THE SOUTH AFRICAN PONY CLUB

SOUTH AFRICAN PONY CLUB

Knots Achievement BadgeWorkbook

Objectives:To be able to identify and tie 6 different types of knots from the following categories:

· Binding Knot:Reef/Square Knot

Granny Knot

Surgeon’s Knot

· Bend Knot:

Fisherman’s Knot

Sheet Bend

· Hitch Knot:

Clove Knot

Quick Release Knot/Highwayman’s Hitch

· Shortening Knot:Sheepshank Knot

· Stopper Knot:Figure 8/Flemish Knot

· Loop Knot:

Bowline Knot

· Knot a necktie:A Cravat (Ascot Knot)

A tie (Four-in-Hand Knot)

Helpful reading:There are many books and websites dedicated to the topic.

Information and step by step instructions or diagrams on how to tie these knots can be obtained from:

http://www.scoutingresources.org.uk

http://www.animatedknots.com

http://www.tieguide.com

NAME _____________________________________________

BRANCH ___________________________________________

Introduction to Knots

here was no single invention in the history of mankind that secured his survival with such certainty as that of the simple knot… Knots come in many shapes, sizes and forms and we use them every single day. Ropes, cords, and knots needed to secure them played an important role in the early technological development of humans.

From the beginning, man used knots to: ( Build shelters against the elements. ( Tie animal skins to his body for warmth. ( Construct a spear, bow, sling or bola weights to hunt. ( Make nets and harpoons to catch fish. ( Make baskets to collect and store fruit and root vegetables.( Construct rafts to cross rivers.( Harness his horses or oxen and secure his livestock. ( Calculate, using primitive numeric knotting devices (adding knots to rope).( Aid his memory (using calendars that work with a knot removal system).

Imagine our modern world without knots… Every single day we:Tie our shoes, scarves or neck ties, put bows on gifts, go sailing, knot carpets, catch fish, climb mountains, explore caves, train and handle animals, haul loads, weave baskets and furniture, rescue people in need (from surgeons doing operations to fireman rappelling down buildings), tow cars, train plants, make jewellery, secure postal items, make lace and materials, knit blankets, decorate and make clothing and furnishings, bind books, do our hair, prepare meat joints and make pastries or bread rolls.We are even entertained by knots, used in puzzles or by a magician doing magic tricks. Teachers also promote fine motor skills using knots.

A knot is a method of fastening or securing twine or rope by tying or interweaving. There is a large variety of knots (most ancient), each with properties that make it suitable for a range of tasks. Some knots are used to attach, some to bind or constrict objects and others just to decorate. Knot tying skills are passed on by sailors, scouts, climbers, cavers, arborists, rescue professionals, fishermen, jewellers, craftsmen, linemen (installing and maintaining electrical power or telephone cables) and surgeons.

All of the different knots in the world – 3,854 of them – have been described and illustrated in The Ashley Book of Knots. (It was first published in 1944. Over the years, many corrections have been made but only one knot, the Hunter's bend, was added in 1979.)

The Components of knot makingBightThis is any curved section or slack part between the ends of a rope.LoopA full circle formed by passing the working end over itself.ElbowTwo crossing points created by an extra twist in a loop.Standing endThe standing end is the longer end of the rope not involved in the knot, often shown as unfinished. It is often (but not always) the end of the rope under load after the knot is complete. For example, when a clove hitch ties a boat to a pier, the end going to the boat is the standing end.Working endThe active end of a line used in making the knot. May also be called the 'running end' or 'live end'.

Knots are grouped not only according to their use, but also their effectiveness…

Knot CategoriesBinding Knots:A binding knot is used to keep one or multiple objects together, using a string or a rope that passes at least once around the object/s.

( reef knot (square knot)( granny knot

( surgeons knot

Bend Knots:A bend knot is a knot used to join two lengths of rope.

Although the reef knot can be used in this way, it is insecure when used as a bend knot and so is not classed as one.

( fishermen’s knot( sheet bend

Hitch Knots:This type of knot used for binding rope to an object.

( clove hitch( highwayman’s hitch (quick-release knot)

Shortening Knots:This knot is used to shorten a rope or take up slack. This knot is not stable. It will fall apart under too much load or too little load.( sheepshank

Stopper Knots:This type of knot is tied at the end of a rope to prevent the end from unravelling, slipping through another knot, or passing back through a hole or rappel device. ( figure 8 (flemish knot) -

Loop Knots:This type of knot is used to form a fixed loop in the end of the rope. ( bowline Reef knot (square knot)A reef knot is formed by tying "right over left; left over right,... makes a knot both tidy and tight". (Please note: A failed reef knot makes a Granny knot. Named by sailors, going back to 1803, the knot was so-called because it is "the natural knot tied by women or landsmen" (Smyth, "Sailor's Word Book" 1867). Failed reef knots have caused countless accidents. The working ends of the reef knot must also emerge both at the top or both at the bottom, otherwise a thief knot results.)

The reef knot is between 4,000 and 9,000 years old. The name dates from at least 1794 and originates from its common use to ‘reef’ sails, that is to tie part of the sail down to decrease its surface area in strong winds. In addition to being used by sailors it has also been used since ancient times to tie belts and sashes in martial arts and is also one of the key knots of macramé textiles. The knot lies flat when made with cloth and has been used for tying bandages for millennia. It was known to the ancient Greeks as the Hercules knot and is still used extensively in medicine.

Surgeons KnotThe surgeons knot resembles a reef knot in which the first knot has two turns. It is used by surgeons for tying ligatures and the like. This knot saves countless lives on a daily basis.

Fisherman’s knotthe fisherman's knot is a bend (a knot for joining two lines with a symmetrical structure) consisting of two overhand knots, each tied around the standing part of theother. Though the fisherman's knot is associated with fishing, it is versatile and used in search and rescue, mountaineering, climbing, boating, with horses and livestock, camping, scouting and jewellery making. It is compact, jams when tightened and the working ends can be cropped very close to the knot. It can be easily tied with cold, wet hands and can also be created by using the two working ends of the same rope.

Sheet bendThis is the classic bend and very effective in bindinglines of different diameter or rigidity securely together. It is very fast to tie, and is considered so essential it is knot №1 in the Ashley Book of Knots.

Netting and webbing produced for many different applications are made up of sheet bends.

Notice that, for maximum strength and in order to be most secure, the two free ends should end up on the same side of the knot.

Clove HitchThe clove hitch is often considered one of the more important knots. It consists of two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot.

This knot is particularly useful where the length of the running end needs to be adjustable, since feeding in rope from either direction will loosen the knot to be tightened at a new position.

In modern climbing rope, the clove hitch will slip to a point, and stop. With smaller diameter cords, after being heavily weighted it may become difficult to untie. It is also unreliable when used on a square or rectangular post, rather than round.

Quick-release Knot (Highwayman's hitch) This is a quick-release draw loop knot used for temporarily securing a rope that will need to be released easily and cleanly. The hitch can be untied with a tug of the working end.

Essentially this knot is a clever combination of bights and is rather easy and fun to tie! This knot is often used to tie up cattle or horses. The Pony Club teaches this knot as part of the Efficiency syllabus. It is also very useful as a quick-release mooring hitch for solo sailing.

Put the loose end of the rope through the breakable string. Make sure the string isn't too thick and that it will break under pressure. Make an 'A' shape in the rope by creating a loop with the left hand and put the loose end across the top piece of rope. Make a loop with the right hand, pass it underneath the rope and through the first loop you made. Pull it tight. You might want to ensure that the pony can't tug at the loose end of the knot and release itself.

The Sheepshank The Sheepshank can be used to shorten any rope to any required length without cutting. It is easy to tie, holds under constant tension with good jamming action, does not change its shape, and unties easily. In an emergency a Sheepshank can be used to shorten a damaged line or rope, take care to ensure that the damaged or weakened section of the rope passes through both half hitches.

A sheepshank knot may be constructed as follows:

Pull a section of rope back and lay it alongside the rope, so that the rope forms a Z approximately 20 cm long. Flatten the Z so that there are 3 sections of rope lying alongside each other, with two U-bends where the rope reverses direction. At each U-bend, grasp the U-bend in one hand, thus holding two of the rope sections. With the other hand form a small loop in the remaining section and draw it over the U-bend so that the loop forms a half hitch and stays there if the free end of the rope is pulled taut. Make sure that the two U- bends are of equal size.

Sheepshank knots are typically used for securing loads to trucks or trailers, and in sailing applications. The sheepshank was developed before the use of modern "slippery" synthetic ropes. The Sheepshank U-bend can be secured with a toggle.

Figure-eight knot (Flemish knot)The figure 8 provides a quick and convenient stopper knot that is very important in both sailing and rock climbing. It’s an effective method of stopping ropes from running out of retaining devices, or sliding out of sight, e.g. up inside the mast. Its virtue is that, even after it has been jammed tightly against a block, it doesn't bind; it can be undone easily and does not have to be cut.

The Bowline

A bowline never jams or slips if properly tied. It is a universal knot that is easily tied and untied. Two interlocking bowlines can be used to join two ropes; single bowlines can be used for hoisting or hitching directly around a ring or post.

Under load, it does not slip or bind. With no load it can be untied easily. Its principal shortcoming is that it cannot be tied, or untied, when there is a load on the standing end. It should therefore be avoided when, for example, a mooring line may have to be released under load.

Form a small loop leaving enough rope for the desired loop size.Pass the end of the rope through the loop as though making an overhand knot. Continue around the standing end and then back through the small loop. Pull tight.

Tying a Cravat (Ascot Knot)

The cravat is a neckband, the forerunner of the modern tailored necktie and bow tie, originating from 17th-century Croatia. Cravats are still used today in the more formal Equestrian sport, Dressage.

From the end of the 16th century, the term band applied to any long-strip neck cloth made without any ruffles, frills or lace. A band could be either a plain, attached shirt collar or a detachable "falling band" that draped over the doublet collar. It is possible that cravats were initially worn to hide shirts which were not immaculately clean.

To obtain an ascot knot, take end A and wrap it around B. Pass end A through the loop and pull it. At this point A is folded. Pass the extremity of end B through the ring just formed. The knot is tightened and the ends are crossed one above the other and closed by a tiepin. A tie for a morning coat was always made of silk.

Knotting a tie (Four-in-hand Knot)

There are many necktie knot variations. Illustrated here is the four-in-hand knot. It has been around since 1850. Other modern knots can be quite artistic and inventive in their appearance.

Neckties are generally ‘one size fits all’, but may be available in a longer length. Men often wear neckties as part of regular office attire or formal wear. It can also be worn as part of a uniform (e.g. military, school and wait staff), whereas some choose to wear them as everyday clothing attire.

The use of coloured and patterned neckties can also indicate the wearer's membership in a club, as with the Pony Club tie in purple, blue and gold.Traditionally, ties are worn with the top shirt button fastened, and the tie knot resting comfortably between the collar points.

Questions:

1. Name two types of binding knot?____________________________________________

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2. Which type of knot is used in the production of nets and webbing?__________________

3. Are the following statements true or false?

The sheet bend is effective if the 2 lines used are of different diameter. True/False

The reef knot is unsafe when used as a bend knot. True/False

The figure 8 knot was also known as the Hercules knot during the middle ages. True/False

In an emergency, the sheepshank can be used to shorten a damaged rope. True/False

A highwayman’s hitch consists of a clever combination of bights. True/False

Knot tying is passed on by several lifesaving professions. True/False

4. Name three knots used in sailing?___________________________________________

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5. What the difference between a reef knot and a granny knot?______________________

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6. Name ways in which knots help you every day?

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7. How did knots help our ancestors survive?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Draw: 3 steps of tying a bowline knot.

a. b. c.

x

(

x

(

Knots Achievement Badge Workbook

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