7 ms·

I recently bought myself a copy of Ashley's Book of Knots, and been teaching myself... well... knotting. In my ignorance, I used to see knowledge of knots as t

I recently bought myself a copy of Ashley's Book of Knots, and been teaching myself... well... knotting. In my ignorance, I used to see knowledge of knots as this complex, hard to learn thing, but one thing I've been learning is that the more common, practical, knots tend to be fairly easy to tie. There's just different knots for different purposes. The decorative ones can get very complex, though.

justin_oaks 3y ago
What is your approach to learning them? Do you do them in order from ABOK or pick ones that look interesting and/or useful? What are your favorite knots? I've tried to learn a number of knots. I find that tying knots is a good way to keep my hands busy while doing something else, like listening in a meeting. I favor the diamond knot, constrictor knot, hangman's knot, alpine butterfly loop, and Japanese square knot.
- Measter 3y ago
  I first just went through it front to back, having a go at some of the simpler ones as I went. Since then, I've mostly just picked ones that felt interesting to learn. I've been a bit partial to more decorative stuff lately: a few of the sinnets, Full Matthew Walker, Turks-Heads, that sort of thing. I'd say my favourite one is one I come up with based on a Sheepshank, but (to the surprise of no one) was in the book as #1148 (Bell Ringer with two hitches). My use case, however, is as a double-noose to carry bags. Once tied, you can tighten one loop by loosening the second, then tighten the second by pulling the standing part. I tighten these around the neck of the two bags beneath the knots, then use a Marlingspike Hitch in the standard part with a piece of wood as a handle.
  - justin_oaks 3y ago
    I'll have to check out some of those knots you mention. Thanks!
Tao3300 3y ago
I've been way into decorative knots lately. Putting turksheads and coxcombing on everything, and I've come up with a nice way to use some lanyard knot trickery to tie a ukulele strap to the headstock in a way that looks like a tiny flower.
greenie_beans 3y ago
knots are such an elegant solution.
ramses0 3y ago
https://philosophersguild.com/products/how-2-knots https://philosophersguild.com/products/how-2-knots

justin_oaks 3y ago

What is your approach to learning them? Do you do them in order from ABOK or pick ones that look interesting and/or useful? What are your favorite knots? I've tried to learn a number of knots. I find that tying knots is a good way to keep my hands busy while doing something else, like listening in a meeting. I favor the diamond knot, constrictor knot, hangman's knot, alpine butterfly loop, and Japanese square knot.

Measter 3y ago
I first just went through it front to back, having a go at some of the simpler ones as I went. Since then, I've mostly just picked ones that felt interesting to learn. I've been a bit partial to more decorative stuff lately: a few of the sinnets, Full Matthew Walker, Turks-Heads, that sort of thing. I'd say my favourite one is one I come up with based on a Sheepshank, but (to the surprise of no one) was in the book as #1148 (Bell Ringer with two hitches). My use case, however, is as a double-noose to carry bags. Once tied, you can tighten one loop by loosening the second, then tighten the second by pulling the standing part. I tighten these around the neck of the two bags beneath the knots, then use a Marlingspike Hitch in the standard part with a piece of wood as a handle.
- justin_oaks 3y ago
  I'll have to check out some of those knots you mention. Thanks!

Tao3300 3y ago

I've been way into decorative knots lately. Putting turksheads and coxcombing on everything, and I've come up with a nice way to use some lanyard knot trickery to tie a ukulele strap to the headstock in a way that looks like a tiny flower.

greenie_beans 3y ago

knots are such an elegant solution.

ramses0 3y ago

https://philosophersguild.com/products/how-2-knots https://philosophersguild.com/products/how-2-knots