmann Knot 376 French Whipping
232 Klemheist Knot 379 Sailmaker’s Whipping
234 Italian Hitch 383 Palm and Needle Whipping
235 Reversed Italian Hitch 387 Seizing
390 Stitch and Seize
LOOPS
238 Alpine Butterfly
240 Bowline 394 Glossary
242 Bowline—Second Method 396 Index
245 Bowline with Two Turns 400 Acknowledgments
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6
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Knots have been used throughout history,
and they remain a valuable resource today.
Learning to tie knots is a handy, enjoyable
skill, requiring only simple equipment to
get started.
This book contains a selection of knots
intended to be practical and instructive.
Many of them have specific purposes, others
are purely decorative, while some can be used
for many different tasks; all of them should
be reliable and safe if tied correctly. You
will find them useful in everyday life as
well as in activities such as climbing,
sailing, and camping.
As with any skill, it is best to begin by
learning the basics. Familiarize yourself
with the fundamental techniques, the
different types of ropes and their uses,
and a few technical terms. Experiment
with some simple knots before you
attempt anything complicated;
classic knots such as the Square Knot
(see pp.85–86) and the Overhand
Knot (see pp.28–29) are both
excellent places to begin.
When learning to tie
new knots, don’t rush—
pause regularly to make
adjustments as needed
and, above all, have fun!
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7
ABOUT THIS BOOK
About This Book
Read the brief description at the start of each chapter to figure
out which type of knot you need, then use the icons and text
at the beginning of each knot to refine your search. Once you
have found the knot you are looking for, follow the step-by-step
instructions to learn how it is tied. This book also contains
information on rope and tools and the best knots for activities
such as sailing and climbing.
Step-by-step
180 HitcHes181 knot sequence
aRnodu ntdw tou rn Under Opening with an
Half Hitches Over overview of the function
UoEabssjeeydc ttto,o s tsiueec.chu ares aa rpooplee otor ari nfigx.ed Under and characteristics
E(sneseu pre.2 t3h)a itn y tohue m saamkee tdhiere hcatilof hn.itches of the knot, these
Behind in front Over Under pages use step-by-
Under step photography,
accompanied by
in front clear instructions,
Behind tighten to finish to demonstrate how
the knot is tied.
Getting Best for ...
22 getting started started BEST FOR Sailing 35 These
Working out the slack Best for ...
Ostolna tccigek h yttooe umn hathakevee wi tf hotiorgmlhee tkednr .ao D tk oan tto hoti nysco aeu .l ictatlne sayts at etmimaet ircaatlhlye rw tohrakn o turty ianngy This section Sailing feature
Pull Pull outlines the Akhanna godloyt aoosrtd.d hT sseha,re ilblsaoeonr ay kotansnro.dlytss n, wepeialdli nhst eetolrps k ,t noao nswde chsuhorweee attosn dtoi nec ohynaatclrfho atls dt,h odezi enlingn hebisae,ss i,c pages profile
equipment Bowline »pp.240–41 the six best
and basic the kABin ovgwe orlisfn aaetl ilil sleo okofnptoe ktn—n cotathslel.e d knots for
FcstTscooliaynais nntgcdti tkeog aha mnhit nhplttayesrae to nbsricu ntlea a gow icckhfnhrk n.tee hoaganetnt, e td kapid gnpu hiokulflt tl ae enlt lnhatlh oiactnhehttg e em sntudrla tgnie-dsntsWktr lanayonor raedtkn et ktdoqhn cuteohaa tserlslel —ayef cnutakidlgnl y th ohe. tfrTv. otrehyun egt k ohrn o btophetee . tneecehdneidq utoe st ie taowonvh edfeer n mnEiDsas dnta ai brffieioskadorytiicesl nn ulut,aag o nalslr t adndhft toi ed.eoel ror e c uatoltayonnspina dtn tit do eglouo. snultoahatnsniirdeeloysne,aw ,sr r od s BtwS»»woiimpptwoh.p i2lt l.isu4a2ntr84reon 6 pkBws–pnoi4ewto7hrtl si n:e sapcteicviifitice s
the knots F»ipgpu.3r8e–-3E9ight such as
gstrriapn d Pull featured in Abu sltko tphpaetr i sk nqouti cwki ttho stioem. e camping
Faain rsdmtr tlayhn uhdmo blbde. t owneee enn fidn ogfe r FpReeuepllle ttahhtee w ekinnthdo ttg hteiegn hotlttyeh tneh rar sostu rygaohnu.d s. this book. ouundt tehIeAerd rnvnaoeed uaeln oolga tiffhs fo o ya iarft k r sshbonttalporoosapetc i pbtnkforie..no eugmnn t t hriueen, ning ssS»»tiinemppkvppie sl..da44to7o4r –pr–kep44n Ke86or n t Kostn:ot or fishing.
Icons
The activities for which each knot can be used are indicated
by these icons:
General Fishing Climbing
Sailing Camping Decorative
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Getting
Started
Using the correct type of rope for a
particular task is key to tying knots
effectively. This chapter details
how the properties of rope vary
according to its construction and
composition, with useful advice on
storage and maintenance and a range
of basic terms and techniques.
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10
GETTING STARTED
Rope Construction
The rope-making process involves fiber being spun into yarn.
The yarn is then twisted into large strands or braided, sometimes
around a core. The qualities of a rope are partly determined by
this process.
Three-strand rope
Rope with three strands is made by twisting fibers into yarns, then
twisting the yarns together into strands. Three of the strands are
then twisted into rope. At each stage, the direction of the twist is
opposite to that of the stage before: this creates the friction that
holds all the strands together.
Strand
Yarn
Working with
three-strand rope
Consider these positives
and negatives when deciding
whether three-strand rope is
Fiber
right for you:
Firm and flexible.
Strands will untwist
Easy to splice
unless the ends are
(see pp.334–363).
whipped (see p.14) to
keep them from fraying.
Perfect for rigging
traditional sailing Kinks easily while
vessels. being coiled.
A good choice for May have too much
decorative knotting. stretch for some tasks.
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