Somewhere in the dim and dark recesses of memory — which seem to get dimmer and darker with each passing day — we recall learning to tie fancy knots in order to get a Girl Scout badge.
At least we remember trying to tie fancy knots, but having no badge and no clear memory of receiving one, our success in the endeavor is dubious.
But successful or not, when we saw an article on knot-tying in a recent edition of Martha Stewart’s Living magazine, our interest in the skill was renewed.
We looked online for a good book on the subject and found that the quintessential reference on knots and knot-tying appears to be the “Ashley Book of Knots” by Clifford Ashley.
The book collector and lover in us said yes, but our budget responded with a loud and firm no. At nearly $50 with a pretty decent discount, this one was out of reach for the time being.
We settled for a couple of smaller books, the total cost of which amounted to $22 and change: “The DK Handbook of Knots: Expanded Edition” by Des Pawson and “Knots: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Tying Over 100 Knots” by Gordon Perry.
There are dozens of other knot books available, and if you fancy being knotty after reading this column, take a good look at what’s out there. Check out the instructions and diagrams, if possible, and make sure they are easy for you to understand.
After looking through quite a few, we made our selection, but honestly believe that the choice in this case is entirely a matter of personal preference. Even though both of our choices are fine, we lean toward “The DK Handbook of Knots” diagrams.
While browsing through the books, a couple of projects came to mind: decorative springtime tiebacks for our curtains and a handmade leash for our best buddy, Bowie.
We set to work practicing a variety of knots and came up with the samples shown in our photo. From top to bottom, the techniques are:
The sennits (strands woven in complex patterns) are good choices for either the leash or the tiebacks, while the others will work best as tiebacks — they aren’t quite sturdy enough for a leash.
At this point, we’ve decided to go with the eight-strand square sennit for the leash and the True Lovers’ Knot/bead combo for our tiebacks.
Tips for being knotty
Read the introductory material in the book before plunging in: You’ll find plenty of helpful information, such as the different kinds of rope and their qualities and the importance of estimating rope length before beginning a project.
Practice, practice, practice: The knots may look easy, but once you try your hand you’re likely to find that the looks are deceiving. Also, if you plan to use a series of knots in a project (such as the series of stopper knots in our sample), you’ll need to play with placing the knots where you want them in relation to the others. We had a heck of a time getting the stopper knots a consistent distance from one another.
Exercise patience when tightening knots: Even though your instinct may be to pull the knots quickly to tighten them, unless you pull them slowly and methodically (most of the instructions will stress this) you’re likely to end up with an unsightly, bunched-up wad of rope instead of an attractive knot.
Secure ends: Wrap the ends of the rope with tape while tying, to avoid fraying.
As always, let your imagination guide you. Once you get into knot mode, you’ll be amazed at the possibilities.
In next week’s Craft Corner, we’ll show you some finished projects using our new-found knotting skills.
And don’t forget…
If you’d like to be instructor for a day and have a favorite project featured in our column, send a brief description of your craft, your name, telephone number or e-mail to jonnirose@netzero.net; call 425-238-4985 (message phone); or write to Jonetta Coffin, C/O Herald Features, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
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