Several articles posted in SurvivalBlog in the past year have mentioned various cordage, knot books, and knot tying. But as far as I know, nobody has actually demonstrated how to tie the ten most basic knots and how to use each one around the homestead. For those who can’t afford the books but would still like to learn, here are the ten most basic knots I use on a regular basis.
When I was a sprout my interest in knots began when my grandfather gave me a copy of the 1943 Boy Scout Handbook. There were three requirements to become a Tenderfoot and one of them was to become proficient in tying nine different knots, all of which were demonstrated in the book.
I later learned various specialty knots when I did some rock climbing way back when. Then about ten years ago I found a book on clearance that looked almost like a coffee table book: high quality, printed on slick paper with a sewn binding. From that book, The Encyclopedia of Knots and Ropework by Geoffrey Budworth, I learned some interesting specialty knots which I use, like making a carry handle for a jug, and the illustrations made it super simple to teach yourself the knots.
If you have kids or grandkids, teaching them to tie knots is a fun activity and a useful learning experience as well. My grandkids had a lot of fun last year and among other activities, learning to tie knots during their visit will be a memorable experience for them as the years pass. They spent most of their idle moments practicing knots and were so enthused I gave them my knot book when they left.
Knot Applications and Attaining Proficiency
Certain knots are used for specific purposes and once you know the basic ten, you’ll be surprised how often you’ll use them around the homestead and elsewhere. For me, a knot must be useful for a specific application, strong, and in most cases easy to untie but unable to come loose when applied to a given use.
In order to become proficient more quickly, knot tying must be practiced until it becomes muscle memory. You can practice whenever and wherever, watching television, with your morning coffee, etc. If you don’t miss any lines in the movie because you’re tying each knot without looking, you’ve arrived. In taking photos for this article, while tying the knots slowly and stopping to take progressive shots, it was actually harder on some because it’s pure muscle memory and harder to tie when stopping and thinking about it in steps.Continue reading“Using 10 Basic Knots – Part 1, by St. Funogas”
