In this article I will list the simplest knots that are useful for those trips when you are not supposed to use special climbing equipment (carabiners, harnesses, rollers, etc.). When you just need to set up a camp in the forest, tie up a boat, a bowler hat, secure the load on a kayak, etc. For each knot there will be a link to wonderful animation illustrations of their knitting on the website www.animatedknots.com. If you are interested in the topic of nodes in principle, go there, and here there will only be those that I actually use in practice with a description of why. The main point of selection is simplicity and versatility. If you learn a lot of knots and don’t use them, you’ll forget them quickly. It is better to know less, but well, and strain your brain, applying the knowledge that you have.

Separate article about climbing knots.

About how to use a rope and a minimum of equipment for insurance to move along the terrain.

Bayonet http://www.animatedknots.com/roundturn/index.php

In the picture I circled the supports once, in the animation they did it twice. Usually there is no difference. But when you secure the final end of the rope like this when crossing with a pulley, make as many turns around the tree as possible

Used when you need to tie a rope to something. Yes, these few elementary ties around the rope are even called a knot. Each attack is a “bayonet”, two attacks are a double bayonet, three are a triple bayonet. The theory says that there is no point in doing more than 3 runs out, but when people are afraid, for example, about the fate of a ditch lowered into the river on a rope, they will do more - no big deal :)

Tie this knot not to the support or handle of the canal, but... to another bayonet! Now you have already tied two ropes and maybe you no longer need to read that article any further :)

Stirrup

The photo shows a stirrup knot on a pole. Tied in the middle of the rope. An awning is tied to the left, and down to the right the rope goes to a peg in the ground. Under normal load it tightens tightly and does not go anywhere. At the same time, I can adjust the tension by only slightly loosening the knot without untying it - in the example above, I can extend the rope towards the awning or to a peg in the ground.If the pole is removed from the knot, it will untie itself - no need to waste time untangling the knots. The rope is secured to a stake in the ground with the same knot.

It is useful to learn how to tie this knot not only in the middle of the rope, but also with the end of the rope. It is very convenient to tie awning guy lines to trees this way - you can adjust the tension even after the knot is tied and it is easy to untie.

If in a stirrup knot at the end of a rope one of the branches (opposite to the one to which something is tied) is made into a loop, then you will get a knot that can be quickly untied even under load.

If you are afraid that someone will accidentally pull the “pulling” tail, then leave the loop longer and tie a bayonet on it.

The stirrup should not be confused with the semi-girth http://www.animatedknots.com/girth/index.php - this one doesn't tighten as tightly and doesn't hold much. With a semi-grabbing one, you can hang some kind of loop on your climbing harness, for example.

Witch's Saddle/Tow Hitch http://www.animatedknots.com/lightermans/index.php

Continuing the theme of setting up tents. Hand strength is not always enough to pull the tent guy, and such a knot creates additional tension in the process of attaching the tent to the tree. Secure the end of the rope with the same bayonet and the job is done.

Direct http://www.animatedknots.com/reef/index.php

Pay attention to the ends. They are folded together and come out from one place.

For tying two ropes. For example, they tie their shoelaces (only there you first do it with a single lace, and then fold it in half - so that it can be easily untied). Usually they try to make it straight, but it turns out to be feminine (in the animation in animatadknots at the link above it is shown in the “Granny” tab).

Babi's knot. Easily unties if you pull on one of the ends.

On my own anyway straight knot not very reliable - it will come undone if the load appears and disappears (the rope is pulled). Its advantage is that it is easy to learn and knits quickly. If you want to increase the reliability of the knot, tie “controls” from the leftover ends - they will prevent the knot from coming undone.

straight knot with controls

In life, in addition to tying shoelaces, it is useful for extending the rope when setting up the same tent. Or to make a small loop and hang a crossbar on it over a fire for a pot.

Bowline http://www.animatedknots.com/bowlineonehand/index.php

The link will show you how to knit this knot with one hand. Useful if you fall off a boat/fall through the ice and want to tie a non-tightening loop around your body. If you want to tie it around a tree and (lo and behold!) you forget the bayonet (by the way, its loop is tightened) - tie a bowline. Just don’t forget the control; without it, the bowline will come undone when the load changes.

Austrian guide http://www.animatedknots.com/alpinebutterfly/index.php

Such a loop in the middle of the rope

• Slightly reduces the strength of the rope;
• Does not slip or drag;
• Works in any of three directions (towards the loop or towards the ends);
• Easily unties after a load is applied to it.

It is useful where you want to create a loop, you know that it will be pulled often or strongly, and at the same time you want to untie it easily. For example, pulling a raft from one side of the river to the other, hanging a rope over a fire, etc.

On my hikes (information about the hikes for which I expect participants is posted here.

How to tie knots. 38 reliable, tested units

The year of publishing: 1995

Publisher: Moscow. The science. Fizmatlit

Material type: book

Moscow. The science. Fizmatlit. 1995

(scanning: Andrey Dementyev, processing: Victor Evlyukhin)

Introduction

The knot is one of the oldest inventions of mankind. Since ancient times, a person cannot do without ropes and the ability to tie knots. But is it really so important in our time to know how to tie knots, since metal and synthetics provide us with reliable fastening of a wide variety of objects? It turns out to be important. In our life we ​​need to be able to tie knots on shoes, tie stacks of books, tie bags, tie things to the trunk of a car, pull and securely tie ropes, securely tie hooks to fishing line. But the vast majority of people have a very primitive idea of ​​how to tie knots.

In this small book you will find 38 knots that can be useful in a variety of situations. All these knots have been thoroughly tested, tying patterns and explanations for the patterns are provided, areas of application, existing limitations and disadvantages are indicated. If you want to learn more about knots, I advise you to refer to the wonderful book by L.K. Skryagin "Sea Knots" (Moscow, Transport, 1982).

Learning knots takes time and patience. Take a thin soft rope and sit with it and a book at the table. Start studying the diagram, moving from the root end of the rope to its running end, and then tie a knot with the rope exactly according to the diagram. The running end of the rope is its loose free end, which moves when tying a knot, while the root end of the rope is either fixed motionless or remains motionless when tying a knot. In the book, the running and root ends are designated as follows:

Once you understand the pattern, tie the knot several times, choosing the tying method that is most convenient for you. After all, different people tie the same knot in different ways.

Inexperienced people surprisingly easily forget how to tie a knot. Therefore, if you want to constantly use a knot, you need to tie it many times, bringing the tying process to complete automation. And then you need to periodically repeat the tying training.

Of the 38 nodes, the reader will choose the ones he needs. But everyone should know the simplest knots, for example, any reader should master the woman’s and reef (straight) knots and clearly understand the difference between them.

A few words about the names of nodes. Only some of the nodes have established names. If you look, for example, at English literature, you will find out that the same node can have different names. Often the name of the knot changes depending on the method of tying it. Therefore, some of the names adopted in the book are to some extent arbitrary, for example, the name of the “grinner” knot is not a translation from English, but conveys the sound of the English word.

At the end of the book you will find general recommendations. But you should always remember one recommendation. If you need to use a rope or fishing line made of an unknown material, then test the knot you want to use on it. After all, the properties of the knots change even for a rope (fishing line) with the same material, but with different thicknesses.

And let us remind you once again that only numerous training and repetitions lead to the successful use of knots.

Simple knot

This is the most famous knot, the tying diagram of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Once tightened on the rope, a small knot is obtained that is difficult to untie. A simple knot greatly bends the rope, so its strength is significantly reduced. If you accidentally form a simple knot on your fishing line, you should remove it and tie the line with another knot (for example, a snake knot, see p. 24).

In everyday life, a simple knot can be used as a locking knot to prevent the rope from slipping out of the hole. It is also used at the end of the thread to prevent it from slipping out of the fabric, as well as to prevent the end of the rope from unraveling.

A simple knot can very easily and quickly tie two ropes (Fig. 3), but then the knot is difficult to untie. In addition, the rope weakens at the junction. Do not use a simple knot to tie synthetic ropes and fishing lines, it creeps on them.

Eight

The pattern for tying a figure eight is quite simple (Figures 1 and 2). Unlike a simple knot, it does not weaken the rope much and is relatively easy to untie. This knot is used as a locking knot and as an element of other knots.

Bloody Knot

The name of the node has a long origin. It was tied at the end of whips, which in the past were used to punish naval sailors.

To tie a blood knot, make a loop, wrap the running end around the root end several times (Figures 1 and 2), and then tighten the knot. This creates a neat knot that thickens the rope and is used as a stop knot. The bloody node is included as a component element in a number of other nodes.

Babi knot

Almost every person knows and uses this node. Loop the running end of the right rope around the running end of the left rope (Fig. 1), then repeat this operation (Fig. 2) and finally tighten the resulting knot (Fig. 3). This is how many people tie knots.

This knot can be used on rough ropes with high friction. Since ancient times, women have tied the ends of their headscarves with this knot.

However, you need to remember that this is an unreliable knot; when tensioning the ropes, this knot easily slides. That is why sailors treat the woman’s knot with disdain.

However, this knot can also be made durable. First tie a simple knot or figure eight at the running ends of the ropes, and then tie the ropes with a woman’s knot. Such a knot will not be untied.

Reef (straight) knot

Look at the diagram for tying this knot (Figures 1, 2, 3). At first glance, it seems that we are getting a woman's knot again. However, take a closer look at Figures 2 and 3 and you will see the difference. It would seem that such a small change allows you to get a completely different, much stronger, straight knot than a woman’s.

However, it is necessary to point out the disadvantages of the direct knot. When the tension of the tied ropes is high, especially when they are wet, it becomes very tight. A straight knot is not very reliable on synthetic ropes, and when you pull one of the running ends towards the root end, it easily unties.

If you want to be sure of the strength of a straight knot, then tie, as in the case of a woman’s knot, a simple knot or a figure eight at the running ends.

Surgical knot

The natural development of a straight knot with the aim of strengthening it is to increase the number of runs around the running ends. This results in a stronger surgical knot than a straight one. In this case, you need to monitor the direction of the drifts.

In Fig. 1, the runs are made against the direction of movement of the clock hand, when viewed from the root part of the left rope, and in Fig. 2, the runs are made clockwise, when viewed in the same direction. If we do not change the direction of the pulls in Figures 1 and 2, then we will get an improved woman’s knot, which is not as strong as a surgical one.

A surgical knot is easier to tie than a straight one if the rope is under tension, since after completing those indicated in Fig. 1, the running ends do not slip, and the actions indicated in Fig. 1 can be completed. 2.

Quick-release reef knot

Essentially, this is the same reef knot (see p. 9), one of the running ends of which is folded in half. When you pull on the end of the folded running end, the knot is instantly untied. This knot is widely used in everyday life; it is often called a knot with one bow. However, we must remember that it is not very reliable.

Pay attention to the technique of doubling the running end (see pictures). Using this technique, a number of knots can be made quickly untied.

A reef knot can be used to tie a rope to an object (such as a pole). The reader can easily do this if he understands the diagrams in Figures 1 - 3.

Double reef knot

Here, unlike the previous unit, during the second series of revolutions, both running ends are folded in half (Fig. 2). The double reef also comes undone instantly when one running end is pulled (Figure 3). It is widely used for tying shoe laces, ropes, and tying bows, packages, and boxes. However, it is not always reliable, so it is better not to use it in serious situations.

weaving knot

If you want to securely tie two ropes, even if they differ in thickness, then use a weaver's knot (see pictures). This is a classic knot that can be easily untied by simply sliding the loop of the left rope along the root of the right rope. However, it slides on the fishing line, so the weaving knot cannot be used to tie the fishing line.

Water node

Fold the two ropes with the running ends facing each other and begin tying a simple knot (see p. 6). However, make not one turn, but two (see picture). Once tightened, a very strong knot is obtained, even if the ropes have different diameters. This knot is very difficult to untie, so it is used to permanently connect ropes. Unfortunately, when tying this knot through a loop, you have to pull the short running end of one rope and the long root end of another rope, so it is inconvenient to tie long ropes with it.

This knot is widely used by fishermen to attach a leash to the main fishing line. If you want to strengthen the fastening, then increase the number of revolutions from two to four. An important feature of the water knot: it practically does not weaken the fishing line and ties fishing lines of different diameters well.

Simple half bayonet

A simple half bayonet is a widely used knot. Its circuit (see pictures) is simple. By itself, this knot is fragile, but it is included as an element in many knots.

Simple bayonet

A simple bayonet consists of two identical half-bayonets (Fig. 1). Pay attention to the fact that the direction of wear in both half-bayonets is preserved (in Fig. 1, the running end is carried against the direction of the clock hand, when viewed from the root part), since then a stronger knot is obtained. It makes no sense to use more than three half-bayonets, since a larger number of half-bayonets usually does not strengthen the knot. A simple bayonet is used very often, for example, for securing cargo to the trunk of a car. If the running end of a simple bayonet is attached to the root end (Fig. 2), then such a knot will not be tightened. Then it can be used in the presence of strong traction, for example, for attaching anchors.

Cow knot

Reliable, widely used unit (Fig. 1). If you need to properly tighten the rope, then such a knot is a great way to do it. It usually holds traction well. But if you want to be completely sure of the strength of the cow knot, then add a half bayonet (Fig. 2). The cow knot is indispensable for motorists: when tying things to the trunk, this knot with a half-bayonet reliably completes the fastening process. True, a cow's knot that gets wet in the rain is not always easy to untie. To prevent this from happening, when tying a half-bayonet, fold the running end in half (Fig. 3). This knot is reliable and can be easily and quickly untied in any conditions.

Embossed knot

One of the well-known nodes. There are two ways to tie it. The first method is shown in Fig. 1.

In the second method, two loops are formed (Fig. 2), after which the right loop is brought behind the left loop and both loops are put on the object. Then the embossed knot is tightened. This is exactly how fishermen sometimes attach a float, after wetting the fishing line. It must be remembered that the rope knot is reliable only with a constant pull on the rope.

Constrictor

The constrictor is one of the most tightly tightened knots. It is quite difficult to untie. Therefore, the constrictor is often used once. The pattern for tying a constrictor is easy to understand as follows (see picture). Start tying a knot, then pass the running end on the right under the right loop and tighten the resulting knot.

The constrictor can be made into a quickly untied knot by placing a double folded running end under the loops.

Remember that after tightening the constrictor, both the running and root ends of the rope go perpendicular to the axis of the object to which the rope is attached.

Double constrictor

This knot is more complex than the described single constrictor; it tightens even more. Using a single or double constrictor, you can tie a bag very tightly, tighten a rubber hose, tighten a rolled-up carpet, or apply a tourniquet to a wounded arm.

Python knot

A reliable and durable knot, somewhat reminiscent of a constrictor. However, after tightening it, the running and main ends are located parallel to the axis of the object being tied, while in the constrictor they are perpendicular.

The python knot can be used to tie hooks to fishing line, although for this purpose it is better to use more reliable knots (see pp. 23, 26).

Blind loop

Let a fixed (non-tightening) loop be tied at the end of the rope (see, for example, p. 20). Then with the help of this loop you can form a so-called blind loop.

Anglers use a blind loop to quickly tie a spoon. To do this, you need to insert a fixed loop into the eye of the spinner and pull its front part to the side of the spinner closest to us (Fig. 1). Then the front part needs to be lowered down (Figures 2 and 3). This loop can be easily untied in reverse order.

It is sometimes called a tag loop because it is used for tying and storing items with a hole.

Gazebo (booline) knot

The arbor knot shown in the figure is the famous classical knot, known to the Egyptians and Phoenicians as early as 3000 BC. In English literature he is sometimes called the king of knots. The gazebo knot is easy to tie, does not damage the rope, does not slip and, if necessary, can be easily untied. Its only drawback is that it somewhat weakens the line. However, some anglers use it to tie a fixed (non-tightening) loop.

The gazebo unit is indispensable for motorists when towing or pulling a car out of a ditch. Motorists can use it to tie things to the trunk as follows. First, tie a small loop at one end of the rope using a bower knot. Then loop this loop around the trunk rod and pass the other end of the rope through it. This creates a reliable fastening of the rope to the trunk, which can then be easily untied. You should complete tying things to the trunk using a cow knot (see p. 15).

Simple loop

This is the simplest of the non-tightening loops: fold the running end of the rope in half, as shown in the figure, and tie a simple knot with it. A simple loop can also be used on synthetic rope; it is durable and does not change its size. However, she weakens the rope greatly. If you try to use it on a fishing line, the fishing line, even with a relatively low tension, will break at the knot of a simple loop. Therefore, anglers should use a fishing loop. In addition, it should be remembered that a simple loop is very difficult to untie.

Fisherman's Loop

Fold the running end of the fishing line in half and begin tying a simple knot. However, make not one turn, but two (see picture). This creates a very strong, dimensionally stable loop. This loop is very difficult to untie, so it is usually used by anglers to tie a permanent loop at the end of the fishing line. A loop with two turns still weakens the line somewhat. If you want to avoid such weakening, then make more turns (four or five).

English loop (fisherman's fire)

An English loop can be tied either at the end or in the middle of the rope. When tightening, you need to bring the resulting nodes closer together.

This loop can be used on a fishing line, but it is not as reliable as a fishing loop and weakens the fishing line somewhat.

Simple running knot

A simple running knot creates a tight loop. To do this, make a loop and pull the root part of the rope through it (Fig. 1). The resulting loop (Fig. 2) is tightened if you pull the root part. A knot can be tied in any part of the rope. You can use it to tighten a bag or tie a rope to an object.

Untied simple running knot

A simple running knot can be turned into a quick release knot. To do this, you need to fold the running end in half and insert it into the resulting loop (Fig. 1). The resulting loop is tightened by pulling the root end of the rope. It comes undone easily by pulling the running end. This is a very common knot; it can be used to tie, for example, a boat. To prevent the knot from accidentally coming undone, insert the running end into the loop (Fig. 2). This knot creeps on the fishing line, so it cannot be used.

Grinner knot

One of the most suitable knots if you need to firmly tie a rope or fishing line to an object. The pattern for tying this knot is clear from the figure. Anglers often tie the lure to the fishing line with this knot. They can also be used to tie a hook and eye to a fishing line. With this knot you can securely tie the fishing line to the spinning reel. The Grinner knot is very difficult to untie.

Improved gripping unit

A simple, strong knot for tying a rope or fishing line to an object. The pattern for tying this knot is clear from the figure. To tie the fishing line, it is necessary, as shown in the figure, to pass the running end through a large loop, otherwise the knot will turn out to be fragile. Anglers use this knot to tie spinners and to tie fishing line to a spinning reel. The improved gripper knot is very difficult to untie. Since it practically does not weaken the fishing line, it can be used to tie an eye hook to the fishing line.

Palomar Knot

This secure knot can be used to tie eye hooks or spinners to any type of fishing line. From the picture you can see that it is easy to tie. This knot is convenient for tying fishing line to a spinning reel.

Snake knot

One of the best knots for tying fishing lines of the same diameter. The pattern for tying it is clear from Figures 1 and 2. After tightening, a symmetrical compact knot is obtained.

It can also be used to tie ropes, but you must remember that a snake knot is difficult to untie.

Do not use this knot to tie fishing lines of different diameters; such a connection is unreliable.

Albright node

A good reliable knot for tying fishing lines of different and equal diameters. When winding thin fishing line onto the folded running end of thick fishing line, make sure that the turns do not intersect and lie neatly next to each other. Albright node
difficult to untie.

Double Grinner Knot

To securely tie two lines of different or the same diameter, use a double-grinner knot. First tie the greener with the right fishing line on the left fishing line (Fig. 1), then tie the greenner with the left fishing line on the right fishing line (Fig. 2). Tighten the resulting knots and bring them closer together.

Step knot

A strong knot for tying a hook without an eye to a fishing line. However, often anglers simplify this knot by not making the first two turns around the hook shown in the figure. This option for tying a hook is also quite reliable.

Knot

A widely used reliable knot for tying a hook without an eye to a fishing line. You can also use it for a hook with an eye, then before tying a knot you need to pass the running end of the fishing line through the eye. This knot is widely used by fishermen at sea.

Figure 8 leash

A reliable way to attach a leash to the main line. First, form a figure eight on the main line. Then pass the leader through the figure eight and tie it to the main line and tighten the figure eight. Strictly follow the pattern shown in the figure, then the tied leash will deviate from the main fishing line.

Improved locking unit

A good stopper for stopping the float during long casts. Attach the needle to the main line and wind the stop line around the main line and the needle according to the pattern shown in the figure. Then insert the end of the stop line into the eye of the needle and pull the needle from the stop line towards the needle point. Remove the needle and pull the knot tightly over the ends of the stop line. After this, cut off the excess ends.

Noose with half bayonets

A noose with half bayonets is used to lift and move logs and other cylindrical objects. The method of tying a noose without half bayonets is shown in Fig. 1 and 2, with half bayonets - in Fig. 3. This knot is used by loggers, so it is also called a log knot.

A noose with half bayonets is a strong and reliable knot that is tightly tightened and easily untied after use. First, two half-bayonets are made, shown on the left side of the figure. 3, and then they tie a noose, which needs to be tied a little away from the middle of the log. Before moving, the slack between the half bayonets and the noose must be taken out. The location of the half-bayonets is also important; they should be on the side of the noose in which the thrust is directed. Lifting heavy objects with a noose without half bayonets is dangerous.

Eskimo loop

When stringing a bow, you need to change the size of the loop; an Eskimo loop is used for this purpose. First, a loop is tied (Fig. 1), reminiscent of a simple running knot (see p. 21). However, unlike a simple running knot, when the size of the loop changes, the running end of the rope moves, not the root end. Next, the string is pulled with the running end and the half-bayonet is tied with it (Fig. 2). The Eskimo loop can be used in a variety of situations to tighten rope.

Fishing bayonet (anchor knot)

Tying a knot to an anchor is one of the important operations in maritime affairs. The knot shown in Figures 1 and 2 has been tested by maritime practice; it is recognized by sailors as the most reliable knot for fastening the rope to the anchor.

The fisherman's bayonet (anchor knot) is very similar to a simple bayonet (see p. 14). When using it, you need to attach the running end to the root end. Then the fishing bayonet does not tighten and holds firmly even with very strong traction.

Success node

In Japan, this knot symbolizes success. Fold the rope on the table according to the pattern shown in the figure. Then begin to slowly pull the rope in the directions indicated by the arrows. Make sure that the running end, which will turn down, does not slip out of the loop. Gently help tighten the knot with both hands. The result is an original knot, forming a cross on one side and a square on the other.

1. Many knots can be made quick-release if the running end is folded in half at the end of the knot.
2. Many knots can be made more reliable if you tie either a simple knot or a figure eight knot at the running end, which prevents the running end from slipping out.
3. In new conditions or when using a rope (line) made of an unfamiliar material, the knot should be thoroughly tested before use.
4. Good knots have a neat and tidy appearance.
5. The more revolutions a unit has, the more reliable it is.
6. If the knot looks dubious, then it needs to be tied and cut out on the fishing line.
7. Knots need to be tightened slowly and carefully; sharp jerks loosen the knots.
8. The knots on the fishing line must be wetted before tightening.
9. The ends of the knots on the fishing line should be carefully trimmed. Do not use a dull knife or fire, which will weaken the knot.
10. Practice tying knots constantly. The results of the training will be reflected when the knot needs to be applied in a real situation.

Knots and how to tie them - it would seem that what’s so complicated about this? After all, we encounter them in everyday life at every step and tie them without even thinking. From early childhood we were taught to tie shoelaces, girls were taught ribbons and bows, then men learned to tie a tie. And then - in everyday life, fishing, on vacation, hunting, in sports or maritime affairs - one way or another, but knots are present everywhere. Let's figure out how to tie knots on a rope correctly and which ones are the strongest.

What are nodes

Knots have existed for a long time; even our distant ancestors used them to create the first tools, clothing, and obtaining food: hunting and fishing. Essentially, a knot is a certain way of weaving ropes, fishing line, ribbons, threads and other things, a way to connect them together or tie them to something by creating a loop.

That is, the nodes have a very long and quite rich history of both application and development. After all, in every business, craft, direction where they were used, they came up with their own types, the most convenient, strong or beautiful, depending on priorities. Such a connection can be woven from a different number of ropes, their different lengths, diameters. They differ in areas of application.

Which ones exist?

Knots can be sea, tourist, mountaineering, hunting or fishing - this is a difference in the scope of their application. For example, there are about seven hundred sea knots alone!

Certain requirements apply to each type. For example, tourist ones, in addition to the fact that they must be strong and simple: they must be easy to remember, easy to tie, not crawl under load, not tighten tightly if this is not necessary.

Of course, it is hardly possible to know how to tie knots on all types of rope, and it is not necessary. This is not available to any person on the planet. It is enough to simply understand how to tie knots on a rope tightly and so that they look presentable.

Of course, you won’t get a good, strong connection or the right loop right away. You need to learn how to tie a strong knot in a rope through practice, not just theory. Although it is also necessary to know the theoretical basis. For example, how to tie a knot at the end of a rope: fold the free edges into a loop, leaving a tail of the length that the knot is needed, thread it through it, and tighten it. The knot at the end of the rope is ready!

What determines the strength of a knot?

How to tie knots on a rope so that they are strong? The answer to this question is simple: firstly, you need to be able to knit them, no matter how trivial it may sound. And secondly, the rope itself must be strong enough for this, otherwise no matter how much knot tying skills you have, it will be of little use.

Any rope, cord or rope and everything from which knots are tied has its own strength characteristic. Moreover, if a rope is used, for example, to tie a tent to a peg or even a boat to a fishing pier, hardly anyone thinks much about the level of its strength. But in some areas of application of knots such inattention is unforgivable, for example, in mountaineering.

One fact is worth considering: any knot somehow makes the rope less strong, for example:

• the figure-eight knot weakens by a quarter;
• bowline - by a third;
• weaving - by 35%.

All other knots make the rope less strong by about the same amount. Also, for the level of strength of both the rope and the knot, it is worth considering the following:

• if it is wet, then its strength decreases by 10%;
• if used in severe frosts (up to 30 degrees), then it becomes less durable by a third;
• Ropes that are dirty, old, have been in the sun for a lot of time, or with damaged braiding lose half their strength.

Application options

Knots are found even in everyday life at every step, and they can be both functional and simply decorative. For example, recently, bracelets or necklaces made from cords, laces and thin ropes tied in beautiful knots have become especially popular.

They are also used to tie two ropes of the same thickness. In tourism, instead of ropes, other materials of different thicknesses can be used. Using a knot, you can tie a wide variety of loops: tightening, climbing, quick-release (aka bow), bowline, or those that are very difficult to untie. Keep in mind that most knots lead to chafing of the rope and also tend to unravel on their own.

Knot

Probably the most famous of all knots. You may not know how to tie it, but everyone has probably heard about it. What is it and how to tie a sea knot on a rope?

First of all, it must be said that there are several sea knots, and each of them has its own name: running simple, reef, bowline, snare, scaffold. All of them are tightening loops, with the help of which the ship was tied to the pier. Their peculiarity is a certain way of knitting and tightening the rope, in which it is stretched, making the knot reliable. And when the rope is loosened, the noose is easy to untie.

The bowline or arbor knot is most often used. There is nothing difficult in learning how to tie it, and such a skill can come in handy at any time. Tie it as follows:

• a small loop is made, a piece of rope of such length as the size of the knot is needed is left in stock;
• this end is threaded through the loop, as when tying a simple knot;
• wraps around the free end of the rope, threads it through the small one and tightens.

For tying two ropes

It happens that it is necessary to tie two or even more ropes together, and also add knots to already tied ropes. There are special loops for these purposes. So, how to tie a knot on a tied rope using a Flemish loop or a counter figure eight, which is one of the oldest, strongest and strongest:

• at the end of an untied rope, make a figure eight from its free edge;
• With the remaining end of the knotted one, they repeat the bends and thread them through them, while tightening the loop.

This knot practically does not weaken the strength of the rope, and is easy to untie if necessary.

Untied knot

Sometimes it is necessary to tie a loop that will not come undone under any circumstances. As a rule, this is one of these considered weaving. So, how to tie a strong knot on a rope that will definitely not come undone at the most inopportune moment? First of all, you need to understand that it is a combination of two knots, which are tied with running ends around the base:

• lay two ropes with ends facing each other;
• make a simple knot at one end;
• pass the end of the other through the loop made on the first, make a turn around its base;
• tie the same simple knot with the second rope;
• move both loops towards each other until they come together;
• Tighten the knot properly.

This is a very strong knot; for all its apparent simplicity, when pulled, it becomes so strong that it seems unlikely to untie it.

Beautiful knot

Of course, not all loops and knots serve exclusively for functional purposes; they are also used to create jewelry: bracelets, necklaces. Knots are also tied simply for good luck, used in macrame techniques, lace making and more.

And this is where knowing how to tie a beautiful knot on a rope comes in handy. But there are quite a lot of such knots, so we’ll tell you about a couple of the easiest and most attractive ones.

Everyone remembers and knows. So, if you intertwine one or more ropes in this way, you get a beautifully tied braid of knots.

Another popular pattern is a woven crown or, using the terminology of the macrame technique, cobra. Used to create textile bracelets, necklaces, baubles, keychains and laces for an umbrella or a dog leash. It is knitted from four ropes as follows:

• connect the ends of the ropes together;
• turn the ends towards you;
• tie a crown knot, making a loop from each rope and pulling the end that lies behind it into it;
• tighten and continue tying knots to the desired length.

The braided crown lace is ready! Now you can close its ends with special caps with a clasp, which can be purchased at a jewelry supply store, and use them as a bracelet or necklace.

Flemish knot (Fig. 21). This is one of the oldest maritime knots, which was used on ships to connect two cables, both thin and thick. In fact, this is the same figure eight, tied at both ends. There are two ways to tie this knot. The first one is shown in the diagram.

First, make a figure eight at the end of one of the cables tied together (see Fig. 3). Insert the running end of the second cable towards the exit of the running end and repeat the figure “8” tied on the first cable. After this, grab each two ends, left and right, and begin to tighten the knot evenly, trying to maintain its shape. To final tighten the knot, pull the root ends of the cables.

To connect two cables with a Flemish knot using the second method, place the running ends of the cables being connected parallel to each other so that they touch each other approximately along the length of one meter. At this point, tie a figure eight with two cables folded together. In this case, you will have to carry it around and thread it into the loop along with the short running end of one of the cables and the long main one. This is precisely the inconvenience of the second method of tying the Flemish knot.

The connection of two cables with a Flemish knot is considered very strong. This knot, even if tightly tightened, does not damage the cable, and it is relatively easy to untie. In addition, it has excellent quality - it is non-slip and holds securely on synthetic fishing line.

Rice. 21. Flemish knot

Water node(Fig. 22). The connection of two cables with a water knot is considered no less strong. To tie it, place the ropes to be tied with their ends facing each other so that their ends run parallel and touch each other. Holding the running and root ends of two different cables in one hand, begin to knit an oak knot with them (see Fig. 20), but instead of one run-out of the root end, make two. Before finally tightening the knot, check that one pair of ends comes out of the loop from above, and the second from the bottom, as shown in the diagram (see Fig. 22).

The water unit is simple and reliable. It has not found wide use in the navy, because with strong draft it becomes so tight that it is very difficult to untie it.

Rice. 22. Water knot

Babi knot(Fig. 23). Let us make a reservation in advance that the author deliberately placed this knot in the book, as an example to explain the principle of other sea knots.

Woman's knot... How much irony and disdain can be heard from sailors towards this primitive and, unfortunately, knot that has firmly taken root in our everyday life! What sailors should not do is tie a woman's knot. A naval man who unluckily tied this knot even on the shore will certainly be ridiculed by his colleagues: they say, a disgrace for the fleet! But, alas, among land people this knot is a universal one. The vast majority of people who are not familiar with rigging, or those who, by their profession, do not deal with ropes, ropes, or threads, use the woman’s knot in all cases when they need to tie, tie, or tie. It seems that people, having learned this knot in childhood, believed so strongly in its utilitarian nature that they don’t even want to hear about any other complex sea knots. And, nevertheless, speaking seriously, this traitor node has caused a lot of troubles throughout the history of mankind and even claimed many human lives.

The Babi knot consists of two half-knots tied sequentially one above the other in the same direction. If you tie two ropes with it and pull it, you can immediately see that it begins to move along the rope and slide along it. And if it is tied close to one of the tied ends of the rope, then when pulled, it can slip and will certainly slip if the tied ropes are of different thicknesses. Unfortunately, not everyone knows about this and continues to use it.

In our country, this knot got its name due to the fact that from time immemorial women have tied the ends of headscarves with it (it is very convenient for this purpose). Abroad, it is called the “grandmother’s”, “stupid”, “veal”, “false”, “newborn” knot.

But, oddly enough, sailors and fishermen of some countries use the woman’s knot in their work. In addition to its negative qualities (sliding and not being untied), they caught one of its positive properties - under certain conditions, it instantly turns into a simple bayonet (see Fig. 10) - into one of the simplest and most reliable sea knots for securing the mooring of a vessel on the shore for a bollard, bollard or mooring bollard. But in order to tie a simple bayonet when mooring, you need to get off the ship ashore and do it directly at the fireplace or bring the end to the shore so that those standing on the shore can do it. But it turns out that a simple bayonet can be tied to the mooring bollard without leaving the ship ashore. And this is done with the help of a woman’s knot, despised by sailors... To do this, a loop is made at the end of the cable, which they intend to bring ashore for fastening it with a simple bayonet around the pole, the running end of the cable is connected to the root end with a woman’s knot, which is not fully tightened. From the side of the ship this loop is thrown onto the pole. When tugging at the main part of the mooring line, the woman's knot turns into a simple bayonet.

“Mother-in-law” knot(Fig. 24). Surprising but true. Some people, when tying two ropes together, somehow manage to tie a so-called “mother-in-law” knot, which is somewhat reminiscent of a woman’s knot. If in the latter the running ends come out of the knot on one side, then in the mother-in-law knot they come out from different sides diagonally.

The “mother-in-law’s” knot is just as insidious as the woman’s (if not more). It should not be used under any circumstances. The author placed it in the book to show how not to tie knots. However, from this dangerous knot you can make a wonderful knot called “herbal” (see Fig. 31).

Straight knot(Fig. 25). This wonderful knot is worth telling about it in more detail. Archaeological finds indicate that the Egyptians used it approximately five thousand years BC. The ancient Greeks and Romans called it Nodus Hercules - the Hercules or Hercules knot, because the mythical hero Hercules tied the skin of the lion he killed on his chest in this way. The Romans used a straight knot for stitching wounds and treating bone fractures. It consists of two half-knots, sequentially tied one above the other in different directions. This is the usual, simplest way to knit it (Fig. 25, A).

Sailors, who have been using this knot since ancient times to tie cables, use a different method of tying (Fig. 25, b). Weavers who use a straight knot to tie broken threads of yarn tie it in a special way that is convenient for them (Fig. 25, V).

The author of the book takes the liberty of declaring that a gross mistake was made in the interpretation of the characteristics of the direct knot and in the recommendations for its use, published in all domestic publications without exception. It has not been corrected to this day, they forgot about it and believed that this knot “reliably serves to tie two cables of approximately the same thickness” and that “it is very difficult to untie if it gets tight.”

This is what modern nautical reference books and textbooks published in our country in recent years tell us about the direct knot. “A straight knot is used to tie two cables of approximately the same thickness. With strong tension and wetness, the straight knot becomes tight and can be very difficult to untie. Therefore, when tying thick cables with a straight knot, it is necessary to insert a “brake” into the knot (Handbook of Marine Practice. M.: Voenizdat, 1969, p. 192). Almost the same thing is said about the direct knot in the atlas of V.V. Grigoriev and V.M. Gryaznov “Ship rigging” (M.: Traneport, 1975, p. 3): “The direct knot is used when tying cables of approximately the same thickness. When there are large loads on the connected cables, as well as when the cables get wet, the straight knot becomes very tight. To prevent excessive tightening, a wooden insert is inserted into the loops of the knot.”

The idea of ​​taking reefs with a straight knot will seem absurd to today's sailors. But it was with this, a straight knot, that in the days of the sailing fleet they took reefs on ships with a straight rig: in two reef seasons they tied the upper part of the straight sail panel to the reef line. The reef knot (see Fig. 94) was used to take reefs on small vessels (yawls, longboats and yachts), picking up part of the sail along the lower luff, and connecting it with the reef pins.

Several years ago, the author of these lines drew attention to the fact that in almost all maritime dictionaries and textbooks on maritime practice published in our country in the last century, the knot in question had two names - “straight”, and, as It’s not strange, it’s also “reef”. For example, let’s look at the “Explanatory Marine Dictionary” compiled by V.V. Bakhtin and published in St. Petersburg in 1894 (p. 265-266): “A straight knot or reef knot (Reef Knot; Right Knot) is knitted from two ends . First, a simple knot is knitted, then the end extended by the right hand is passed to the left, and the other end, taken above the first, is threaded under it and tightened. From this you can see that the reef knot consists of two simple knots knitted one above the other. The corresponding ends of both simple knots must be on the same side of the entire knot, only then it is called straight; otherwise an oblique knot will come out.”

Soviet Admiral K. S. Samoilov in his two-volume “Naval Dictionary” (M.-L.: Voenmorizdat, 1939-1941, p. 465) also gives a second name for this knot: “Straight knot (Reef Knot) - a knot that is used to tie two ends for weak traction, since with strong traction (if you don’t put a brake in the middle of the knot), it gets so tightened that it can’t be untied and will have to be cut.”

Having made an excursion into old and modern encyclopedias, reference books, dictionaries and textbooks on maritime affairs, published abroad, the author can state the following.

In English, the straight knot was and is still called “The Reef Knot.” This name was introduced into his naval dictionary by the English admiral John Smith in 1627. The term “straight knot” (The Square Knot) was introduced into the English maritime language by the American writer Richard Dana in 1841. He is known for the fact that, being a lawyer by profession, he hired himself as a simple sailor on a merchant sailing ship, sailed for two years and after that published the magnificent book “Two Years as a Sailor” and compiled an excellent English explanatory maritime dictionary. In addition to these two names, English-speaking sailors call the straight knot sailor's, correct, strong and ordinary. But the official and most common name of the knot, which we call a direct knot, in English is still “The Reef Knot” - a reef knot. Scandinavian sailors call it a reef knot: the Swedes - “Rabandsknop”, the Danes and Norwegians - “Raabandsknob”.

It turns out that the straight knot in the days of the sailing fleet was used primarily not “for tying together cables of approximately the same thickness,” but for taking reefs. Here is what is said about this in one of the best English maritime dictionaries on sailing - “Dictionary of Marine Terms”, compiled by A. Anetsd in 1897, which has since been regularly republished every 5-7 years in Glasgow: “The most common knot for tying is a reef, or straight, node. It is applicable in many cases, such as for tying the luff of a sail to the gaff, to the yard, etc., but it got its name (reef knot) due to the fact that reef seasons have always been tied with this knot.”

A precise and comprehensive formulation of the straight knot is given by René de Kerchove in his “International Maritime Dictionary” (New York, 1972): “A reef knot is a knot consisting of two half-knots tied in succession, used to tie together cables of the same thickness. Typically used for reefing sails due to the ease with which it can be unfurled.”

What we mean by the name “reef knot” (see Fig. 94) in all manuals on marine practice in English is called not just “The Reef Knol”, but “The Slipped Reef Knot” (sliding reef knot) or “The Draw Knot” and “The Half Bow Knot”. Rene ds Kershov writes about it this way: “A sliding reef knot - a knot similar to a regular reef knot, is even easier to untie. Also called The Half Bow Knot.”

How can a straight knot be untied, which, according to the characteristic unanimously accepted by our experts, is so tightened that it cannot be untied and will have to be cut?” A straight knot, even if wet and tightly tightened, can be untied very simply, in 1-2 seconds. Tie a straight knot as shown in the top diagram of Fig. 25, G. Take the ends in your left hand A And B, and to the right - the ends IN And G. Pull them firmly in different directions and tighten the knot as tightly as possible. After this, take the root end in your left hand A(to prevent it from slipping out of your hand, make a couple of slings around your palm). Take the running end in your right hand B(it can also be wrapped around your palm). Pull the ends sharply and firmly in different directions. Without releasing end A from your left hand, clench the remaining part of the knot into your fist with your right hand, holding it with your thumb and forefinger. root end A pull to the left - the knot is untied. The whole secret is that when you pull the ends A And B in different directions the straight knot turns into two half-bayonets and completely loses all its properties. It will also come undone easily if you take the root end in your right hand A and pull the running end hard IN to the left. Only in this case is the end A you then need to pull it to the right, and the remaining part of the knot (half bayonets) to the left. When untying a straight knot in this way, remember that if you pulled the running end to the right, pull the main end to the left and vice versa.

When untying a straight knot, one should not forget that, with whatever force it was tightened, one of its running ends must be pulled with the same force. Even a wet straight knot, tied on the thickest plant cable, which was under strong traction (without the brake inserted), can always be untied by taking one of the running ends onto a capstan or winch. In any case, there is no need to cut the cable.

So, the reader now obviously agrees that the characteristic of the direct knot, which has appeared for some unknown reason over the past seventy years in our country, is erroneous. Moreover, it is extremely important for our authors of manuals on maritime practice and rigging to reconsider the interpretation of the very essence of the direct knot and recommendations for its use.

Apparently, only in our country there is an unreasonably respectful attitude towards this unit. Sailors from other countries treat him more soberly and even with prejudice. For example, not a single foreign manual on knots contains such a dangerous recommendation for a straight knot, which is contained in the “Handbook of Marine Practice” we mentioned: “A straight knot is used to connect two cables of approximately the same thickness.”

The Ashley Book of Knots (New York, 1977), widely known abroad, says the following about the direct knot:

“Previously, this knot had a specific purpose in the fleet - it was used to tie the reef-season sails when they took reefs. Previously, sailors had never used it to tie together two ropes if the latter were of different thickness or make. It cannot be used to connect two cables that will be subject to strong traction. This knot creeps and is dangerous when it gets wet. After tying the knot, each of its running ends must be secured with a line to the root end.” Elsewhere in his book, Ashley writes: “This knot, used to bind two cables, has claimed more lives than a dozen other knots put together.”

The once famous American sea captain Felix Riesenberg, the author of one of the best textbooks for sailors in English: “Standard Maritime Practice for Merchant Marine Sailors” (New York, 1922) did not speak very enthusiastically about the direct knot. He wrote: “The reef, or straight, knot, as its name indicates, was used for tying reef seasons... This knot is used in many cases, although it can never be reliable enough if its running ends are not tacked. It should not be used for tying ropes for traction. This is a good unit for packing things, packages, etc.”

Unfortunately, many compilers of various manuals and manuals for riggers, builders, firefighters, rock climbers and mountain rescuers still recommend a straight knot for connecting two cables. Try to tie two nylon cables of “approximately the same thickness” with a straight knot and you will immediately see that even with not very strong traction, this knot does not hold, and if you accidentally pull on one of its running ends, it will certainly lead to tragedy.

And finally, finishing our discussion about the direct knot, we note that the most paradoxical thing here is that the ancient Romans called it a “female knot”, because it was "Hercules' knot" young Roman women tied the sashes of their tunics on their wedding night. The young husband had to untie this knot. And, according to legend, if he did it quickly, the bride was not in danger of infertility.

Rice. 25. Straight knot
A - the usual method of knitting; b - sea ​​knitting method;
V - weaving method of knitting; G - sea ​​way of untying

Thief's Knot(Fig. 26). At first glance, it is almost no different from a straight knot (see Fig. 25) and it seems that it is akin to it. But if you look closely, it becomes clear that the running ends of the thief's knot come out of it diagonally. The thief's knot, like the woman's and mother-in-law's knots, are shown for clarity, to emphasize their similarities and differences with the straight knot. It is not recommended to use these four knots, as they are unreliable for connecting two cables.

The origin of the name “thief's knot” is curious. It appeared on English warships at the beginning of the 17th century. The theft of royal property and the theft of personal belongings of sailors on British ships were considered commonplace. In those years, sailors on warships stored their simple belongings and food, mainly in the form of biscuits, in small canvas bags. Naturally, the bag cannot be locked, it can only be tied. As a rule, sailors tied their personal bags with a straight knot. The thieves, mostly recruits who were not yet accustomed to the starvation ship rations, having stolen other people's biscuits, could not correctly tie the knot with which the bag was tied. They knitted something similar - a knot that the sailors began to call a thief's knot. There is a second version about the origin of this name: to prove the act of theft from a bag, the owner deliberately tied a knot very similar to a straight one, and the thief, not paying attention to the catch, tied the robbed bag with a straight knot. But be that as it may, the origin of the node, as well as its name, are associated with the fleet.

Rice. 26. Thief's knot

Surgical knot(Fig. 27). As already described at the beginning of this book, knots have long been used for various purposes not only in maritime affairs, but also in medicine. They are still used by surgeons to tie ligature threads to stop bleeding and to stitch tissue and skin. Nowadays, medicine has not yet abandoned the use of nodes, and doctors skillfully use them. During abdominal operations, surgeons have to apply sutures made of catgut (a special material obtained from the mucous layer of the intestines of a ram or sheep), which resolves after 3-4 weeks. When tying, the catgut slips, and when making knots on it, surgeons use special clamps.

During microsurgical operations, doctors use extremely thin suture material - a synthetic thread 10-200 times thinner than a human hair. Such a thread can only be tied using special clamps under an operating microscope. These threads are used when stitching the walls of blood vessels, for example, when replanting fingers, or when stitching individual nerve fibers. Mainly used are woman's, straight, bleached, surgical knots and the so-called “constrictor” knot, which will be discussed later.

When tying a surgical knot, first make two half-knots one after the other with two ends, which are then pulled in different directions. Then another half-knot is tied on top, but in the other direction. The result is a knot very similar to a straight one. The principle of the knot is that the first two half-knots do not allow the two ends to move in different directions while another half-knot is knitted on top.

This knot is convenient to use when there is a need to tighten and tie some elastic bale or burden with a rope and the tightened first half of the knot on the rope, without letting go of its ends, has to be pressed with your knee.

Academic node(Fig. 28). It is very similar to a surgical knot, differing only in that instead of one second half-knot, it has two of them. It differs from its, so to speak, progenitor - the direct knot - in that the running end of the cable is wrapped around the running end of another cable twice, after which the running ends are led towards each other and wrapped around them twice again. In other words, there are two half-knots at the bottom and two half-knots at the top, but tied in the opposite direction. This gives the academic knot the advantage that when the load on the cable is high, it does not tighten as much as a straight knot and is easier to untie in the usual way.

Rice. 28. Academic node

Flat knot(Fig. 29). The name “flat knot” came into our maritime language from French. It was first introduced into his “Dictionary of Marine Terms” by the famous French shipbuilder Daniel Lascales in 1783. But the knot was, of course, known to sailors of all countries long before that. We don’t know what it was called before. It has long been considered one of the most reliable knots for tying cables of different thicknesses. They even tied anchor hemp ropes and mooring lines.

Having eight weaves, the flat knot never gets too tight, does not creep, and does not damage the cable, since it does not have sharp bends, and the load on the cables is distributed evenly over the knot. After removing the load on the cable, this knot is easy to untie.

The principle of a flat knot lies in its shape: it is really flat, and this makes it possible to select the cables connected with it on the drums of capstans and windlasses, on the lashes of which its shape does not interfere with the even placement of subsequent hoses.

In maritime practice, there are two options for tying this knot: a loose knot with its free running ends tacked to the main or half-bayonets at their ends (Fig. 29.a) and without such a tack when the knot is tightened (Fig. 29.b). A flat knot tied in the first way (in this form it is called “ Josephine knot") on two cables of different thicknesses almost does not change its shape even with very high traction and is easily untied when the load is removed. The second tying method is used for tying thinner cables than anchor and mooring ropes, and of the same or almost the same thickness. In this case, it is recommended to first tighten the tied flat knot by hand so that it does not twist during a sharp pull. After this, when a load is applied to the connected cable, the knot creeps and twists for some time, but when it stops, it holds firmly. It unties without much effort by shifting the loops covering the root ends.

As already mentioned, a flat knot has eight interlacing cables and it would seem that it can be tied in different ways - there are 2 8 = 256 different options for tying it. But practice shows that not every knot from this number, tied according to the principle of a flat knot (alternating intersection of opposite ends “under and over”), will hold securely. Ninety percent of them are unreliable, and some are even dangerous for tying ropes intended for heavy pulling. Its principle depends on changing the sequence of intersection of connected cables in a flat knot, and it is enough to change this sequence a little, and the knot acquires other - negative qualities.

In many textbooks and reference books on maritime practice, published in our country and abroad, the flat knot is depicted in different ways and in most cases incorrectly. This happens both due to the negligence of the authors and due to the fault of the graphs, which, when redrawing the diagram of a node from the author’s sketches in one color, cannot always make out whether the end goes above or below the other end. Here is given one of the best forms of a flat knot, tested and tested in practice. The author deliberately does not present other acceptable variants of this node so as not to distract the reader’s attention and not give him the opportunity to confuse the diagram of this node with any other. Before using this knot in practice for any important task, you must first remember its diagram exactly and connect the cables exactly according to it without any, even the most minor, deviations. Only in this case will the flat knot serve you faithfully and not let you down.

This marine knot is indispensable for tying two cables (even steel ones, on which significant force will be applied, for example, when pulling out a heavy truck stuck half a wheel in the mud with a tractor).

Rice. 29. Flat Knot:
a - first knitting method: b - second knitting method

Dagger knot(Fig. 30). In foreign rigging practice, this knot is considered one of the best knots for connecting two large-diameter plant cables. It is not very complex in its design and is quite compact when tightened.

It is most convenient to tie it if you first lay the running end of the cable in the form of a number “8” on top of the root end. After this, thread the extended running end of the second cable into the loops, passing it under the middle intersection of the figure eight, and bring it above the second intersection of the first cable. Next, the running end of the second cable must be passed under the root end of the first cable and inserted into the figure eight loop, as indicated by the arrow in the diagram in Fig. 30. When the knot is tightened. the two running ends of both cables stick out in different directions. The dagger knot is easy to untie if you loosen one of the outer loops.

Rice. 30. Dagger knot

“Herbal” knot(Fig. 31). Despite its name, this elementary unit is quite reliable and can withstand heavy loads. In addition, it can be easily untied in the absence of traction. The principle of the knot is half bayonets with other ends (Fig. 31, i). Sometimes we have to tie two belts or two ribbons, well, let's say, reins. For this purpose, the “grass” knot is very convenient (Fig. 31, b). It can be tied by slightly changing the “mother-in-law” knot (see Fig. 24) or starting with half bayonets, as shown in the diagram (see Fig. 31, A). When you tighten the “grass” knot by the root ends, the knot twists and takes on a different shape. When it is completely tightened, the two running ends point in the same direction.

Rice. 31. "Grass" knot:
a - the first method of knitting; b - second knitting method

Packet node(Fig. 32). Its name says , that it is convenient for tying bags and bundles. It is simple, original and designed for quick knitting. The packet knot is somewhat reminiscent of the grass knot. In terms of strength, it is not inferior to the latter.

Fisherman's knot(Fig. 33). In Russia, this node has long had three names - forest, fishing and English. In England it is called English, in America - river or waterway junction.

It is a combination of two simple knots tied with the running ends around the alien root ends. To tie two cables with a fisherman's knot, you need to put them towards each other and make a simple knot with one end, and pass the other end through its loop and around the root end of the other cable and also tie a simple knot. Then you need to move both loops towards each other so that they come together and tighten the knot. The fisherman's knot, despite its simplicity, can be safely used to tie two cables of approximately the same thickness. With strong traction, it is tightened so tightly that it is practically impossible to untie it. It is widely used by fishermen for tying fishing line (not synthetic) and for attaching leashes to fishing line.

Snake knot(Fig. 34). This knot is considered one of the most reliable knots for tying synthetic fishing gear. It has quite a lot of weave, is symmetrical and relatively compact when tightened. With a certain skill, you can even tie the strings of a piano with it. To do this, the place where the string is tied must be thoroughly degreased and coated with shellac.

The snake knot can be successfully used to tie two cables made of any materials when a strong, reliable connection is required.

weaving knot(Fig. 35). In weaving, there are about two dozen original knots for tying up broken threads of yarn and for connecting new spools. The main requirements imposed by the specifics of production on each weaving knot are the speed with which it can be tied, and the compactness of the knot, ensuring the free passage of the thread through the machine. Experienced weavers are truly virtuosos at tying their ingenious knots! They tie up a broken thread in just a second. They have to do this without stopping the machine. Almost all weaving knots are designed primarily for instant tying, so that in the event of a thread breakage, uninterrupted operation of the looms is ensured.

Some of the weaving knots are very similar to sea knots, but differ from the latter in the way they are tied. Several weaving knots have long been borrowed by sailors in their original form and serve them reliably.

The weaving knot shown in Fig. 35, can be called the “sibling” of the clew assembly. The only difference is in the method of tying it and in the fact that the latter is tied into a krengel or into a sail, while the weaving knot is knitted with two cables. The principle of the weaving knot is considered classic. Truly this is the epitome of reliability and simplicity.

Versatile knot(Fig. 36). This knot is similar to a weaving knot in its principle. The only difference is that in a tied knot the running ends point in different directions - this is very important when tying threads of yarn. It is not inferior to a weaver's knot in either simplicity or strength and is tied just as quickly. This knot is also known for the fact that on its basis you can tie the “king of knots” - the bower knot (see Fig. 76).

Rice. 36. Versatile knot

Polish knot(Fig. 37). It can be recommended for tying thin cables. It is widely used in weaving and is considered a reliable knot.

Rice. 37. Polish knot

Clew knot(Fig. 38). It got its name from the word “sheet - a tackle that is used to control the sail, stretching it by one lower corner if it is oblique, and at the same time by two if it is straight and suspended from the yard. The sheets are named after the sail to which they are attached. For example, the fore-sheet and main-sheet are the gear with which the lower sails are set - the foresail and mainsail, respectively. Mars-sheets serve to set topsails, jib-sheets pull back the clew angle of the jib, and fore-jib-sheets pull back the clew angle of the foresail, etc. In the sailing fleet, this knot was used when it was necessary to tie the tackle into the fire sails in the middle, such as topsail-foil-sheet.

The clew knot is simple and very easy to untie, but it fully justifies its purpose - it securely holds the clew in the sail's crest. Tightening tightly does not damage the cable.

The principle of this unit is that the thin running end passes under the main one and, when pulled, is pressed against it in a loop formed by a thicker cable. When using a clew, you should always remember that it holds securely only when traction is applied to the cable. This knot is knitted almost in the same way as a straight one, but its running end is passed not next to the main one, but under it.

The clew knot is best used for attaching a cable to a finished loop, krengel or thimble. It is not recommended to use a clew knot on a synthetic rope, as it slips and can break out of the loop. For greater reliability, the clew knot is knitted with a hose. In this case, it is similar to a clew knot; the difference is that its hose is made higher than the loop on the root part of the cable around the splash. The clew knot is a component of some types of woven fishing nets.

Rice. 38. Clew knot

Brake clew assembly(Fig. 39). Just like the clew knot, it got its name from the name of the gear - the top sheet, which is used to stretch the clew angles of the lower edge of a straight sail when setting the top sails. If a clew knot is used to tie single sheets of the lower sails, then a top-sheet knot is used to tie top-sheets and boom-sheets, top-halyards and boom-bram-halyards, as well as top-sheets.

A clew knot is more reliable than a clew knot because it does not immediately untie when the pull on the cable stops. It differs from a clew knot in that the loop (or krengel) is surrounded by the running end not once, but twice, and is also passed under the main end twice.

In the days of the sailing fleet, the top-sheet knot was widely used when working with gear. It was used when it was necessary to take some kind of gear into the fire, for example, top sheets and top sheets. Usually they were tied into the bram-halle and the topenant of the lower yards.

The clew knot is also reliable for tying two cables of different thicknesses. It holds well on synthetic cables of equal thickness.

Docker node(Fig. 40). In maritime practice, it often becomes necessary to attach a much thinner cable to a thick rope. There is always such a need when a ship is moored to a pier, when one or several mooring lines need to be supplied from the deck. There are several ways to attach the casting end to a mooring line that does not have a light, but the most common is to use a dock knot.

To tie this knot, the running end of the thick cable to which you intend to attach the thin cable must be folded in half. Insert a thin cable into the loop formed from below, make one run around the root part of the thick cable, pass it under the thin cable, then over the running end of the thick cable and, passing under three cables, insert it into the loop. The docker's knot is reliable enough to use the throwing end to pull (or lift onto the deck from the shore) a heavy mooring line, and it quickly unties. It is best used as a temporary knot.

Rice. 40. Docker node (bottom right - another version of the node)

Furrier's knot(Fig. 41). It seems strange that this wonderful knot, long known to furriers, has still remained unnoticed by sailors. His scheme speaks for itself. It is relatively simple, has sufficiently crossed ends and is compact (Fig. 41, A). In addition, the furrier's knot has an excellent property: designed for strong traction, it is tightly tightened, but also untied without much difficulty. This knot can be successfully used for tying synthetic cables and fishing lines. In Fig. 41, b the second method of knitting it is shown.

Rice. 41. Furrier's knot:
a - the first method of knitting; b - second knitting method

Liana knot(Fig. 42). This knot, although not widely used in the navy, is one of the original and reliable knots for tying cables. It is unique in that, with a very simple interweaving of each end separately, it holds tightly under very strong traction and, moreover, it is very easy to untie after removing the load on the cable - it is enough to move any of the loops along the corresponding root end and the knot immediately falls apart. It does not slip on synthetic fishing line and can be successfully used by anglers.

Rice. 42. Liana knot

Hunting knot(Fig. 43). The invention of a new unit by retired English doctor Edward Hunter in 1979 caused a kind of sensation in maritime circles in many countries. British patent experts, granting Huntsru a patent for his invention, recognized that the unit was truly new. Moreover, it holds perfectly on all lines, including the thinnest synthetic lines.

Essentially, a hunting knot is a successful interweaving of two simple knots tied at the ends of the cables. Dr. Hunter did not pursue the goal of inventing a new knot, but tied it completely by accident.

Since the surname Hunter means “hunter” in English, this node is named here hunting.

Rice. 43. Hunting knot

We looked at knots that are vital for any climber. As you remember, the very, very, very minimum that you need to know and be able to knit, even during the day, even at night, even blindfolded, is the figure eight knot. I’ll give two knitting patterns here again just in case.

We use the node whenever we need it:

• tie to a rope
• tie a carabiner to a rope
• get a reliable hinge for any need.

We also knit eight instead of any other nodes that you do not know very well.

Loop in the middle of the rope

As you can see, a figure eight can be tied at both ends of a rope, but what if you need a secure loop somewhere in the middle? As usual, if in doubt, just knit a figure eight, but due to the fact that in the middle of the rope the knot will work crosswise (i.e. the load will stretch it to the sides), it makes sense to tie a knot that is intended to work in the middle section and which tolerates lateral loads well.

This is a knot, also known as a middle knot, or a butterfly knot.

Knitting is so easy, you can teach it to a child. It is useful in the household, and in rock climbing (since we are talking about it) it is also useful: in addition to the aforementioned tying of the “middle”, this knot is used to isolate a section of the rope that has been broken (for example, by a stone).

How to tie a rope.
What else does a climber need to be able to do with a rope? Of course, tie it up. The reasons may be different, but, you see, the result should always be the same - a reliable connection of the two ends. Firstly, the figure eight is perfect for this (yes, that’s it, you can’t go anywhere without it), however, tied a little differently - the ends go towards each other.

Secondly, counter connectionl. The principle of tying is the same as the counter figure eight, but the initial knot will be a “conductor”.

And, third - As you can read in any manual on tying knots: a very beautiful knot, whose correctness is easy to control visually. Grapevine is very reliable and knits quickly and easily.

How to knit laces: straight, mother-in-law or woman's knot?

There is one knot that everyone knows, even those who are familiar with knots only from the “bow” on their shoelaces. Most of us, without even knowing it, use straight knot.

This is one of the oldest knots, and in addition to its usual name, it is known by the nickname “bloody”. The fact is that it has two modifications that significantly worsen the characteristics of the unit: creep, the ability to tighten strongly, and so on.
They are known as "woman's" and "mother-in-law" knots, and both of their half-knots are knitted in one direction, and not in the opposite direction, as in the "straight" one.

In truth, it cannot be used anywhere other than laces or irresponsible fixations: it was invented in the days of ropes made of natural materials, and on modern slippery synthetic cords it crawls even under load and requires the use of control knots at both ends.

That's all, in general, if he talks about the knots that a novice climber needs to know. In the future, of course, you may want to learn other weavings somehow, but the most important thing is to remember that practice and skill are everything, and as they say, you should be afraid of the one who performed one blow a thousand times than a thousand blows once.