Knots.

[Dan1982]

My Knot knowledge is pretty poor and i would like a good instructional book in order to improve. is there a particular book that stands out as being pretty idiot proof and easy to follow?

Cheers all!

 

[Matt Weir]

Dan,

There may be some good knot books about but I've failed to track them down but fortunately a google search will give you some links to sites that some folk have thankfully put a bit of time into and show step by step sequences for most knots you'll need.

 

[Toddy]

There's the *bible* , Ashley's book of knots (about £50) and still expensive second hand, but Des Pawson has written a couple of very, very clear ones.

The Tyers Guild has some excellent links though and there are an incredibly talented bunch of folks on the forum too.

I suppose though it really depends on what kind of knots you want to use; personally I always found it easier to learn a knot I *needed* rather than struggle through the various permutations of twisted ropes

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Ogri the trog]

Dan, if you're just getting into knots,
keep things simple and stick to the "online" guides -http://www.animatedknots.com/
the knot reference books are great but can lead to confusion in my experience.
Failing that, go back in time and pay attention in the Scouts for many years.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[scanker]

Good advice. There's quite a few good online resources. These are my knot bookmarks:

http://www.animatedknots.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake's_hitch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Knots
http://www.layhands.com/Knots/Knots_Hitches.htm
http://www.phlaunt.com/atwoodknives/16390018.php
http://www.ropeworks.biz/text/arch.html#ANIMATED
http://www.folsoms.net/knots/
http://www.leadertec.com/tipsandtechniques/knots_index.html
http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/knotlink.htm
http://stormdrane.blogspot.com/
http://www.netknots.com/html/outdoor_knots.html
http://www.realknots.com/knots/
http://www.isu.edu/outdoor/knots.htm
http://www.boondoggleman.com/prj_starting_square.htm
http://www.themodernapprentice.com/knot.htm
http://www.troop7.org/Knots/

They're not in any order. Some are to particular knots, others general pages. They should be a useful resource though. I like knots! I got the Ashley book last Christmas.

 

[Mang]

I can recommend The book of knots (catchy title! ) by Geoffery Budworth & Jason Dalton, by Ted Smart publishing. It has 200 knots in and the pics are very clear.

 

[Minotaur]

The Works have had a couple of good ones a while ago. The Ultimate Encyclopedia Of Knots And Ropework By Geoffrey Budworth is my current favorite.

The Ashley book is ok when you understand knots, as a beginer guide complete nightmare.

I would stick online, and then just practice.

Also if there is at least one book at Guttenberg, and a site called The Dump(Put the Dump+scouts into google) has loads of the Scout books, the old ones, so the good ones.

 

[sandbender]

There are many resources on the internet, this site provides very clear instructions for some of the more useful knots...

http://www.ozultimate.com/canyoning/knots/klemheist/

If you'd prefer a small booklet to have with you then Mors Kochanski's
'Top Seven Bush Knots and the Use of the Windlass' would be a good starter, available from here...

http://www.karamat.com/books.html

 

[Backyard Bushcraft]

the GEMS pocket guide to knots was good for me, just kept it with a piece of climbing cord in my bag or pocket and just looked at it where ever i got bored, i then wrote down all the knots i could tie on the back page and id read through it and "test" myself on them seeing if i could do them without the poicture guides the list is getting up to 60 now!!

 

[Boatswain]

As a Scout, sailor and member here I've always had an interest in knots, bends and hitches including trying to teach others, always in order of importance bowline, sheetbend and round turn and two half hitches these cover most of the important jobs. The hardest part of teaching someone to tie a knot is that unless they are switched on they cannot judge whether it is tied correctly, even if they have another example to compare it with. It's not impossible to learn from books, pictures but you'll have a bit more confidence the first time you rely on a knot if your previous attempts have been assessed.

Cheers

 

[harryhaller]

There's the *bible* , Ashley's book of knots (about £50) and still expensive second hand.

I've just got it for about 40 quid - and worth every penny. A work of love which is no mere list of knots but explains everything about them.

It took Ashley 11 years to produce and he did all the line drawings which are magnificient - as well as drawings of the tools which were used in the different trades using knots etc. etc.

A book to read chapter by chapter - do not think it is a mere reference book - it is a really fascinating read.

Absolutely right Toddy It is the "Bible"!