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I’m A Frayed Knot: A Weeklong Columbus Day Lesson in String

October 11, 2010 By radmegan Leave a Comment

This week, in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. To commemorate the sheer act of sailing from Spain to the Caribbean America, I’d like to talk about knots. I’d bet that most people know how to make a square knot, a slipknot, and maybe a double knot, but beyond that, I’d guess that our collective knot-knowledge would have left us looking foolish and forlorn on the docks back in Spain. Sailors used dozens of knots on a daily basis. In fact, there are many present-day professions that regularly require a specific knot-knowhow. 


Maybe ten years ago, and on a whim, I purchased the Ashley Book of Knots, which boasts, “Every practical knot- what it looks like, who uses it, where it comes from, and how to tie it.” This book is fantastic. The kind of weighty tome you keep on the shelf and pull down to flip through when you are feeling under the weather.  

Today, I have illustrated a knot within the Occupational Knot chapter. The Handcuff Knot is one of several knots listed under the occupation of Burglar. I hope you will try it out (the knot, not burglary.) Happy Columbus Day. 
The Handcuff Knot

To quote Life of Pi by Yann Martel, “With a knife, I cut four segments. I tightly lashed the four oars where they met. Ah, to have had a practical education in knots!”
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Filed Under: Holiday Tagged With: burglar, Columbus, Handcuff, Holiday, knots, man crafts, Occupational knot, rope, sailors


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