David Delaney's knot pages
Definitions used in the knot pages:
References to ABOK in the following pages are to the Ashley Book of Knots. For example, ABOK 1452 means article number 1452 in the Ashley Book of Knots.
Bend: a knot for joining the ends of two ropes to make a longer rope, or for joining the two ends of a rope to make a loop.
Hitch: a knot tied to a post, cable, ring, or spar.
Working end: the active end of a line used in making a knot.
Working part: the section of line between a knot and a working end.
Standing end: the end of the rope not involved in making a knot.
Standing part: the section of line between a knot and a standing end.
Bight: any curved section, slack part, or loop between the ends of a rope.
Although the sense given above for "bend" is modern and now widely
advocated, "bend" has traditionally been used in the names of
several knots that are not bends in this modern sense. Similarly, several knots that are bends in this modern sense are sometimes traditionally named "knots", or something else. These traditional usages
are often respected, even in works that advocate the above
definition. A similar comment applies to "hitch". This inconsistency of knotting terminology is
usually considered to be charming.
The knot pages:
The bag knot is perhaps the best general purpose sack-closing knot. It's also a good hitch.
How to tie a sash with ABOK 1474, the parcel bend, the best string bend for tying under tension
Sailor's Hitch, ABOK. 1688, a lovely hitch that dresses itself
An icicle hitch - hang a load from a smooth vertical pole, or lift a pipe
The Carrick Bend, ABOK 1439 - the best general purpose bend?
The Zepplin Bend - the best general purpose bend? And the Zeppelin Loop
The (Alpine) Butterfly Bend - the best general purpose bend?
Ashley's Bend, ABOK 1452 - jams under loads that stretch its rope
Jam testing several bends
The Butterfly Loop as an end-loop tied through a mounted ring, around a tall pole, etc.
The Butterfly Bend Loop (A better Butterfly end loop than the one above)
The Better Bow (A shoelace knot)
The Lapp knot, a bend, and its evil imposter, the anti-Lapp knot
Stone-throwing sling woven from hollow nylon braid
Simple throwing sling with leather pouch
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