Jamcleat

In 1944, Clifford W. Ashley published a book of knots — The Ashley Book of Knots – Every Practical Knot – what it looks like, who uses it, where it comes from, and how to tie it (With 7000 drawings representing over 3900 knots). Ashley died in 1947. The book is still in publication. Considered the “Bible” of knots, The Ashley book of Knots counts 3854 knots or illustrations of knots with some duplicates and double counting and also some “this pattern can be repeated x, y, or any multple of whatever” to make a variation. If you like knots, you already have it. If you get it and read it you cannot help but be drawn in. Just as an example, the sheet bend or weaver’s knot when tied in a rope is tied by making an overhand loop around the standing part of the other rope. The bitter end is taken around the standing part of the the part with the loop and back through the loop (1). A one-handed method is also shown (2). Another method is shown in Chapter 33 “Tricks and Puzzles” as 2642 “Tying a sheet bend to a short end”. So how many knots in Ashley? And what of tying them all?

My writing this begins in the the middle of a story. To try something vaguely nautical, I started to make some flat knots to see how they turn out. I made a number of glass-coasters and table-hot-pads from various sizes of rope. Recognizing that many jewelry patterns have the characteristics of knots, I began to work out some knots in wire. I was surprised at how much material went in to each knot whether wire, string, or rope. Ashley does not discuss this question, probably figuring that it will come with experience. But I went to the Lowe’s store to buy some rope to make a mat and thought 25 feet will be enough. There was a loose piece of rope in the “(Special assistance needed in the..)Rope (cutting) Area” and I thought that I might get 31 feet for the price of 25 if I asked but the guy that came was going to cut off the 6 feet rather than mark it down. I paid for the 31 which was a good thing. The mat took about 27 feet. With the left over piece, I tied a minimal turks-head thing which ended up with nothing left over. The knot in the logo in the upper left is about 4 feet of 5 mm braided nylon.

So, how do you estimate the “length” of a knot? One way is to actually tie the knot and measure it. I tried that with a number of knots with these results.

necklace	I made a necklace for my daughter I used nylon braided cord from Half-Moon Outfitters. This is a cord which would be used for replacement drawstring in a ditty-bag or sleeping bag, or just for tying stuff together. It is reasonably priced and comes in a variety of sizes. I used 3 mm. for this project. The project is based on an idea from Ashley #657. He suggests that a necklace can be made by combining several knots. Using a #600 Chinese button knot as the starting point, I tied 2 #808 Chinese Crown knots. Next I put in a #2252 Basket-weave knot. This is a flat knot and I made it 4 lobes by 5 lobes. As Ashley notes, the ends would exit on the corners on one of the edges. By doubling the knot back on itself, It adds to the size and texture and both ends come out of the same corner. This knot probably used 2 to 2-and-a-half feet by itself. A couple more Crown knots and one more tied on the bight. I used a #800 Matthew Walker to finish off and hide the ends. Altogether there are about 14 feet of cord in this necklace.
Ashley 620	If you are not familiar with Ashley’s method of drawing a table tied knot he describes it in detail on page 102 of his book. The basic idea is that you have a board with a hole in it. The line comes up through the hole at the point marked with the arrow-feather in the diagram. In this diagram it is a bit to the right of the arrow-head but is not as clear as in most of the diagrams.The line is led around the pattern, using pins to hold it it place as needed. When you get back to a crossing point, if there is NO circle, then cross over. If there is a circle, cross under. When you get to the end, the arrow-head is tucked back through the hole in the board. Note too that a line passes between the entry and exit back through the board Now you carefully draw the knot up.
The knot board. The pattern here is on 1/4 sheet of letter paper. Ashley 620 tied in 3-16th nylon braid	This knot is the first that I tied flat and then pulled up. While the pattern is a number of interlocking figure-of-eight patterns, drawing it up evenly is really quite a challenge. My first attempt was with a twisted nylon line of light weight. While it was easy to pin to the board and get the figure right, drawing it up was just not working and I ended up untangling it and starting over with a thicker cord. The specks on the picture are the pinholes.For my second attempt, I used a braided 3/16 inch nylon. The braided cord had the advantage of not untwisting and staying together as I drew up the knot. Draw from the outside all of the way to the center (arrow-head and arrow-feather). Take it slow and things will turn out link this.