Comments on: Kneed a Knot Book

Question: Kneed a Knot Book

thewittyname — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 20:07:07 -0800

Any recommendations for a book on knots? [MI]

I'm a total idiot when it comes to 3D manipulation, so I need a book with lots of pictures/illustrations. I don't care if the book doesn't have a lot of knots, so long as the ones that are included are very well illustrated. Thanks in advance!

By: mzurer

mzurer — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 21:21:52 -0800

The Marlinspike Sailor is pretty cool - These are mostly decorative knots/functional rope appliances/splices, though, not so great for fastening one thing to another.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 21:23:49 -0800

I can recommend: "Nautical Knots and Lines Illustrated: The Essentials of Smart Line Handling, Knotting, and Splicing-In Color" by Arthur and Paul Snyder.

"This completely revised edition of the Snyders' classic Knots and Lines Illustrated teaches the 20 most useful knots and slices with step-by-step sequential photographs. "

By: cribcage

cribcage — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 21:29:36 -0800

The bible.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 21:36:00 -0800

The Boy Scouting Handbook. Really.

By: aedra

aedra — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 21:41:29 -0800

Here is a book list of quite a few different knot books. Have fun!

By: majcher

majcher — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 23:28:49 -0800

The Ashley Book Of Knots is the only book you will ever need.

By: Doohickie

Doohickie — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:30:48 -0800

Actually, don't buy the whole Boy Scout Handbook. Find a local Boy Scout Council HQ and buy their knot pamphlet. When my kids were in Scouts not so long ago, it costed a whole $.75. If you want it and can't find a Boy Scout Council near you, let me know since I live close to one. I'll pick it up and send it to you.

By: Doohickie

Doohickie — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:33:11 -0800

Oh, and here's a pretty good online knot tying guide from Troop 7 in Coral Gables, Florida.

By: Tarrama

Tarrama — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 02:50:32 -0800

I can't recommend a book but thought this site might help as it has animated knot tying.

By: zanni

zanni — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 03:49:29 -0800

I'm surprised no one mentioned the Klutz Book of Knots. Just the basics, but well-illustrated and described, and it even includes "rope." The pages of the book are thick board with the right holes to tie the knots being described on the page.

Underwhelming for sailors, but for a "total idiot," about right.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 09:53:13 -0800

Lee Valley has 'em, too:

All the Knots You Need and Ashley's.

By: baphomet

baphomet — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 10:36:27 -0800

I second ColdChef. You should be able to get a used one for a dime at any decent thrift store.

By: jimfl

jimfl — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 14:34:27 -0800

I am a big fan of Des Pawson's book.

By: IshmaelGraves

IshmaelGraves — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 22:25:43 -0800

Ashley's Book of Knots, as cribcage and fff have mentioned, is the authoritative resource. However, without know what you want this for, it's hard to be more specifc. I own the New Encyclopedia of Knots, by Derek Avery, which I think is very clear (the bitter and running ends are color-coded, among other things).

For what it's worth, if you're not concerned with fancy decorative knots, you only need to know a few:

bowline (variations, such as bowline on a bight, are also helpful)

clove hitch

round turn and two half hitches

sheet bend

zeppelin bend (some will recommend the Carrack bend; my former boss, an authority whose judgement I'm inclined to trust, considered it more decorative than practical, and less reliable than a zeppelin bend)

rolling hitch (this is underappreciated but quite useful)

reef knot, aka 'granny knot,' useless for anything important but useful for quick-to-tie and quick-to-untie situations

A simple eye splice and short splice won't do you wrong, either, and both are much easier than they appear

the constrictor knot — an Ashley invention, IIRC

I'm sure I've missed some.