ISSUE 68 SEPTEMBER 2000ISSN 0959-2881

Guild SuppliesPrice List 2000

Supplies Secretary:- Bruce Turley19 Windmill Avenue, Rubery, Birmingham B45 9SP

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Item Price

Knot Charts Full Set of 100 charts £10.00 Individual Charts £0.20

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Knotting MattersNewsletter of theInternational Guild ofKnot Tyers

Issue No. 68

President: Brian FieldSecretary: Nigel HardingEditor: Colin GrundyWebsite: www.igkt.craft.org

Submission dates for articlesKM 69 07 OCT 2000KM 70 07 JAN 2001

The IGKT is a UK Registered Charity No. 802153

Except as otherwise indicated, copyright in Knotting Matters is reserved to the International Guild of Knot Tyers IGKT 2000. Copyright of members articles published in Knotting Matters is reserved to the authors and permission to reprint should be sought from the author and editor. All sources of quotations printed in Knotting Matters are acknowledged.

Cover design by Stuart Grainger

IN THIS ISSUE

Letter from a President 4AGM - T.S. Weston 6Tools for Tying 10Of Pointing, Grafting, Cockscombingand Cat-o-nine Tails 13Knotmaster Series 14Knotty Limericks Wanted 16Millenium Knots 16On the History of the Boa Knot 20Historical Netmaking 22Knot Gallery 23The Parsimony Principle 28Cruciform Turks Heads 33Nine Bite Mat 37Books Galore 38

Talking knots at Weston

Notes from theSecretary's Blotter

M y domestic problems arecontinuing to distract me frommy secretarial duties, my

apologies to those who my haveexperienced delays in obtaining any sortof response from me. Whilst still on theSecretarial front, I can report that therehas been significant interest in taking onthis role as my successor, and the list ofapplicants has now risen to zero, which isjust one short of what we need.

Quickly moving on, I was please tomeet so many of you down in WestonSuper Mare for the AGM, and I amlooking forward to the autumn meetingin The Netherlands. Due to problemsexperienced with obtaining the GuildsAccounts in time for the AGM, theAutumn meeting has been declared an'Extraordinary Meeting, in order to givethe membership present the authority toapprove the accounts, a copy of which youwill find enclosed with this copy of KM.,together with the Treasurers Report.

Also included with this KM youshould find the latest edition of theMembership Handbook. This lists around1100 names and address, and is producedfrom my records. If you notice any errorsplease let me know, and I will do my bestto put it right in the next edition. The listof email addresses continues to expand,and keeping this up to date is a nightmare.Whilst every effort has been made to

2

maintain its accuracy, the rate of changeof addresses defeats me. Should you findan address that does not work, TonyDoran, our Webmaster keeps the n10strecent information on file, and will do hisbest to help you out with a specificenquiry. I would ask that members usingemail adhere to the usual protocols andetiquette.

As knowledge of the existence of theGuild is spreading, we are beginning tobe requested to attend numerous functionsaround the country. There are in fact farn10re events than there are knot tyers.however it would be a help to me if I couldcreate a list of potential speakers/presenters. This may sound a littledaunting if you have not 'performed'before, but it can prove to be a pleasantway of spending an evening, or weekend.There is not normally any question of afee, but organisations such as the Women'sInstitute usually offer to pay for yourpetrol, and offer you a cup of tea in one oftheir bone china teacups. It should be saidthat a vast knowledge is not required, justthe confidence to talk about orden10nstrate a specific aspect. EvenI can teach and demonstrate simpleTurks heads, i.e. woggles for scouts andcubs.

The response for the 'OccasionalJournal' has been better than expected andas a result the deadline for articles has

been extended. More details will no doubtbe forthcoming.

The question of subscription level s hasbeen raised, with the suggestion that insome parts of the world, £16 is a lot ofnl0ney. The Council has debated this andhas concluded, as did our foundermembers, that there should be a commonmembership fee. It is simply toocomplicated to devise a system that allowsfor differing levels in different countries.Who decides what the levels should be,and on what basis. Should hyperinflationbe taken into account, the relative strengthof the pound etc? At the end of the day, itcosts approximately £16 per member torun the IGKT and provide all themembership services. This does not justinclude four editions of KM, there is a costof the Guild simply existing, and ourfinances are not designed to operate at aprofit but with only sufficient surplus topay the bills and be in a position to bookvenues for meetings in advance andreplace equipment as required.

It is appreciated that there is a cost ofcurrency exchange, but from experiencethis is best deal with using credit cards. Iappreciate that there are security aspectsof sending numbers over the Internet, butthis can be overcome by sending thenurnber in two instalments (make sure youlet me know which is which) alternatively,the ordinary mail system can be used. Ifyou are concerned about unscrupulous useof your number, this is a genuine concern,but is possible with of any use of the card,anywhere, anytime. My own card was'cloned' earlier this year, and £4300 wasstolen/spent in just two days in southLondon just after Christmas. If everyone

3

stopped using them for fear of thishappening, then they would cease to existovernight.

A practical suggestion would be forseveral members in the same area to gettogether, and send just one payment to me.This could be in credit card form, acheque, in UK pounds, drawn on a UKbranch of your own bank. Alternatively,if you are prepared to risk it, (and it is legalfor you to do so), I can accept bank notesin lTK pounds.

As the sun is now shining outside myoffice window, indicating that sunlmer isnow finally arrived, and hence bydefinition, is now over, and that the coffeeis ready, I shall rip these notes off theblotter, and go and put my feet up - thusmaking it easier for Sylvia to vacuumaround me.

Nigel Harding

I

OBITUARY

PETER HORNSHAW

It is with great regret that we have

learned of the death of Guild

menlber Peter Hornshaw.

Peter, who lived in Viersen,Germany, passed away duringJune this year. I am sure the

members of the Guild would like

to pass on their condolences to

Peter's family.

Letter from aPresident

Since my last letter life has been alittle hectic. I am now recoveredfrom my New Years operation but

am finding the subsequent chemotherapyleaves me lacking some stan1ina. Mythanks for all the cards, get well messagesand e-n1ails that brightened up myconvalescence.

On becoming President I promised tovisit as many groups as possible duringmy three years in office. Events led to thecancellation of all but one of theinvitations I had received but I am nowfit enough to attend any group willing toinvite me.

Thanks to the outstanding generosityof the Pacific America Branch I was ableto attend the PABINAB meeting at the SanPedro Maritime Museum, California.The three day meeting was held out doorson the museum lawns in the much neededshade of a series of open sided marqueesand was attended by members from as farafield as Texas, Alaska, and SouthCarolina. The work displayed showed awealth of talent that was equal to almostany thing I have seen in the UK andattracted many of the museum visitorswho wandered over to look and askquestions. My thanks again to thePAB for sponsoring me and to Tom andIrene Gergen with whom I stayedand whose hospitality was withoutbounds.

4

Following the visit to Los Angeles Iwas invited down to Texas as the personalguest of Wayne and Kay Lewis at LaVemia for a much-needed rest. The Texasgroup arranged for a branch meeting tobe held at Wayne 's house and the meetingand attendant barbecue were a greatsuccess. Following the meeting we tooka three hundred and sixty mile round tripto the Texas Maritime Museum atRockport on the Gulf coast in furtheranceof Wayne's efforts to establish linksbetween the Museum and the Texas IGKT.

These visits made me far more awareof the problems facing n1embers in theUSA and many other countries. Texas hasabout seventeen n1en1bers in an area thesize of France. Local group meetingswhich are so much a feature of theknotting scene in the UK, and which doso n1uch to engender enthusiasm and raisestandards are much more difficult toarrange when n1embers may be involvedin a round trip of up to, or over, a thousandmiles. MerrJbers in isolation rely on K.M.and, where available, the Web, to keep intouch with knots and knotters. In a countrywhere local calls are free, surfing the web,chat rooms and e-mails are widespread,and to some extent fulfil some of thefunctions of group meetings, allowingmembers to swap ideas, con1pare work,and avoid the feeling of isolation from therest of the knotting world. Dan Callahan' s

web site (more than fifty pages ofKnotboards alone), has probably attractedmore members to the Guild than any othersingle activity in the USA. Incidentally,our own web site run by Tony Doranattracted much favourable comment fromUS members.

When the cost of local calls in the UKdrops to that in the USA, I would expecta similar level of activity to developenabling closer links between British

members and those abroad. However,even in the USA only 50% of householdsown E-mail linked computers (25% in theUK) so for many, KM, surface mail andthe telephone will continue to be the mainmeans of communication and their needsmust not be overlooked.

Brian Field(address in handbook,

e-mail: fieldb@freeuk.com)

Brian demonstrating the amazing disappearing knot trick at T.S. Weston

AGM - 1.8. WestonPhotographs by

Bill Hubbard, Ken Nelson and Colin Grundy

Once again the knot tying fraternitywere heading off for the WestCountry for the 18th Annual

General meeting and weekend of knotting.This year we were in the familiar territoryof T S. Weston, the headquarters of theSea Cadets of Weston-Super-Mare.

Friday evening saw the gathering ofthose hardy soles who would be stayingfor the duration, some to stay overnightat TS. Weston, others who partook of thehospitality of this seaside town. As onprevious occasions, the opportunity wastaken by the Cadets to sharpen up theirknot tying or learn new skills at the handsof Guild members. After this session, mostmembers adjourned to the wardroom fora well-earned drink and chance to swapyams.

Saturday dawnedbright and clear.Following a heartybreakfast, it was now timeto greet other members asthey arrived for the daysevents. Outside, CharleySmith was busily creatingfour-strand shroud laidrope on his portableropewalk. Inside, Bruceand Lynda Turley weremanning the GuildSupplies stand, whileother members were

6

talking and showing off their work.At II am, the Chairman Ken Yalden

brought the meeting to order to commencethe business part of the day. Denis "Spud"Murphy welcomed everyone to TS.Weston and dealt with the domesticarrangements. This was followed by asmall speech by the President, Brian Field.Bran's instant recipe for friendship wasto "take a bunch of knotters and stir in agenerous amount of rope". Brian alsowelcomed members from New Zealand,America, the Netherlands, France andIreland.

Secretary. Nigel Harding gave hisreport, where he told the meeting thatmembership was now almost 1100, withoverseas members now outnumbering

Willeke van der Ham signing in Frank Harris and Jan Hoefnagel

those in the UK. There are around 350members in the USA alone. The IGKT isnow truly international. Nigel alsoexplained that the accounts for 1999/2000are not available due to a delay by MountBrowne (the venue for the October 1999meeting) in sending the bi 11. The nextGeneral meeting therefore would bedeclared a special general meeting toaccept the accounts.

Brian Field presented a gift to LonnieBoggs on behalf of the Guild for all thehard work he and His wife Margaret hadput in to editing Knotting Matters. Lonniereplied that he had enjoyed his time aseditor, but felt that after five years it wastime for a change and a chance to do otherthings.

7

Lynda Turley explained about theproblems with the accounts beingunavailable, and gave an overview of thestate of the Guild funds. Ken thanked heron behalf of the Guild for all her hardwork.

The date of the next general meetingwas confirmed as 14th October 2000, andWilleke van der Ham gave details of thevenue, which will be in the town ofBeverwijk in the Netherlands.

The election of Council members sawLynda Turley, Tony Doran and CoJinGrundy being returned for a further threeyears of office. Next year, Charley Smith,David Walker and Nigel are due to standdown. Nigel pointed out that it was timethe Guild found a new secretary and he

Dick Chisholm

gave notice that he would not be standingagam.

The main part of the business meetingover, it was time for Profile of a Knot Tyerwhere Ken Yalden get two members toanswer three questions. How I becameinterested in knot tying; how I found outabout the Guild and what interests otherthan knot tying do I have? First up wasMichael Blake, who first becameinterested in knotting as a Cub then aScout. He continued his interest in knotswhen working backstage with amateurdramatics, and then he became involvedin Guiding. Michael found out about theGuild from Geoffrey Budworth's TheKnot Book. He then met members of theSurrey Branch at Broadstone WarrenScout campsite, who convinced him tojoin the Guild. Michael's main interestsare practical knots. His other interestsinclude woodworking and the naturalworld.

Next up was Rod Orrah an ex pat Brit.

8

who now lives in New Zealand. In 1941,Rod had a neighbour who went off to seatraining school at Sharpness. On his return,he showed an eleven year old Rod how tosplice. In 1947, Rod went to the same seatraining school and eventually to sea fornine ears, where he continued to learnabout knots. Rod found out about the Guildfrom Charles Thomason who lives inAustralia. Charles was featured in anAustralian magazine. Rod prefers practicalknot tying and splicing, but also makes bellropes, mats and dog leads. In addition toknotting, Rod also collects British andCommonwealth Army badges, works awood lathe and has an interest in potteryand antiques. He also has a 1/3rd acre ofland to look after (a very busy man).

Within Any Other Business, DavidWalker suggested a register of memberswho would be willing to display, JanetFlack challenged the meeting to tie theBlair's Shoulder Knot and Willeke van derHam spoke about the problems thatmembers in New Zealand have renewingtheir subscriptions.

Following the excellent buffetprovided by the staff ofTS Weston, therewas a number of speakers. Dick Chisholmfrom New Hampshire, talked about thestructure of life support knots and inparticular analysed the bowline. Willekespoke of her visit to New Zealand that sheundertook immediately following themeeting in October last year. RichardHopkins gave a talk and practicaldemonstration of making bowstrings forlongbows.

The evening meal was a splendidaffair, excellently prepared by the staff ofT. S. Weston. The cadets did an excellent

job of waiting on tables; they were a creditto their officers and instructors. Followingthe meal, those who stayed broke intosmall groups and continued they'reknotting or adjourned to the wardroom.Festivities went on until well into thenight.

The following morning, it was time topack up the displays and clear the roomout. Whilst some had to depart early, itwas clear that there were those memberswho still wished to linger on, hoping theweekend of knotting would never cometo an end. All in all, it was another splendidtime with many new things learned,acquaintances renewed and spiritsrefreshed. Well done to "Spud" Murphyand the crew ofT. S. Weston.

Below - Jeff Wyatt explains theintricacies of a knot

Above - Fred Carrington

9

Tools for TyingBy Frank Brown

I am a constant admirer of those highlyskilled people who indulge in "FancyKnotting", producing their gems of

rope work. Having limited manual skills,I do not even try to construct anythingmore complicated than basic Turk's headsand Knob Knots. Even with these simplejobs, I was always having troublethreading line through, over, under theintricacies of the construction. I havecollected and made a range of standard

Rug Hooks

10

tools, including prickers, forceps, fids,spikes, pliers, as per advice of Ashleyet ai, and have been constantly on the alertfor anything that could make the workeasier. The result of this quest has beenthe acquisition of three tools used in othercrafts, the Rug Hook (or Latch Hook),the Tatting Bobbin and the Fly-TyingBobbin.

The first is used by poking the businessend through the knot under construction,hooking on to the welded or whipped endand dragging it back through. Thistechnique usually works but often needsa lot of wriggling, backtracking and theoccasional invocation of naughty words.The end has a tendency to snag, the weldmay split, or the whipping may slide off.I have used a small version of this tool tosplice 2mm bricklayer's twine. Not acommonly required task, but a goodexample of the tool's capabilities. The toolhas an advantage over the crotchet hookdue to the hinged pin (latch) that coversthe point of the hook when drawing thetool back through the knot.

The two bobbins are terrific forwhipping line or cord of any size. Theykeep the whipping thread secure anduntangled, and one can let the deviceswing free without it totally unwinding.

Rug Needles and Tatting Bobbinswere obtained from a handicraft store andthe Fly-Tying Bobbin naturally from the

Tatting Bobbins

sports fisherman's shop. All up costs wereabout $A20.

My alternate hobby of leatherworkinvolves a deal of work with flat lace. Twolacing needles are available for this work,the Flat Needle and the Live Eye. I seemto remember reading an article thatdescribed the use of the Live Eye withnylon cord. The end of the cord was heatedin a flame, rapidly moulded to a point andinserted and screwed intothe threaded hole in theend of the needle. I havehad absolutely no successwith this technique. EitherI am too ham fisted, tooslow, or misread thearticle.The concept of using aneedle to negotiate the insand outs of tricky knotswas obvious and I havedeveloped two solutions.

I I

The first is to use heatshrink plastic tubingobtained from the localelectrical gadget store.The staff tend to look atyou strangely as you standthere try to poke bits ofstring down the tubing todetermine what size isneeded, but are usuallyhappy to take your money.I use about 50 to 60 mmof tubing and apply heatwith the wife's hair dryer.She also looks at youstrangely, but is probablyused to your funny littleways. The result is an end

of suitable rigidity for poking through apassage in the knot opened with a fid orspike. The tubing is not exactly cheap butit makes the task so much easier.

The second solution was to make aneedle from Aluminium tubing of the rightdimensions. This tubing was obtainedfrom a modeler's shop and cost about $A2for 300mm. The needle is made from a50 to 70mm length of the tubing, with a

Fly Tying Bobbin

thread cut in one end using a wood screw.There is probably less than 5mm of threadcut, and I try not to expand the end bydriving the screw in too hard. The pointedend may be made either by Oatteningand filing or by gently cold forging toclose up the tube and filing a roundedpoint. To use the needle with artificialfibre type line, the end is melted carefullyto produce a small knob. Provided thisknob is not too big, the end can beintroduced into the threaded end andscrewed in to provide a reasonably firmconnection. Obviously if the knob istoo small it will not make a goodconnection and the cord will pull out atthe first gentle tug.

To use the needles with natural fibres,

one technique is to use the heat shrinktubing to provide a suitable surface forthreading. Another possibility, not yettried, is to treat the end with some glue,allow drying and then screwing it in.

So far I have only been playing withthe one size of needle and line. It seemsthat one would need a range of needles tocope with differing line sizes. Multiplelayers of heat shrink tubing may be theway to effect adequate connection.

It has been suggested that one could"super glue" the end of a line to a sawnoff knitting needle as a method ofachieving the desired effect. I am a bithesitant with that idea as I have a recurringvision of being well and truly "stuck" intothe work.

Line Needles and Heat Shrink Tube

12

VON HUNDEPINTS, SCHWEINSRUCKEN UNDNEUNSCHWANZIGER KATZEVAN HONDENPUNTEN, HANENKAMMEN ENDE-KAT-MET-NEGENSTAARTENDeutsches Sielhafen Museum, Alte Pastori, Pumphusen 3,26409 Wittmund - Carolinensiel Germany, until 7th November 2000 open 10 until 6.Tel/Fax 04464 456/8433

Karl Bareuther of Gliicksberg, Germanyis one of the best practitioners of sailorsdecorative ropework I know, his chestbeckets are probably the best I have everseen, and he makes very fine blackjacks,cat-o-nine tails and bellropes. He also hasa most enviable collection of old sailors'ropework and ropeworking tools.

13

Last year he managed to convince theMuseum in Warnemiinde to put on anexhibition based on his collection ofsailors' ropework and ropeworking tools.This has lead to an expanded exhibitionat the Deutsches Seilhafen Museum inCarolinensiel, which runs until the 7thNovember. Carolinensiel is on the North

Sea coast [Friesland coast1of Germanynot far from Willianlshaven. Laterthe exhibition will be moving on toPapenburg on the river Ems and thento Veendanl in the Netherlands.Later on the exhibition will be seenin Flensburg and Bremerhaven[Deutsches Shiffahrtsmuseum].

To go with the exhibition KarlBareuther and the Museum director haveput together a fine well illustrated littlecatalogue. This has 48 pages, written inGerman and Dutch with all the 47 or soillustrations In your own language! Thereare photos of many interesting old and raretools, examples of both new and oldropework, mainly printed in sepia, butsome, for example a very fine old dittybag, are in colour. There are illustrationsof some of the basic knots, splices,pointing, grafting, cockscombing andserving, to give the public a taster of whatcan be done. The museum also has puttogether an excellent little kit for children,nothing like starting them young.

This exhibition and catalogue isbringing before the public the art and craftand skill that so many of us care for. Ithas raised the position of the much­neglected world of sailors' ropework.Well done Karl.

Des Pawson

For those of you \,;1,'ho cannot get tothe exhibition, Des and Liz PaH'son,Footrope Knots, 501 Wherstead Road,Ips\';vich, IP2 8LL can supply a copy ofthe catalogue for £6 at the Guild meetingsor posted £7 in the UK, £8 for the restof the 'rt'orld, payment in sterling on aUK bank please [or £ or $ notes]

14

KnotmasterSeriesNo.6

"Knotting ventured,knotting gained. H

Midshipman's Hitch

This is one of those s-I-i-d-e &- GRIPknots. The loop can be readilyadjusted to the required size bygrasping the knot and shifting it alongthe standing part of the line; but,when loaded, adog's leg deformationcreated in the standing part of the lineenables it to hold fast.Use it whenever periodic alteration inlength of a line is essential in guy­lines or mooring lines, as well as forany improvisation in craft studio orgarage.Form an overhand loop (one in whichthe working end lies on top) and thentake aturn through it with the end (fig.1). Jam asecond turn tightly betweenthe original one and the upper leg ofthe loop ("fig. 2) and finish off with ahalf-hitch (fig. 3). For a temporaryjob, consider a draw-loop (notillustrated). Tighten the knot (fig. 4).

Midshipman'shitch

15

4

KNOTTYLIMERICKS

WANTED

ICs the sort of poem we have all heard,read and recited. The English artistand humorist Edward Lear popularized

the limerick in his Book of Nonsense (1846)but this curious form of verse emerged fromthe South West of Ireland as early as 1800, andby 1907 had become quite a craze - withcompetitions and lavish prizes (in one instancea freehold house, a horse and trap, and £2 ayear for life). Poets and writers as notable asDante Gariel Rossetti, Arnold Bennett andRudyard Kipling all had a go at the limerick.Now K.M. readers are invited to submit forpublication their own limericks on knots.ropework or closely allied subjects. Theselimericks must consist of five lines whichrhyme a a b b a. The more ingenious therhyming, the better. Contrary to the practiceof older limericks, the last line should NOTmerely be a weak repetition of the first one,but should - if possible - be the strongest ofthe whole verse. The following specimenobeys these guidelines:

There was a Guild member from KentWhose knolling was truly well-meant;But his hitches proved slippery,And quite un-shape-shippery,While his joining knots all came unbent.

Now it is your turn. Enable us to celebrate andaugment two centuries of limericks with anabundance of knot-inspired whimsy andamusing nonsense, which the editor hopes hemay be able to publish a few at a time in futureissues of Knotting Matters.

16

MILLENIUMKNOTs

Tony Fisher first made the proposalin KM 57, that to signal the startof the new millenium, every

member of the Guild should tie a TurksHead knot. This suggestion was taken upby the Guild to herald the start of the KnotYear 2K2, the run up to the Guild'stwentieth birthday.

Whilst the suggestion was changed toallow each knot tyer the choice of knot,Millenium survival packs were sent outto all Guild members. In these packs wereincl uded a postcard to return to KenYalden, giving brief details of the knotstied. Details included who, where(including lat. and long.), what and time.

To date nearly 180 cards have beenreceived, showing a splendid effort bymembers of the Guild to celebrate the startof the new millenium in our own specialway. Whilst space does not permit all thedetails to be included in Knotting Matters,the list of knots will be included in thisand the next issue of KM.

NAME PLACE COUNTRY KNOT TIED

Wright, Gerry NWT Canada 3l x48

Ide, Rodger Sutton Coldfield England II x 5B

Peron, Olivier Cadenet France

Schmidbauer, Joe Corona, California USA Bellrope

Doyle, James l Salem, Mass USA 4l x 3B

Doyle, James l for Reg Wlite 3l x4B

Wilson, Mike Alexandria, Virginia USA 4l x3B

Chisholm, Dick Rumney, New Hampshire USA Key ring

Dyer, Anne Craven Arms, Shropshire England pendants & tassels

Flannagan, Pat Athens, Georgia USA 4l x 3B

Brown, Frank lindisfarne, Tasmania Australia Mini bell rope

Callahan, Dan Anchorage, Alaska USA

Nortje, Ken Harare Zimbabwe 4l x 3B

Chardon, T Orleans USA Ocean Mat

Walsh, Brian Ipswich, Suffolk England 3L x4B

Walsh, Brian Ipswich, Suffolk England 4l x38

lee, Arthur Clair Fort Collins, Colorado USA 4l x 3B

Rempe, Don Mercer Island, Washington USA 4l x 3B

Mclaren, Raymond & Kate Moonbi, NSW Australia 4l x 3B

Skynner, Peter Blackham, ESussex England Granny

White, Reg E Aberystwyth Wales 4l x38

Palmborg, Marianne Beguia, St Vincent WI love Knots

Ford, Jade San Francisco, California USA Knife lanyard

Smith, Barry Geelong, Victoria Australia 4l x 3B

Higgins, Rob Dallas, Texas USA 4l x 3B

Grundy, Colin Bickenhill Fire Station England Chair knot

Neville, Gary Griffith, NSW Australia Tenkai rope trick

Findlay, Glad Guildford, Surrey England love Knots

Delmotte, Christophe Fleurus Belgium 4L x3B

Gerry, Bill Victoria, British Columbia Canada 4L x3B

NAME PLACE COUNTRY KNOT TIED

Kohanzo, Keith Northbrook, Illinois USA 3L x 5B

Ling Kay Kah Hong Kong Hong Kong 4L x 3B

Weller, James Farnborough, Hants England 4L x 38

Kitchiner, Nick Amsterdam Holland 4l x 3B

Norman, Ann Bampton, Oxfordshire. England 4l x 38 round aMillenium candle holder

Slijkerman, Theo Niikerk Holland Crown Sinnet . Ashley 2917

Boro, Thor Sogne Norway 4l x 3B

Walker, Ran Denton, Texas USA 4L x 38

Hodgson, M L Rotterdam Holland 4L x 3B

Sexton, Richard P Fort Worth, Texas USA Bend - Ashley 1452.

[Joyle, James l Salem, Mass USA 4L x 38

Alien, Garwood Baker City, Oregon USA Double knife lanyard· Ashley 788

Stask, Chris M Sidney, British Columbia Canada 4L x 3B

Reed, Tom Sandbridge, Virginia USA 4L x3B

Nuttall,Owen Huddersfield, WYorkshire England 4L x38

Deheneauw, Henri 81ankenberge Belgium 4l x 38

Yalden, Ken Horndean, Hampshire England Single strand 8 plait grommet

Bellamy, Don Fareham, Hampshire England Icicle hitch

Turner, Tuffy 8attisford, Suffolk England 78 x 13 Ldoubled (on a large bottle)

Crago, Peter Missoula, Montana USA Carrick Bend

Scott, Harold Brixworth, Northants England 4L x 38

Blake, Polenth Hastings, ESussex England Monkey's Fist (tied in edible strawberry laces)

Wouters, R Schoten Belgium Star Knot

Hughes, Vemon Warminster, Somerset England 3l x 58

Goldstone, Peter Woking, Surrey England 'unauthodox' Turkshead (Spanish ring knot)

Perry, Colin Cowes, Isle of Wight England 4l x 3B

Udall, FG Birmingham England 4l x 38

Kvickland, Rolf Karlsberg Sweden 4l x 38

Sassu, Giovanni Marco Cagliari Italy 4L x 38

Nash, Richard J 8arnstaple, Devon England Jensen's rosette

NAME PLACE COUNTRY KNOT TIED

Chisholm, Dick Rumney, New Hampshire USA Theodore Knot

Heapy, John A Glasgow Scotland Ashley 3834

Lahdenpera, Jouni Mariehamn Finland 4L x 38

Ault, Eddie Hayling Island, Hampshire England 4L x38 round achampagne(!) cor~

Fruis-Christensen, Jorgen Tonder Denmark 5L x48

Smith, Terry Dartford, Kent -- England 4L x 38

Pearson, D Leeds England Overhand knot (love, peace & unity)

Pearson, S Leeds England A 8elllto ring in the Millenium)

Hawkshaw, Mke Holme Moss Transmitting Station nr Huddersfield England 3L x4B

Long, RDn Runcorn, Cheshire England 4L x 3B

Tingle, C8 Stockton-on-Tees England 4L x 3B

Noble, Bill Southport, N Carolina USA 4L x 3B

Hooper, D0 Colchester, Essex England 4L x 3B

Lanham, Sam Frederisckburg, Texas USA 4L x3B

Schwalm, Jurgen Waltrop Germany 6L x 58

Judkins, Steve Portsmouth, Hampshire England Gaucho of three passes

Stankiewicl, John Weirton, West Virginia USA Bowline with half double fisherman (grapevinel safety

Smith, Pamela C Wheaton Aston, Stafford England 3L x4B

Smith, SMaurice Wheaton Aston, Stafford England 3L x48

Jones, Nick Stourbridge England 4L x 38

Nelson, Ken Weedon, Northants England 4L x3B

Little. Bill Sheringham, Norfolk England 4L x 3B

Huntington, RA Wells next the Sea England 4L x38 made as 8 cummerbund using I" dia warping

Jones, AE Stroud, Gl08 England 4L x 38

Hopkins, Richard Keynsham, Bristol England 4L x38

Steggles, John Bransgore. Hants England 4L x38

Burt, Victor Essex, Connecticut USA 4L x 38

McPartlan, Maurice Deptford England 4L x 38

Maidrnent, Edward Trowbridge, Wilts England 4L x 38

Pawson, Des & Liz Ipswich, Suffolk England

On the History of theBoa Knot

By Heinz Prohaska

Starting climbing in the earlysixties, I'm concerned withknot problems for more than

30 years. The first solution of aproblem is seldom the best one. As arule a number of alternatives has tobe developed and studied. Sometimesquite a big number. Within the scopeof such activities, I tested over 1000knots. Knots published inKNOTTING MATTERS bymembers of the guild and claimed,supposed or hoped to be new don'talways be new for me. One of theseknots is the boa knot.

Knowing the danger of abseilingon a single piton, climbers try to usetwo. The question is how to connectthe rope with the pitons. To use twoslings for that, one in every piton, isoften recommended (fig. 1). For equalloads on both pitons the anglesbetween the rope and the slings mustalso be equal. If the angles aredifferent, one of the slings is too longand has to be shortened. But untyingof climber's knots can be difficult,and abseiling is a technique for

20

situations that don't allow you toloose much time. Moreover, sewnslings have no knot. Many years ago,in the eighties, I had the idea toshorten the sling in a way shown in abook on sailor's knots [1] (fig.2).The length of tIle sling can easily beadjusted. Maximal extension of theshortened sling leads to theconstrictor knot.

The method works well, but thesling can only be shortened half ofits length. Therefore I tried a doubling(fig.3). Maximal extension of theshortened sling led to a doubleconstrictor knot, named boa knottoday. Tests showed that the doubleshortened sling could have a tendencyto slip and get longer in syntheticropes and slings. A use for abseilanchors couldn't be recommended.

I sometimes using the constrictorknot in climbing/mountaineering, butI had no use for the boa knot till now.

References[1] Lund, Kaj: Bandsel, Leinen,Trossen. Bielefeld 1975, p.I73

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

21

22

able to add comment, and was sure that they would enjoy seeing the picture.

Pictures of the Old Masters often provides detail on contemporary activities, such as building techniques, seen in the many depictions of the Tower of Babel, as just one example. The history and development of woodworking tools rely heavily on scenes of Jesus and Joseph the carpenter.

BAL28599 Men with nets, by Gaston PhebusLivre de la Chasse, (begun 1387)Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France/ Bridgeman Art Library.

Historical Netmaking

By Richard Hopkins

This picture was spotted in the “Art Source Book” compiled by Nick Rowling in 1987. ISBN 0948872950 I noticed it as a small illustration in the corner of a page.

Geoffrey Budworth noticed that the artist has shown both right- and left-hand laid rope. I found the other details about rope and net making also of interest, wondered if any other members might be

23

Knot Gallery

Above - Naval Watchkeeping TelescopeMade by Ken Yalden

Below - Turks Head Bracelets6L x 19B in 2mm Cotton5L x 17B in 3mm Cotton

Made by George Haycraft

24

25

Knot Jewellery, Pendants and Tie Tacks by Dan CallahanPendants - “wee lighthouse knots” all components 6 strand[Pink] star knot (doubled) [Blue] Star KnotMathew Walker (the beginning of) Manrope knotCrown sennit Crown sennit7 lead footrope knot 7 lead footrope knotTie Tacks - star knotsMaterial 1.4mm venetian blind cord

Left - Macramé bag (one side of) by Joe SchmidbauerDimensions 305 x 178mm - Material 2mm brown parachute cordKnots various square knot, half knot twist and half hitch work

26

Right - Fenders by Yngve Edell, SwedenThe four strand rope is 32mm diameter, the long fender 800mm x

150mm dia. the round pudding fender 500mm dia.

Cordage kayaker by Jill Jenner (UK) who is an IGKT founder-member Rear view of Jill Jenner’s kayaker (note the realistic muscle definition of

neck and back)

27

The Parsimony PrincipleATentative Hypothesis

by Cy Canuta

Knotting is based upon specific limitations and constraints, leading tothe recurrence of common knot-tying manoeuvres and knottedconfigurations, which collectivelyjustify the description parsimonious.

P arsimony in human affairs isdefined as: unusual or excessivefrugality, especially with regard to

money~ extreme economy~ meanness~

stinginess. In nature, too, there exists aparsimonious streak whereby, once asolution to some physical, chemical orbiological hurdle has evolved - such asthe skeleton, hormones, vocalcommunication, et cetera - that samesolution appears again and again in allkinds of disparate species.

In knotting too - it seems - parsimonyexists. The process of tucking either overor under (with no other option) combineswith the simple forms of bight and loopto create ubiquitous knotted forms andtextures. The unwanted knots thatcommonly tie themsel ves in tangledgarden hoses and electric leads (theoverhand, figure of eight, pretzel and slipknots) are evidence of this limited powerof invention, while the most imaginativeand pleasing nlacrame designs are nlerelyartful combinations of reef or square knotsand clove hitches.

Some apparently complex knotsresolve thenlselves into sinlpler ones, orvanish altogether. For instance, a few

28

heraldic badges and Celtic knot designsare incapable of holding their designedforms in real cordage. Then again,deliberate entanglements (like thoseshown in Fig. 1) may be simplified justby shaking them~ and the manipulationsthat were necessary to create them in thefirst place can, when analysed, be reducedto just three discrete actions - the classicReidemeisterl I] moves.

The bowline and sheet bend share asimilar layout and this fact encouragedHarry AsherIGKTI2l to devise other loopknots from bends, and vice versa (Fig. 2).He also described how, by simplyswapping a working end for a standingend, different knots could be achievedwithout altering the basic arrangement. Inthis way a reef knot can be transformedinto a thief knot.

Desmond MandevilleIGKTl3] mappedroutes by which bends could be altered,one tuck at a time, to yield a series ofrelated knots~ and he observed that bendsclose together (in terms of tucks) couldhave extremely different characters - thereliable sheet bend was only one tuckaway from the unbalanced thief knotwhich (like Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr.

1-1 1·2

1·3 1·4

Fig.1 From complex to simple

29

2·1

Fig.2

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) existed in two fonus,one stable, the other very unstable.

George Russell Shaw[4] had earlierconsidered 20 possible layouts of theclassic carrick and reef patterns tied intwo cords, from which he could makeonly eight viable knots or bends, andthese were linked by a series of tucks(Fig. 3). Indeed, the number ofexperimental knots that prove to beboth useful and good-looking generallyseems to be a small fraction of the total.

30

Of the 85 possible neck-tie knotsdescribed by Thomas Fink and YongMao[51, only four are in widespread use(and an analysis of their aesthetic criteriarevealed just nine further possiblecandidates for adoption).

It is not overly fanciful to imagine akind of natural selection which imposes aspecies-specific fitness upon some knotsand so ensures they are preferred to others.Pursuing this neo-Darwinian analogy, itis possible to state:

The Shaw Series Fig.3

3·1 3·2

3·6

3·3 3·4

3·5

3·7 3·8

31

* there are more than enoughknots;* they compete for niches in the

knotting repertoire;* individual knot viability varies

over time (depending uponusage, as well as changingcordage materials andconstruction) ;

* knot tyers select those they preferand so determine the 'fitness' ofthose knots to prevail over theremainder.

This evolutionary process has alreadybeen discussed by Pieter van derG"riendIGKTl6J as 'Survival of the Simplest'.

Those who seek the holy grail of acomprehensive knotting taxonomy(classification) are, I suggest, tacitlyacknowledging the possibility of aparsimony principle as they strive toinlpose order upon a fairly haphazardconglomeration of knots, bends, hitchesand the rest; for where they discoverregular and predictable patterns, it may beargued, parsimony must exist. From thearbitrary knot groupings employed bywriters of knotting books, and the helpfulcryptic algorithms of numerous Turk'shead practitioners, to the abstruseformulae of the knot theorists, thefoundation underpinning these variousarchitectural styles seems to be aparsimonious one.

In attempting to pin down one aspectof what that pioneer of knot theory PeterGuthrie Tait l71 called 'beknottedness' withan apt expression - the ParsimonyPrinciple - this hypothesis is proposed (asall worthwhile hypotheses must be) in

32

order that it might, after furtherconsideration by others, be disproved.

References[I J Reidemeister, Kurt, Knotentheorie

(Berlin, 1932)[2J Asher, Harry, A New System of

Knotting (IGKT, 1986)[3J Mandeville, Desmond, Knotting

Matters, Issue Nos. 4, 10, 18, 19,23,24, 25, 27, 29 and 34 (IGKT, 1983­1991)

[41 Shaw, George Russell, Knots ­Useful & Ornamental (New York,1933)

[5] Fink, Thomas and Mao, Yong, The85 Ways to Tie a Tie (London, 1999)

[61 Griend, Pieter van der, Knots andRope Problems (Netherlands, 1992)

[7] Tait, Peter Guthrie, On Knots - I, II& Ill, Scientific Papers - Vol. I(London, 1877-1885)

ROPE ENDSUntangle this one!

Knot: an intertwining, looping,bending, hitching, folding, gatheringtogether or tangling of one or moreparts of a pliant relatively slenderlength of something in such a way asto produce a tying together, fastening,binding, or connecting of the lengthon, to, or with itself, another length,or some other thing.

Webster's Third New InternationalDictionary

Tony Doran

Cruciform Turks HeadsBy Harold Scott

It is not every knot tyer who wants totie Cruciform Turks Head knots witha single strand. One should have the

option of tying CTH's with more than onestrand, and by using coloured cordsenhance the beauty of the knot.

The three tables have been tabulatedin full to give the knot tyer this choice.Each table is the square of the number ofbights that it represents. The shape at thefour crutches of a CTH can take twoforms. One shape being hexagonal, whichI refer to as an "open" crutch. The othershape gives two pentagonal; I refer to thi spentagonal shape as a "crossed" crutch.The parameters of all three tables havebeen tabulated with the strand run crossingat the crutch and in a form that I call abasic form. Two other forms being a CTHCrucifix and Irregular form.

Basic fornl simply means that theperpendicular, odd number Turks Head,

bisects the horizontal even numberTurks Head, so that each horizontal arm,has the same number of leads; andthat there is a difference of one leadbetween two arms of the perpendicularTurks Head. I have purposefullymentioned the crutches of CTH, forI found that if one uses certain setsof parameters from the tables provided,to tie a CTH with an open crutch,a different number of strands isrequired.

For example, parametersX23L and 25L

Y24Lfrom table "C" each set takes five strandsto tie. Tied with an "open" crutch, it takesseven strands. Some further examples areunderlined in the extra table for ten bightopen crutch C.T.H. There are otherexamples in the six and eight bight tables,which I have not recorded.

TABLE "A" 6 BIGHTLEA D S

LEAD5

Y\X 11 13 15 17 19 21 2312 5 5 3 5 5 3 514 1 3 3 1 3 3 116 3 3 3 3 3 3 318 1 1 3 1 1 3 120 3 3 3 3 3 3 322 3 1 3 3 1 3 324 5 5 3 5 5 3 5

33

TABLE "B" 8 BIGHTLEA 0 S

LEAoS

Y\X 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 2712 5 5 1 1 3 3 1 1 514 3 7 7 3 3 5 5 3 316 3 3 7 7 3 3 5 5 318 5 3 3 5 5 3 3 5 520 3 3 1 1 3 3 1 1 322 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 324 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 126 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 328 5 5 1 1 3 3 1 1 5

More anomalies arise when the "Lawof the Common Divisor" is applied; againusing the ten-bight table for example.There is a lack of conformity where theparameters for a C.T.H. are divisible byfive. Only the Y30L row appears toconform. I have included and circled theseX and Y combinations in the extra table.

One can well understand the knot tyerbeing confused and even discouraged bythese apparent contradictions. No doubt aGuild mathematician can supply theanswers, but please in layman's language.

It is unnecessary to extend the tablesad infiniturn to find the number of strandsit takes to tie a much larger CruciformTurks Head.

Example: X143Lx 10B=267Lx20BY124Lx lOB

Simply reduce the X, Y leads bymultiples of the number of bights, i.e. 20.Read off the result in table "C" which is

X23L x lOBY24L x lOB

The larger C.T.H. takes five strands totie.

A C.T.H. Crucifix is formed byincreasing the leads of the lower leg by

34

multiples of two, or by moving thehorizontal arms in an upward direction.

An irregular C.T.H. has one horizontalarm with fewer leads than the other does.

Example from six bight table "A" ­X 19L x Y22L each horizontal arm havingeleven leads. Reduce one arm by six leads,increase its opposite number by six leads,i.e. ratio 5: 17. This keeps the six-bightC.T.H. tyable single-stranded.

The combination for tying irregularC.T.H's are too numerous to record.

I have proven the correctness of thetables, by tying, but not in cord. Allcombinations ofX, Y, lead using six, eightand ten bight formers.

All one needs are a soft eraser, and asoft pencil. See illustration, mark off thebights on each arm and follow the strandrun;

1 - 24 to completeX17L x 6B = 31L x 12BY14L x 6B

single strand C.T.H. When complete, justerase ready for proving more CruciformTurks Heads. The centres of kitchen foiland Cling-film are ideal for makingformers.

L

E

AoS

TABLE "e" 10 BIGHTLEA 0 S

Y\X 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 3516 7 7 3 3 3 5 5 3 3 3 718 1 9 9 1 1 1 5 5 1 1 1

20 3 3 9 9 3 3 3 7 7 3 3

22 1 1 1 7 7 1 1 1 5 5 124 5 3 3 3 5 5 3 3 3 5 526 3 3 3 5 3 3 3 3 5 3 328 3 3 3 3 5 3 3 3 3 5 330 5 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 1 532 3 5 3 3 3 3 5 3 3 3 334 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 536 7 7 3 3 3 5 5 3 3 3 7

LEAD

5

TABLE "0" 10 BIGHTOPEN CRUTCH

E A D

23 25 27

35

5

"A"

36

37

Remove Needle and add further

strands as required

Mat 9 bite

BOOKS GALORE

ABOOK BY ANY OTHERNAME ...Since a few of my knot books havereappeared with their names and coverschanged, I have been contacted by severalGuild members and asked which is which,so that they do not mistakenly buy onethey already have. So here is whatcurrently is what. There are eight originaleditions, namely:1. The Knot Book, a paperback book,

published (1983) by Elliott RightWay Books Ltd,ISBN 0-7160-0704-5;

2. Knots & Crime, a paperback book,published (1985) by the PoliceReview Publishing Co. Ltd,ISBN 085164-017-6;

3. The Hamlyn Book of Knots, ahardback book, published (1997) byHamlyn, an inlprint of ReedInternational Books Ltd,ISBN 0-600-5919-8;

4. The Hamlyn Book of Knots ­Ornamental & Useful, a hardbackbook, published (1998) by Hamlyn,an imprint of Reed Consumer BooksLtd, ISBN 0-600-59527-7;

5. The Ultimate Encyclopedia ofKnots & Ropework, a glossyhardback book, published (1999) byLorenz Books, an imprint of AnnessPublishing Ltd,ISBN 1-85967-911-0;

38

6. The Hamlyn Book of FishingKnots, a hardback book, published(1999) by Hamlyn, an imprint ofOctopus Publishing Group Ltd,ISBN 0-600-59840-3:

7. The Hamlyn Book of SailingKnots, a hardback book, to bepublished (2000) by Hamlyn, aninlprint of Octopus PublishingGroup Ltd,ISBN (pending);

8. The Book of Popular Knots, ahardback book, to be published(2000) by Thalamus PublishingLtd.,ISBN (pending).

The reprints, revisions, foreigntranslations and other spin-offs of whichI am aware are as follows:1. Reprinted (1989, 1991 and 1995):

revised UK format (1997),ISBN 0-7160-2084-X;also available in Dutch(Het Knopenboek) and - I amtold - German.

2. Out of print for perhaps 10 years ­but anyone requiring such amanual should now look out forThe Forensic Analysis of Knots& Ligatures by Robert ChisnalLB.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed. (a past­President of the IGKT), to bepublished soon by Lightning

Powder Company Inc. ofOregon, USA.

3. UK paperback edition (2000),ISBN 0-600-60113-7; USpaperback edition by Lyons &Burford of New York titledThe Complete Book of Knots,ISBN 1-55821-632-4;German paperback edition(1998) titled Knoten,ISBN 3-8290-0322-6;Norwegian hardback edition(1998) titled Knoper og Stikk,ISBN 82-516-1675-1;Swedish hardback and paperbackeditions (1998) titled Kaikenmaailman Solmut,ISBN 951-0-22549-5.

4. US paperback edition (1998)by The Lyons Press titledThe Complete Book ofDecorative Knots,ISBN 1-55821-791-6.

5. Smaller UK format, soft-coveredition (1999) titledThe Complete Guide to Knotsand Knot Tying,ISBN 0-7548-0422-4;in addition, the larger originalwork has been re-issued (2000)by Southwater, an Imprint ofAnness Publishing, as twoslimmer individual books titled:Simple Knots & Basic Ropework,ISBN 1-84215-066-9and Tough & Versatile Knots,ISBN 1-84215-066-9,for distribution in the USA(by Ottenheimer Publishing),Australia (by SandstonePublishing) and New Zealand

39

(by Five Mile Press).6. Unknown.7. None at time of publication.8. None at time of publication.

Please do not blame me for anymisleading title. For instance, TheComplete Book of Knots is (with onlyabout 80 knots) far from complete;similarly The Ultimate Encyclopedia ofKnots & Ropework, featuring about 200knots, is neither 'the ultimate' nor is itactually an encyclopedia. The publlshers(bless them) dream up these names, oftencontrary to the author's advice andguidance.

Geoffrey Budworth

BOOK REVIEWHEMP MASTERS: Ancient HippieSecrets for Knotting Hip Hemp Jewelryby Max Lunger. Publisher - Eagle's ViewPublishing Co, 6756 North Fork Road,Liberty, UT 84310, US.ISBN: 0-943604-57-5

This book introduces the reader tohemp jewellery, which is an advance onthe friendship bands. A short history ofhemp is given although the writer doesnot differentiate between the drug andfibre species of the plant. The text iswritten in a light hearted way giving manyhelpful tips supported by clear diagramsand photographs accompanied by step bystep instructions for making 22 projectsfrom the basic to the more complex. Wristbands, anklets and necklaces are shownwith inclusions of beads and buttons,together with three dream catchers. Newnames have been given to knots known

by a more general name and the numberof knots included are basic, but a goodvariety of starting and finishing techniquesare described.

Although this book is about hemp, Iam sure that linen thread would producea very similar effect.

An interesting book suitable for allmembers of the family who like to tieknots.

Edna Gibson

CREATIVE ROPECRAFTI feel that I should let you and l.G.K.T.Members generally know that myoriginal knotting book, "Creati veRopecraff', first published in 1975, hasbeen republished in a revised and slightlyenlarged Fourth Edition in August,ISBN 0-7136-5377-9.

The new edition, in paperback, costing£7.99 retail and the publisher is AdlardColes Nautical, a Bloomsbury Publishingimprint of 35, Bedford Row, LONDONWCl R 4JH, www.adlardcoles.co.ukTheir agent in the D.S.A. is SheridanHouse, 145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry,New York 10522, sheribks@aol.com

My own stock of the hardback 3rdedition has been exhausted, but I believethat the Guild's Supplies Secretary still hasa few signed copies and Des Pawson ofFootrope Knots also n1ay have a few left.I would like to thank all my worldwidereaders and correspondents for theirinterest and support over the past twentyfive years and assure them that I shall bepleased to hear from them at any time bye-mail or postal mail.

Stuart Grainger

40

BranchLinesMidlands Branch

The Midlands branch has had twovery busy weekends alongside oneanother.

On Sunday 25 June. Bruce. Nick.Brian and Bill Newey went along toKinver for our branch meeting. Ourproject for the day was to make aropeladder for the use at Kinver ScoutCan1psite. Maurice kindly providedtherungs, with the rest of us tackled theprocess of producing the ladder. Wefinished up with a 12-foot rope ladder. Funwas had by all once we got into aroutine of who was doing what andwhen.

Our next encounter was the weekendof 1 and 2 of July, again there was Bruce,Maurice and Bill Newey and we werethere to provide a drop in base for theMillennium Pathfinder Kinver Camp. Ourpurpose was to show the scouts how totie knots in general. We weredemonstrating Turks Head woggles,Lanyards and various knots which werethen tied by the scouts and their leaders.

Our next meetings will again takeplace at Kinver Scout Campsite, they areSeptember 3, November 4.

We are also trying to get together toenable us to have a nice Christmasmeal.

Bruce Turley

Gerry MooreDale City, VA

(The IGKT-NAB thanks allmembers that assisted to make this

event a success.)

IGKT-NABMembers of the IGKT-NAB attended theMid-Atlantic Maritime Festival at St.Michael's Maryland, on May 19 - 21,2000. I had a great time meeting, andmanning the IGKT booth with, fellowknothead, Jim Kobe.

The weather wasn't very co-operative- rain and drizzle, on and off n10st of theday (Friday), but that didn't dampen ourspirits. We n1et and talked with a numberof people, who happened to wander intoour tented area.

This was nlY first active participationin one of our events, and I thought ituncanny how most of our visitors startedtheir visit in the same manner: "TheInternational Guild of WHAT? .. KnotTyers!. ..Is there REALLY such a group?"

When we assured then that, "Yes, thereIS such a group, and we're part of it.Certified KnotheadsT' they'd laugh andbecome engaged. Continuing with ourpatter, we'd say, "I'm not handing you aline...or, maybe I am!", as we'd hand eachparson in their group a 5' length of braided,1/8" nylon line, (with Butane Backspliceon each end) ...their laughter continuing.

We'd then ask, What's your favouriteknot?" or "Show me what knots you cantie." Or "What knots do you use?" or"What questions about knots do you have,that we may be able answer?" Invariably,we'd get a response and, as a result, wehad a ton of delightful conversations, withtotal strangers, about ropes and mattersrelated to knotting. And I can safely saythat each person left the booth area with abetter understanding about knots and abrochure about the IGKT.

41

All in all, (and only having been therefor the afternoon of the first day), I'd saythat we had a fun-filled outing, and thatthe Guild was very capably representedand promoted.

IGKT-NAB MembershipInformation

If you are an IGKT (lTK) member youmay also wish to join the InternationalGuild of Knot Tyers - North AmericanBranch. We currently have approximately130 members.

We have held two meetings at NewBedford, Mass in August of 1997 and1999.

Both meeting were successful andattended by approximately 75 members.The last meeting had as its feature event atour of Clifford Ashley Farm. This yearseveral members attended the PacificAmericas Branch meeting in San PedroCalifornia. We are planning a meetinggeneral membership meeting for the year2001.

Our dues for dual membership (IGKT(UK) and IGKT-NAB are:

Individual $35.00Family $44.00Youth $12.00

If you wish to renew your menlbershipthrough the IGKT-North AmericanBranch you may do so by cheque.Cheques should be made payable toIGKT-NAB and nlailed to IGKT-NAB,4417 Academy Street, Dearbom Heights,

MI 48125-2205. You will receive ourquarterly publication "InterKnot"

If you are an IGKT (UK) menlber anddo not wish to renew your IGKT (UK)nlembership. but only join the IG KT­North American Branch you may do soby sending a check in the amount of $8.00to the above address. Please indicateIGKT-NAB membership only.

Although I have tried very hard toensure accuracy in maintaining themembership list. I know that mistakeshappen. If anyone has had any problemswith membership which have been sentto the IGKT-NAB I would like to hearabout them and I will do my best to correctthem. You may contact me by mail at theabove address or use e-mail:knottyrope@prodigy.net

John Burke, PresidentIGKT-NAB

West Country KnottersThe West Country Knotters are still goingstrong thanks to the support of thestalwarts and, although fairly small innumber, the membership is veryconsistent. We meet at 1400 on the lastSaturday on every other month at theAlmondsbury Scout Headquarters.

So much time is taken up with'business' at our meetings that thepractical knotting seems to get lost in thenlists. This subject was brought up and itwas mooted that we dispense with thefornlal side of our meetings and, instead,include the happenings in a newsletter.This way we will get more time to spendwith ropework and the members whocannot attend will get a better picture ofwhat is happening within the Branch.

42

However, a recoru 1~ ~ till kept ofattendance and note~ are tak.en uuring themeeting(s).

Our AGM took place In \Llrch and.asat a 11 AGM s. the pa"t ;. (' a r \\ a ~

reviewed. We have been quite hll\;'. apartfrom meetings. with YanOLl" othercommitments.

During the weekend of the 1-l-th and15th August a day was ~pent at theWaterways Museum at GloLlce~ter Docksand it was a huge succes~ for allconcerned.

During the time spent there we v/ere

scheduled to give two "performances". tothe Russe11 Newbury Register. eachscheduled to last for about an hour and ahalf. The hour and a half was never endingand, as it turned out, we spent most of theday teaching splicing and denlonstratingthe art of tying knots.

The day was a real summer's day,warm and sunny, and our lunch wasprovided for us on the upper deck of oneof the narrow boats! Couldn't have beennicer.

Two of our members spent some timeat Plymouth Navy Days. One wasrepresenting the Guild and the otherworking with Sea Cadets. The highlightof the week was meeting a Guild menlberin the Rigging Shed. He wasdemonstrating heavy ropework, nlainlysplicing multi-plait and wire. During ourconversation decorative was mentionedand some of his work has to be seen to bebelieved!

One of our annual events is to supportthe Burnham-on-Sea Area Rescue Boatduring its open day in mid July. This isthe anniversary of the construction, by the

Dave Pusill

BBC Challenge Anneka programme~ ofthe Burnham lifeboat station. We usuallyspend a very interesting time on the seafront swapping yams (sorry about that!)with all sorts of people - and getting quitesunburned to boot!

Through events like these we havesuddenly received invitations to make anappearance at other venues. Yacht clubsseem to be at the forefront so far and ourcalendar for the rest of the year isbecoming quite fill. The problem is gettingnewer men1bers to come along and help.I would just like to mention in passing thatI have learned a great deal aboutropework, and presentation~ during theseopen days. Food for thought!

We have, in our branch~ a long­standing member of the Sea Cadet Corpswho has forgotten more about ropeworkthan I have ever learnt. A few years agohe was involved with the Royalist Masttraining of Cadets. The long and short ofit is that he has made a beautiful scaleddown model of the mast he used to trainthe Cadets on, complete with sail and fullyrigged. Dan's mast was on view in the SeaCadet Corps recruiting stand at PlymouthNavy Days and attracted a great deal ofinterest, particularly from the Cadets whohad actually sailed in the Royalist.

During the past two years we haveasked people fron1 the Guild to con1ealong to our meetings to give us a talk ontheir field of ropework. To mention but afew~ Charlie Smith~ Edna Gibson~ DennisMurphy~ Europa Chang Dawson andGeoff Wyatt have obliged and providedus with very interesting talks/demonstrations. We also have our ownhome grown sessions and "Jumper'

43

Collins is always an entertaining speakerHis talk and demonstration of how tomake a Sea Chest Handle was somethingto behold. Not only did he give an in depthpresentation by showing us most of thesecrets of this intricate piece of ropework~but he also injected his own brand ofhumour to boot. Shades ofTommy CooperI think!

We received a request from 'Tugg'Ship for some knot boards that he intendsto give to some Ugandan Scouts. This isan ongoing project to try to help theseyoungsters with their ropework skills.Some of them have never seen the actualknots and 'Tugg ~ asked if anyone couldhelp with this. The knot boards need to befairly small-and~ for transportationreasons) un-glazed, showingjust the basicknots. So far to date, the response has beenquite encouraging.

By the time this newsletter is issuedthe Guild AGM at Weston will be just amemory. I will have spent more moneyon rope and odds and ends, talked myselfblue in the face and thoroughly enjoyedevery minute.

Happy knotting,

ROPE ENDSCreative cordage

"He met a man. .. who had created anew art form by using knotted string ... Iam, myself, working on a paeancomposed of fifteen miles of colouredrope which will take an area of twothousand square feet to display to its bestadvantage.

(E. C. Tubb, Stellar Assignment, 1979)

PostbagThe views expressed in reader's letters do notnecessarily reflect those of the Council. The Editorreserves the right to shorten any letter as necessary.

Suppliers DirectoryAn attempt was made about ten years

ago to create a directory of all the ropeand cordage suppliers in the UK. Whena suggestion that a member in eachcounty should check their local YellowPages and send the results in forcompilation, nothing happened. Thisprompted me to spend nearly twoweeks in my local library, searching theYellow Pages for the entire countryand compiling a list. I had to checkmany categories. Many of these had cross­references so it took a ti me to sortout. My list was sent off to the compilerand nothing more has been heard of it.

I accept that my list will now be outof date, and the widespread use ofcomputers should n1ake searchingeasier in the future, but most of the sitesI found were small and unlikely toappear on a computer search. Thesesmall suppliers are the ones who canproduce just the very cord for whichyou have been searching, and whosepresence should be made more widelyknown

I believe one of our members hasrecently given up his attempt to makea list of rope suppliers as there was alack of information easily available, anditems were coming to him in a veryhaphazard fashion. As a Guild, we

44

should be able to proYlde this sort ofinformation, so that a local sourceof cordage can be suggested to newn1embers who want to see what theyare getting, rather than rely on mail-order.

Richard HopkinsAvon, U.K.

One for Old SaltsHow many ropes are there on a full riggedship?What were once the seven seas?

Reg WhiteAberystwyth, Wales

(Answers in the next issue of KM)

Sea ShantiesNot exactly a knotting matter. but

at the Guild AGM at Weston-Super­Mare, someone asked me where theycould obtain CD's of Sea Shanties.For the life of me I cannot rememberwho it was. However, they can beobtained from Ken and Jan Lardner.who run the Shanty Cabin near Preston.Tel: 01772634737.

Bill MeakinNotts. U.K.

Pythagorean Knot?Would anyone on the list help me find

information about this knot?I have heard it is called the

Pythagorean Knot.

What is its use?What is its symbol? (symbolicmeaning)Where have you seen it?(context: building, painting,textile, ...)

Please I would appreciate all the helpyou could offer me in order to bring somelight on this peculiar knot.

Perceval PatrickKent, U.K.

The Surrey SixIn reply to Tony Doran's letter in

Km 66."The Surrey Six" were composed after

a challenge by me as Chairman of theSurrey branch. I wondered how knottingwas fairing amongst Surrey Scouts andGuides, so at an activity weekend (calledScoutabout and held every three years)with 5000 Scouts and Guides I Challengedthe participants to a recognition test of 15easy scouting knots. The results of thiswere that, on average; they couldrecognise 6 knots. This got me thinkingabout "The Six Knot Challenge" and wasthe knots that were taught in Baden­Powell's time suitable for modem slipperyrope. The answer was NO. So Ichallenged the Surrey Branch to con1e upwith a six knot set that could be used inmodern rope, for General Purposes, toreplace the 6 Scout tenderfoot knots. Theresults, after many debates, were the Newsix Tenderfoot Knots. This I decidedwould be long and arduous to take toGilwell (Scouting's training H.Q.) and

45

say "these are the knots we think youshould teach and use", as I was sure itwould cause much grief to thetraditionalists. So we decided on a"cunning plan". With the help of mycolleagues in the Surrey branch we wouldteach our groups "The Surrey Six" wenamed them thus after David Monk cameup with the name, this would give us prideto say they started in Surrey in years tocome. The response among Scouters andtheir young charges was very good. Everybody we have met so far, have said theyare a good set for General use (we allaccept that there are better knots forspecialist applications, after all we havein excess of 3800 to choose from).

To answer Tony's point aboutauthority I did not know that any branchor person should have to ask anybody topromote the art of Knotting. This we havedone over the last six years with greatenthusiasm, teaching "The Surrey Six" tohundreds of Scouters and we have taken"The Six" to many groups, company's andother outside organisations. Yes we wouldlove to do the tests to show how good theSurrey Six are, but we used our manyyears of practical knotting skills to comeup with what we think and continue todiscover are an excellent bunch of Knots.

Now you all have an opportunity tobetter our Six, I challenge all Guildmembers to come up with Six knots forgeneral purposes for use in modem rope(these can include some of "The SurreySix" if you like). You may send these tome by mail to 19 Broad Street, Guildford,Surrey GU3 3AQ, England or bye-mailto howard.denyer@lineone.net I willcollate them and publish the results in

Knotting Matters. If you have anycomments about "The Surrey Six" good,bad or indifferent please send them to meas I do not get much mail!

Perhaps one day the whole of theGuild may wish to endorse "The SurreyS· "IX .

Howard DenyerSurrey Branch Chairman.

Children's Knot BookIs there an up-to-date knot book for

children? Other than those about tyingfriendship braids, the only one I know ofin the past 25 years was Learn AboutKnots (published in 1976) by LadybirdBooks. Even the zany Klutz Book ofKnots (in 1985) was aimed at adults.

Ashley persuaded himself there wasno need for one and wrote; 'There are fewknots that an intelligent boy or girl oftwelve or fourteen years, who is genuinelyinterested in the subject, cannot tie,provided the description is clear enough.'True - but what about younger children?And how will they come across knotting,when today's booksellers and librarianswill not locate adult knotting manuals onthe children's sections of their respectivebookshelves?

Personally, I couldn't write such abook to save n1Y life. Sorry, I don't speak'child'. So, if any Guild member does,and fancies writing a knot book foryoungsters, take it fron1 n1e there is agap in the market. Whether or not there isa market in the gap, however, you ­aspiring author - will need to ascertainand then persuade a publisher.

Geoffrey BudworthKent, V.K.

46

Clove Hitch vTimber HitchJohn Kennaugh can't understand (KM

67, page 38) why I prefer the Cloye Hitchto the Tin1ber Hitch for starting squarelashings. The holding power of hitches inthis situation depends entirely on thefriction between the rope and the spar. Inthis context, the two important factorsdetermining this force are the area ofcontact between the rope and the spar. Thetwo turns of the Clove Hitch would bebetter than the one and a bit for the TimberHitch and the force between the two. thatis, on the tightness of the rope. Also aClove Hitch can be drawn up tighter thana Timber Hitch.

Charles WarnerPieton, Australia

Not New KnotsKM#67 is rich in new knots that are

not new at all.Olivier Peron's "The Marion's Knot"

on page 20 is in fact what Budworth callsa Mooring Hitch (The Complete Book ofKnots, p.46), albeit tied in a veryingenious manner.

And James Moore's "ImprovedBowman's Knot on page 46 is in factAshley's #1045.

Rudi PetsehekCalifornia, V.S.A.

In Defence of theIcicle Hitch

Reference Issue 65, Page 25 by JackCallton, Australia. (Jack the Rope)

Jack seemed to find tying this newfangled knot a disappointn1ent, onlysucceeding when using different sizedstring tied to a pencil. Jack would not find

a knot in his old Seaman's Manual thatwould be as effective as the Icicle Hitchin gripping a smooth slippery surface.

I am a builder and I use this knot inpreference to any other knot for drawingcables through pipes laid underground.When laying pipes for ductingunderground where cables are to be drawnthrough at a later date. A draw rope is leftin the ducting when at a later date a cable(electric, telephone, etc is attached to thedraw rope with an Icicle Hitch. The onlydifference to the shown tying of this knotis that the end of the cable is taped to thedraw rope to prevent the end of the cablesnagging on a joint in the ducting. Whenan Icicle Hitch is tied correctly which isrelatively easy, the draw rope will breakbefore the Hitch will slip. I have shownthis knot to various people who have beenimpressed with its performance.

Though nowadays with modemtechnology cables are attached to a longwire mesh cylinder (Like the ChineseFinger Puzzle) with a metal eye onone end, this is slipped over the end ofthe cable, and a rope attached to the metaleye.

If the Icicle Hitch has R down side "itis I wish I had tied it first".

Owen K NuttallWest Yorkshire, U.K.

Help PleaseThe following knot was taught to me

a few months ago by a young able seamanon the Express Coastal Steamer. This knotis used for the trowingline.

I wonder if any member hasinformation about the knot or its name.

Jan Fredrik Midtj1aaBruhagen, Norway

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KnottingDiaryAGM's &1/2 YEARLY MEETINGS

IGKT Half-yearly Meeting14th October 2000,Beverwijk,NetherlandsContact Willeke van der Ham,Tel: +3 125 121 3285E-mail: willeke_igkt@yahoo.com

EVENTS

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EDITOR:Cofin Grundy4 Hanwood Close,Eastern Green,Coventry CV5 7DZTel: 024 7646 8603E-mail: colingrundy@lineone.net

SECRETARY:Nigel Harding16 Egles Grove,Uckfield,Sussex, TH22 2BYTel: 01827 760425E-mail: nigel@nigelharding.demon.co.uk

Guild Annual Subscription rates:Juniors £5Seniors £16Families£20Corporate by arrangementPayable by cash/cheque Eurocard,Mastercard or Visa. Taxpayers in UK - wewould prefer acovenanted subscription.

Full pageHalf pageQuarter Page

BRANCH MEETINGS

Dutch BranchLast Saturday of month,RotterdamContact Jan Hoefnagel,Tel: 078 614 6002e-mail: jchoefna@cybercomm.nl

West Midlands Branch3rd September and4th November 2000-07-09Kinver Scout Camp,Kinver, StaffordshireContact Bruce Turley,Tel: 0121 453 4124e-mail: 106077.1156@compuserve.com

West Yorkshire Branch19th September 2000Beaulah Hotel,Tong Road,Farnley, LeedsContact David Pearson,Tel: 0113 257 2689e-mail: wayzegoose_uk@yahoo.co.uk

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Advertising Rates:Members

£32£19£10

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Guild SuppliesPrice List 2000

Supplies Secretary:- Bruce Turley19 Windmill Avenue, Rubery, Birmingham B45 9SP

email 106077.1156@compuserv.comTelephone: 0121 453 4124

Cheques payable to IGKT, or simply send your credit card detailsPS Dont forget to allow for Postage

Item PriceGeoffrey BudworthKnotlore a miscellany of quotes from fact and fiction £2.50Much Ado About Knotting history of the 1st 10 years of the Guild £2.50 *The Knot Book £3.99

Brian FieldBreastplate Designs £2.50Concerning Crosses £1.50

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