There is a naughty/knotty pun here that I'm going to ignore....

November 20, 2005 8:16 AM

Alaska Museum of Fancy Knots
posted by anastasiav (17 comments total)

How to tie a Turk's Head Knot.

Detailed Turk's Head instructions.
posted by furtive at 8:49 AM on November 20, 2005

Thanks for the Museum link, now I have something to do on my Sunday.
posted by furtive at 8:49 AM on November 20, 2005

This. is a flogger, not a cat o' nine.
posted by Clay201 at 8:57 AM on November 20, 2005

Bleh. Let me try that again.

The second picture on this page is labelled "Cat O' Nine Tails" but is, in fact, a flogger.
posted by Clay201 at 9:15 AM on November 20, 2005

I love that their object for scale is a dime.
posted by tomplus2 at 9:18 AM on November 20, 2005

Arrr. This link be renderin' me Morrow Guide to Knots fit for consignment to Davy Jones' locker. Arrr.

(On the other hand, The Ashley Book of Knots claims to catalog over 3900 different kinds -- and it's got a snappy sailor on the cover!)

There is a naughty/knotty pun here that I'm going to ignore...
There's a knitting shop down the street from me that's cleverly named "knottygirl." Eesh.
posted by Opposite George at 9:28 AM on November 20, 2005

Thanks Clay201, if it weren't for you I would never have googled "flogger" and found this helpful page.
posted by 31d1 at 9:38 AM on November 20, 2005

I grew up with The Ashley Book of Knots and was compelled to buy it for my own several years after moving out. The drawings are simple and well done. I've used the rolling hitch camping, had a turk's head around my ankle in the late '60's and even learned to tie a bow tie out of it. Knots for all occasions.
posted by pointilist at 10:17 AM on November 20, 2005

I am a frayed knot.
posted by xod at 11:10 AM on November 20, 2005

Wow. Is it possible that the knot-tying community is overrepresented on the Internet?

I, for one, think not.

Any attempts to make a joke out that last statement will be met with death and destruction.
posted by gramschmidt at 11:11 AM on November 20, 2005

Knot alphabetical some of the animations are ok.
posted by hortense at 1:20 PM on November 20, 2005

I've tied a few of these myself. Similar to the Turk's head is the monkey's fist. I think the name is more more colorful. The fanciest I can do is the Chinese button knot.

For practical purposes you can do everything with a bowline and two half hitches (not counting the bowknot for your shoes).

Although if you need to be rescued by a helicopter or brought up from a well it would be right handy to know how to throw a spanish bowline around yourself. I could not find instructions online but I will say, it's all in the hips.

Weird, my old Sea Exploring Manual didn't have instructions either, just a picture... O, I love my Manual, just listen to the prose:

Bowline: This has been called the king of knots. Nothing can jam it. It will never slip if properly made. It can be tied in the hand and dropped over a cleat, bitt or piling or formed around a mooring ring...This is a knot you can both trust and be proud of.

I do and I am.
posted by Mr T at 1:58 PM on November 20, 2005

Animated knots
posted by rxreed at 2:49 PM on November 20, 2005

Do I want to know why anyone needs a flogger?
posted by Cranberry at 2:52 PM on November 20, 2005

Them's some gnarly gnots.

(knice link, man.)
posted by groundhog at 5:37 PM on November 20, 2005

My favorite knot is the Matthew Walker, which even has a neat story, although the star knot is very fun to tie. And the most useful knots I know are the trucker's hitch, for tying down loads, and the constrictor hitch, which is a great zip-tie replacement.
posted by hob at 6:36 PM on November 20, 2005

My favourite knot (well...one of my favourites) is the Highway Man's hitch. Great post anastasiav!
posted by dhruva at 9:25 PM on November 20, 2005