Mastodawn

Knowing how to tie a useful knot is a skill that doesn't get much attention outside of sailing and rock climbing, but although I do neither of those things, I like learning new knots. They come in handy in the garden, the kitchen, and any time I have to move something on or in a vehicle.

If you'd like to learn to be more handy with rope and string, I suggest this website, where you can learn new knots. You can easily go step by step, reverse, or even re-orient the knot to see how it looks from another angle. It's called "Animated Knots." They even have neckties!

https://www.animatedknots.com/

Home

Animated Knots is the world's leading site for learning how to tie knots of any kind. From Boating Knots, Fishing Knots and Climbing Knots to how to tie a Tie, or even Surgical Knots — we’ve got it covered.

SpaceLifeForm 4d ago

Shoelace: I got this!

Radio Free Trumpistan 4d ago

@SpaceLifeForm @killick
Yeah, but do you know how to do the knots which create a fish net?
I do. 😁

@claralistensprechen5th @SpaceLifeForm

see the Sheet Bend

Radio Free Trumpistan 3d ago

@killick @SpaceLifeForm
I've always called it "how men crochet". 😁

@stevewfolds 3d ago

@claralistensprechen5th @SpaceLifeForm @killick Macrame came from sailors as did braided whips.

SpaceLifeForm 3d ago

@killick @claralistensprechen5th

That is a good Knot, but my shoelaces have not mastered it yet. They keep trying for sheepshank.

cuan_knaggs 3d ago

@SpaceLifeForm @killick but do you though ~ https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/index.htm

Introduction

If you want to lace shoes, tie shoes or learn about shoelaces, “Ian's Shoelace Site” is the place!

Ian's Shoelace Site

Stacey Cornelius 🇨🇦3d ago

@killick So. Cool. Thanks for sharing the link.

Cabbidges 3d ago

@StaceyCornelius @killick
Looking for bead knotting ie knots to hold beads in place on a string. I know there are tools for this but I think it can be done just with hands. Any suggestions welcome.

Stacey Cornelius 🇨🇦3d ago

@TheDailyBurble A simple web search will give you lots of results.

Cabbidges 3d ago

@StaceyCornelius @killick , Yes it does indeed, but the knot site is so lovely that was linked. I'm not asking out of laziness but out of knowing if anyone knows things about knots, I'll find them here.

It has been a long time since someone told me to just go and do my own homework when I asked for advice. It made me laugh.

Dec (slowed + reverb)3d ago

@TheDailyBurble @StaceyCornelius @killick
One or more of these might work:
https://www.animatedknots.com/stopper-knots
It will depend on the thickness of your string, and the holes in the beads.

Some of these knots only work well at the end of a line, but you will probably need straight path knots where the beads stop and start.

As for tools, most knots can be tightened and loosened by hand, but you can get them tighter with a marlinspike.
My marlinspike is one end of a small plastic crochet hook, sharpened.

Stopper Knots

Stopper Knots. A selection of the knots commonly used as Stopper Knots at the end of a piece of rope. They range from the simplest Overhand Knot to the larger and more elaborate Ashley Stopper Knot.

Cabbidges 3d ago

@dec23k @StaceyCornelius @killick
Thank you so much!!!
Just thank you so much. So much.

I knew someone would know and could only hope someone would be kind enough to share.

Cabbidges 3d ago

@dec23k @StaceyCornelius @killick

I'm sorry to niggle, but the thing with beading is to keep the knot hard against the bead whilst tightening it, which I have kind of done with a toothpick. I rather fancy sailors would have had similar problems with buoys, anything round that has to be tight to one side on a round thing.

It's not a two ends and tie it thing, it's a loopy and hold thing, sorry best I can describe and I'm sorry to be annoying.

Cabbidges 3d ago

@dec23k @StaceyCornelius @killick
It's probably a bead thing to be honest. String in, loop and knot, bead, loop and knot, string out.
But which knot.

Dec (slowed + reverb)3d ago

@TheDailyBurble @StaceyCornelius @killick
I don't know enough about beading to know exactly how tight is tight enough, but I'm assuming that you need to have one length of line, many beads, each one being held securely by knots in the line, with line (not knotted) through each bead.

The tricky bit might be in making "tight to one side" add up to "tight to both sides" of the same bead and still be able to repeat the same with more beads on the same line. A toothpick might not be the best tool.

Cabbidges 3d ago

@dec23k @StaceyCornelius @killick

Yes, that's it, it's almost physics. Because the beads are round your normal knots are always loose because you only have one end to tighten from. I'm sure this problem has been solved our we wouldn't have tight beadwork through the ages.

Dec (slowed + reverb)3d ago

@TheDailyBurble @StaceyCornelius @killick
Ah, I think I get it now.

The basic 'unit' of beads is a string of beads that are all on the same line, bead touching bead (for the most part) and a stopper knot at one end, with rows or circles (or other combinations of that basic unit) adding up to the finished article. Throughout construction, the line is not intended to be seen, but it's holding the beads together nicely, so tighter is better.

I had been assuming single beads spaced along a line.

Dec (slowed + reverb)3d ago

@TheDailyBurble @StaceyCornelius @killick
Some of the more complex button knots need a lot of work with dressing (tightening) to go from "a neat set of loops" to "oh wow is that button really part of the rope", especially with a Monkey's Fist or Turk's Head knot.
A simpler stopper knot might have enough 'slack' that you can get the knots snug enough to both sides of each bead, add a bead, and repeat. That will also depend on the line that you use.

Cabbidges 3d ago

@dec23k @StaceyCornelius @killick

I just kind of wish that lovely knot site had a beading bit. The stopper knot (and toothpick) looks probably close.

Dec (slowed + reverb)3d ago

@TheDailyBurble @StaceyCornelius @killick
That site (and a handful of YouTube channels) is the reason why my box of assorted offcut/spare strings/laces/ropes is now a box of assorted zipper-pull toggles and Prusik Hitches and Soft Shackles.

I have just enough basic knots in my head so when I need to lift or secure stuff, I can usually bowline or shackle my way out of trouble (and get the main rope back untied when the job is done).
For more complex situations I might need to learn a new knot.

Cabbidges 3d ago

@dec23k @StaceyCornelius @killick that's it.

거윈 🍉🌾3d ago

@killick
Lovely! Reminds me of my days when I was a scout and we're required to know lots of knots by ❤️

Jo with elbows up & chin up 3d ago

@killick cool website!!

surfingreg 3d ago

@killick US Coast Guard: "If you can't tie a knot, tie a lot."

This is the "better than nothing" approach.

@killick slipknot is the only useful in the u.s. these days

I'm a frequent visitor, as my fingers (The traitors!) frequently forget how to tie particular knots.

Snippety Snap (she/her)3d ago

@killick
Knot tying is underrated for sure.

I'm lucky I learned a lot of knots when I earned my sailing badge at Girl Scouts summer camp.

My husband always summons me to tie important knots, like when we strap an item to the roof of the car.

I can hang a clothesline between two trees like a boss.

I don't have any kids, but if I did, they would learn to tie knots.

@killick and if you're into youtube channels, explore the rich contents from "first class amateur", "tx tool crib" and "bear essentials ". Great content there.

Dec (slowed + reverb)3d ago

@PierricD @killick
First Class Amateur is really good for showing how to tie each knot properly. He even gets into how you might get a step wrong (in the middle of a more complex knot) and how to spot it or correct it.

Some other channels also do that, but not as well.

Slash909uk 3d ago

@killick knots are a life skill! I use this web site with my Cub Scouts to help learn what to do, then we make big structures with rope and poles to climb on or carry each other around. Fun and useful! 😁

Sandor Spruit 🇪🇺🇳🇱🇺🇦🇨🇦3d ago

@killick @lucyweirphd Nice! It is kinda confusing though to see English names to the boating knots I have seen so many times 🤔

@sandorspruit @lucyweirphd

Many knots were invented/discovered multiple times and have therefore multiple names.

Dec (slowed + reverb)3d ago

@killick @sandorspruit @lucyweirphd
(but usually only one ABOK reference number)

https://www.animatedknots.com/references

References

References. Reference sources include The Ashley Book of Knots (ABOK) and Bushby’s Manuscripts.

Nicolas Rinaudo 3d ago

@killick @vladimir_lu that is brilliant, thanks for linking! I’ve always felt vaguely ashamed at my utter inability to tie anything but the most basic of knots, this looks like a good way to remediate that

Pseudonym Ken 3d ago

@killick Oh no,I might be into learning knot tying techniques. Also into technical jargon regarding knot tying techniques.

Thanks for a resource. Time to see how they feel about half hitches.

Gilgwath 3d ago

@killick with the current shibari craze, some of these might come in useful... or your brain at least has a place to put the new knots. I on the otherhand am totally lost with this rope spaghetti 😅

Mycotropic 3d ago

@gilgwath @killick

#Shibari has always been here! If my #Alpaca rope could talk it would confirm this statement!

not ch1c 3d ago

@killick the rabbit goes out of the hole around the tree and back into the hole

@killick very cool!

When tying a knot comes up my mind immediately goes to this gem though:

Richard Webb 3d ago

@killick Could be useful in dealing with Mid Wales gates.

@killick also amazing for 3D art, I learnt how to make a figure-eight knot to get my model to look right

@killick in practice I feel like most sailors only actually use about three knots on the regular (bowline, rolling hitch, double sheet bend?)

Vlastimil Babka 🇨🇿🇪🇺🇺🇦3d ago

@killick @oleksandr oh, bow ties as well!

@killick Also https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm for those struggling with shoelaces. We are many, no need to hide.

I rarely have to tie it more than once on a shoe.

Ian Knot (Ian's Fast Shoelace Knot)

Tutorial for tying the “Ian Knot”, the world's fastest shoelace knot.

Ian's Shoelace Site

Matt Wilcox 3d ago

@killick As someone who in the last week learned the "taught line hitch" and "Double Dragon" via YouTube - this is a fantastic resource!

crazyjaneway 3d ago

@killick absolutely. Thank you for sharing!

Steven G. Harms 3d ago

@killick this is the greatest website ever.

@killick It is very good. But I seem unable to remember knots, even when I can tie them for a few weeks. … I might need to put them in to a spaced repetition thing!

Steve Gisselbrecht 3d ago

@killick
Long ago, a friend showed me a cool way to tie my shoes. It results in the same knot that everyone uses (I checked with a topologist friend. Like you do.) but looks cool doing it.

So if I'm among people I know and need to tie my shoe, I'll usually say, "Have I ever demonstrated shoe-tying for you?"

And once this happened with an acquaintance who was, unbeknownst to me, a competitive sail racer, and his enthusiasm was A LOT.

@killick I want this in kiwix! Thanks for sharing!

Aaron Turner 2d ago

@killick @surefire oh noes. Nothing good comes from this knowledge. So many arguments while camping with friends.