Category: Knots

Chinese button knot
tightened Chinese button knot
Category	Decorative
Category 2	Stopper
Related	diamond knot, Celtic button knot
Typical use	clothing button
ABoK	#599

The Chinese button knot is essentially a knife lanyard knot where the lanyard loop is shortened to a minimum, i.e. tightened to the knot itself. There emerges therefore only two lines next to each other from the knot: the beginning and the end. The knot is commonly used as a button on underwear and night clothes in China, as they are more durable than harder buttons, and more comfortable to rest against.^[1]

The basic chinese button knot (ABOK #599 on one string) is usually tied with a carrick bend that attaches the two ends as a first step. This results then in a knife lanyard knot (ABOK #787) where the loop part can be sized and used as a button hole, while the knot part can be used as a button.

• 
  Tying starts with a diagonal carrick bend (two colors for clarity)
• 
  Ends continue around and over the standing part on the other side
• 
  Ends under the knot and up through the middle hole together
• 
  Tightened to a spherical basket weave, ends opposite standing parts

Below is the ABOK description, and several video demonstration references: ^[2][3][4]

To tie the button: Take a piece of banding about three feet long, middle it, and lay it across the left hand as pictured. Take the end from the back of the hand and make a right turn around the tip of the left thumb. Bend the left thumb and hold the turn against the standing part of the cord. Take the left end and tuck it to the right, under the first end and then to the left under the upper center part of the knot. The knot should now have a regular over-one-and under-one sequence throughout.
Still keeping the knot in hand, tuck both ends under the rim and up through the center compartment of the knot as pictured in the
third diagram.
Remove the knot from the hand, turn it completely over, and allow the two ends to hang down between the two middle fingers of the left hand as drawn in the fifth diagram. Work out the surplus material of the loop without distorting the knot and arrange it…

There is however a tying method that does not require a carrick bend, rather a slip knot as a first step, and does not produce a lanyard loop that needs to be reduced when used as a button. This method provides just the button, a spherical basket weave knot, in the style of Turk’s head knot.

• 
  Starting with a slip knot with the slip end at top right.
• 
  The slip end over the left side up and through slip for 2 symmetrically interwoven slips.
• 
  One of the ends continues to bend and is pushed down the nearest triangular hole at center
• 
  The other end continues to bend and is pushed down the other triangular hole at center
• 
  The resulting flat flower has 4 symmetric petals and two stems
• 
  Tightening like an umbrella (not like a wine glass), and pulling the middle out
• 
  With the middle point at top, it becomes a 9 bulge sphere.

A third way to tie this knot ^[5] starts with two loops almost like tying the celtic button knot, except for the curvature change at the center which results in the way the ends exit the knot; at opposite sides for celtic, at the same side here.

• 
  one overhand loop
• 
  another partially overlapping underhand loop behind
• 
  third loop bends back an weaves
• 
  fourth loop completes the symmetry
• 
  the middle point at top pulled out
• 
  tightened to a 9 bulge sphere

The resulting knot in both tying methods (slip-knot method and two-loops or WhyKnot method) is ABOK #600 which is similar to knife lanyard knot but the loop part is reduced to the top center bulge on its surface.

“The top center part of the present knot has retreated from the surface. This should now be forcibly pricked to the surface and the surrounding parts tightened to hold it in place. This is the final form of the common chinese button knot. By counting it will be found that the knot has 9 surface parts.”

Which triangular hole at the S formed/back bent top center each end is tucked through in both tying methods makes a difference:

• tucking through the one at near side of the center as indicated by red lines in this image gives ABOK #600 the 8 part knot, of which the common chinese button knot is a version with a 9th surface part,
• tucking through the one at opposite side as indicated by red lines in this image gives ABOK #787 the knife lanyard knot but with a retreated loop.

• 
  Chinese button knot Doubled ABOK #601 flat, with one end from outside all the way
• 
  Chinese button knot Doubled ABOK #601 flat, with one end from outside all the way, ends passing each other before reversing
• 
  Chinese button knot Doubled ABOK #603 flat, with each end from following from outside
• 
  Chinese button knot Doubled ABOK #601 tightened version

• Tangzhuang, a jacket which often incorporates knotted buttons

Shroud knot
Category	Bend
Typical use	joining two ends of rope
Caveat	less secure than a full splice
ABoK	1565

The shroud knot is a multi-strand bend knot used to join two ends of laid (or twisted) rope together.

Shroud knots, in general, are a class of knots in which the individual strands of laid rope are knotted, but not woven, to the individual strands of another laid rope. This makes them more secure than a simple bend but less secure than a full splice; however, they use less rope than a full splice would. The most common form of shroud knot involves two interlocking wall knots.^[1]

The name “shroud knot” refers to the shrouds connected to a ship’s mast.^[2] If a shroud was shot through, the shroud knot provided a way to quickly repair it using minimal rope. As modern ships now use steel cable for the most part, the knots are now more often used decoratively than functionally.^[1]

• List of bend knots
• List of knots

Shoelace knot
Names	Shoelace knot, Bow
Category	Binding
Category 2	Loop
Related	Reef knot
Releasing	Non-jamming
Typical use	Tying shoelaces, bow ties, decorative bows
ABoK	#1212, #2403, #2404, #2411

The shoelace knot, or bow knot, is commonly used for tying shoelaces and bow ties.

The shoelace knot is a doubly slipped reef knot formed by joining the ends of whatever is being tied with a half hitch, folding each of the exposed ends into a loop (bight) and joining the loops with a second half hitch. The size of the loops and the length of the exposed ends are adjusted when the knot is tied. It has the stability of the reef knot but is significantly easier to untie, simply by pulling the ends away from the center of the knot.

The loops are sometimes referred to as “bunny ears”, especially when the knot is taught to children.

There are several ways to tie a shoelace knot; each starts with the tying of a half hitch, and requires attention or some habitual mechanism for arriving at a knot that is an elaboration of the reef (or square) knot rather than of the granny (or lubber’s) knot. If the bow is horizontal across the opening the bow is correctly and securely tied, but if vertical is likely to slip. One approach is to start by taking, in each hand, the end of the lace that emerges from the uppermost eyelet on that hand’s side of the shoe; then passing the dominant hand’s end under the other end, from front toward back, and dropping each lace on the opposite side from where it started; and in the finishing step again grasping the lace on each side with the hand on that side (perhaps taking time to note that because each end crossed over the shoe before, the laces have switched hands – or vice versa, the hands have switched laces) and again passing the dominant hand’s end under the other end, from front toward back.

• The simplest approach to describe is to also form a loop by bending each lace end back toward the closest part of the same lace, then join the two loops in another half hitch, in the second passing-back-under described before these bullet points.
• Another common procedure (especially for bow ties)^[1] is to form a loop at one of the ends of the initial half-hitch, and circle it with the other end, which is simultaneously folded into a second loop that is then pushed through the knot.
• The quickest approach is said to be one involving making one loop between the thumb and forefinger of each hand, and pulling each loop through the other; speed probably requires acquisition of muscle memory via repetition that is guided by a sequence of images.^[2]

The corset bow

Just as it is possible to stack a number of half hitches to create a longer knot – remembering the reverse direction each time – which is equivalent to tying one reef knot on top of another, so bows which need to reduce long lengths, such as corset tapes, can be tied on top of each other, slipping every other layer.

• How to tie a shoelace bow at Animated Knots.

Chain sinnet
Names	Chain sinnet, chain sennit, chain shortening, chain stitch, chain braid, caterpillar sinnet, crochet stitch, daisy chain, monkey braid, single trumpet cord, single bugle cord
Releasing	Non-jamming
Typical use	Shortening rope or cable for use or stowing
ABoK	#1144, #1145, #2868
Instructions

A chain sinnet (or chain sennit) is a method of shortening a rope or other cable while in use or for storage. It is formed by making a series of simple crochet-like stitches in the line.^[1] It can also reduce tangling while a rope is being washed in a washing machine.

To tie:

1. Create a loop in the rope. Then pull a bight of the working part through the loop, creating an overhand noose knot.
2. Pull another bight of the working part through the loop of the previous stitch.
3. Tighten the stitch to the desired degree by pulling on both sides of the loop. Adjust the loop by pulling on the working end to keep it a reasonable size.
4. Repeat steps 2–3 until the rope has been sufficiently shortened.
5. To lock the sinnet, pass the working end through the final loop.

To restore the rope to its original length, pull the end passed in the last step back through the final loop and pull on the free end. The sinnet will quickly unravel.

As an alternative for long ropes the rope can be doubled one or more times before chaining. All one needs to do is keep hold of one end and feed throughout of the pile of rope to the other end, then start from the two conjoined ends, or then keep hold of the two ends, and feed back to the middle and then start chaining. This can be done in confined spaces or dangling in mid-air if need be, and is a common way to manage caving ropes without introducing troublesome twist.

• List of knots
• Chain stitch
• Coil knot
• Daisy chain
• Sennit
• Sling (climbing equipment)

• Chain stitch with animation
• Boater’s Tip: The Chain Sinnet (‘Daisy Chain’) Knot

Sheet bend
Names	Sheet bend, Weaver’s knot, weaver’s hitch
Category	Bend
Efficiency	48%–58%
Related	Bowline
Typical use	Joining two ropes of different diameters
ABoK	Simple: #1, #66, #1431; Double: #488, #1434; Weaver’s: #2

The sheet bend (also known as weaver’s knot and weaver’s hitch) is a bend knot. It is practical for joining lines of different diameter or rigidity.

It is quick and easy to tie, and is considered so essential it is the first knot given in the Ashley Book of Knots.^[1] Additionally, it is one of the six knots given in the International Guild of Knot Tyers‘ Six Knot Challenge, along with the clove hitch, bowline, reef knot (square knot), round turn and two half-hitches, and sheepshank.

The sheet bend is related in structure to the bowline; like the bowline, it has a tendency to work loose when not under load. For increased security, it is sometimes recommended that one add another turn in the smaller end, making a double sheet bend; in most cases, however, a single sheet bend should suffice. The becket hitch is another structurally similar knot.

As a bend, its advantages lie in its simplicity and non-jamming properties.

It is commonly taught in Scouting.

A sheet is a line used to trim sails. A bend is a knot used to join the ends of two lines. The “sheet bend” is mentioned in David Steel’s 1794 book Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship but was used by Neolithic peoples for tying the meshes of fishing nets.^[2] The name “weaver’s knot” comes from its historic use in textile mills. Even in modern operations, weavers are taught to use this particular knot when correcting broken threads in the warp.

The sheet bend may be tied by various methods: the basic “rabbit through the hole” method of forming a half hitch in the bight of the larger rope, by a more expedient method shown in Ashley as ABoK #1431 (similar to the method used by an experienced sailor or mountaineer to tie a bowline) or by a trick method (ABoK#2562), involving upsetting a noose knot over a short end of the “larger” rope. Lines of equal size may be joined with a sheet bend, but when one is larger, it plays the simpler role of the “eye” (red line shown in the infobox), rather than the half-hitch (in green)

One type of weaver’s knot is topologically equivalent to a sheet bend, but is tied (usually in smaller stuff) with a different approach. Sheet bends are also used for netting.

The Ashley Book of Knots states that a left-hand sheet bend (where the two free ends are on opposite sides of the knot) is inferior to the regular sheet bend.^[3]
More recent testing on the left-hand bowline has shown that there is little difference in strength between it and the regular bowline.^[4] While that research does not directly address bends, but since a bowline is a sheet bend on a bight, it does suggest that it is plausible that there is little difference in strength between the left-hand sheet bend and regular sheet bend.

• 
  Sheet bend
• 
  Left-hand sheet bend

When lines are of unequal diameter or rigidity it is necessary for security to “double” the sheet bend by making an additional round turn below the first and again bringing the working end back under itself. The free ends should end up on the same side of the knot for maximum strength.

• 
  The double sheet bend

A study of 8 different bends using climbing rope of equal diameter said the sheet bend was weak. In one test, it pulled apart with less than half the tension that other knots withstood. The authors recommend “2 half hitches on the bend back line and overhand knot on turn thru line.” Even with these, it was always a bottom performer and the double sheet bend did little better. However, the butterfly bend did the best.^[5]

After performing security testing, Ashley wrote with regard to the Sheet Bend: “Some readers may be surprised to find the Sheet Bend with so low a rating, but these tests were made in exceptionally slippery material. The Sheet Bend is the most practical of bends and quite secure enough for ordinary purposes.”

• List of bend knots
• List of knots

Celtic knots (Irish: snaidhm Cheilteach, Welsh: cwlwm Celtaidd, Cornish: kolm Keltek, Scottish Gaelic: snaidhm Ceilteach) are a variety of knots and stylized graphical representations of knots used for decoration, used extensively in the Celtic and Northumbrian styles of Insular art. These knots are most known for their adaptation for use in the ornamentation of Christian monuments and manuscripts, such as the 8th-century St. Teilo Gospels, the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels. Most are endless knots, and many are varieties of basket weave knots.

The use of interlace patterns had its origins in the late Roman Empire.^[1] Knot patterns first appeared in the third and fourth centuries AD and can be seen in Roman floor mosaics of that time. Interesting developments in the artistic use of interlaced knot patterns are found in Byzantine architecture and book illumination, Coptic art, Celtic art, Islamic art, Kievan Rus’ book illumination, Ethiopian art, and European architecture and book illumination.

Spirals, step patterns, and key patterns are dominant motifs in Celtic art before the Christian influence on the Celts, which began around 450. These designs found their way into early Christian manuscripts and artwork with the addition of depictions from life, such as animals, plants and even humans. In the beginning, the patterns were intricate interwoven cords, called plaits, which can also be found in other areas of Europe, such as Italy, in the 6th century. A fragment of a Gospel Book, now in the Durham Cathedral library and created in northern Britain in the 7th century, contains the earliest example of true knotted designs in the Celtic manner.

Examples of plait work (featuring designs of woven, unbroken cord) predate knotwork designs in several cultures around the world,^[2] but the broken and reconnected plait work that is characteristic of true knotwork began in northern Italy and southern Gaul and spread to Ireland by the 7th century.^[3] The style is most commonly associated with the Celtic lands and England (particularly the Kingdom of Northumbria) and was then exported to Europe by Irish and Northumbrian monastic activities on the continent. J. Romilly Allen has identified “eight elementary knots which form the basis of nearly all the interlaced patterns in Celtic decorative art”.^[4][5]

The Celtic knot as a tattoo design became popular in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.^[6]

• Make Your Own Celtic Knotwork Comprehensive list of links to both knotwork tutorials and different variations of Celtic Knots.
• Celtic Interlace – An Overview by Stephen Walker, reproduced with permission from Dalriada Magazine, 2000
• Font with Zoomorphic (animal) ornaments GPL Font and generator project
• Celtic Knot Generator Online Celtic knot designer that uses the Knots typeface.

Sheepshank
An unloaded sheepshank tied in nylon rope
Category	Shortening
Origin	1627[1]
Related	Catshank, Dogshank, Bell-ringer’s knot
Releasing	Non-jamming
Typical use	Provides loops, shortens or removes slack from a rope, bypasses a frayed section of rope
Caveat	Spills if not under tension
ABoK	#1152, #1153, #1154, #1158, #1159, #1160
Instructions

A shank is a type of knot that is used to shorten a rope or take up slack, such as the sheepshank. The sheepshank knot is not stable. It will fall apart under too much load or too little load.

The knot has several features which allow a rope to be shortened:

• It provides two loops, one at each end of the knot which can be used to pass another rope through
• The knot remains somewhat secure under tension; the coarser the rope the more secure it is (see Disadvantages, below)
• The knot falls apart easily when tension is removed

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.

Many people draw the small loop over facing the wrong way at least half of the time. Instead, make with the U a half-hitch around the other part, by tucking through, then pull the U straight.

• Repeat at the other U-bend.

An alternative method for quickly constructing a sheepshank is as follows:

• Create a simple loop in the rope, so that the (left) leading end is on top of the (right) trailing end of the loop.
• Repeat this process further down the rope to create 3 total loops that overlap slightly (similar to a venn diagram with three circles).
• Reach through the outer two loops and grab either side of the middle loop and pull outward while also keeping the rest of the rope slightly taut.
• Once the middle loop is pulled through the outer loops, pull on the free ends of the rope to secure.

The result is a flattened loop which is held at each end by a half hitch. If the sides of the flattened loop are pulled away from each other, the flattened loop ends pull out of the half hitches and the knot falls apart, but if the free ends
are pulled taut then the knot remains secure.

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. Constructed from such ropes, under load, it can fail. It is strongly advised that an alternative knot be used.

• Project Gutenberg (September 21, 2004). The Project Gutenberg eBook, Knots, Splices and Rope Work, by A. Hyatt Verrill. Retrieved November 6, 2005. The Dogshank is shown in Figure 82.
• Chiang Kai Shek College (September 13, 2005). Basic Knots. Retrieved November 6, 2005. Section 8 contains a description of the Dogshank.

• Coil knot
• List of knots
• Lead shank

• Sheepshank & Variants
• Boatsafe.com
• Project Gutenberg (September 21, 2004). The Project Gutenberg eBook, Knots, Splices and Rope Work, by A. Hyatt Verrill. Retrieved November 6, 2005. Though the name’s a little different, the Sheepshank described above is shown in Figure 79.
• Scouting Resources. Sheepshank. Retrieved December 11, 2006. Shows diagrams with accompanying text.

Celtic button knot
Celtic button knot double pass version, both flat and tightened
Category	Stopper
Category 2	Decorative
Related	diamond knot, Chinese button knot
ABoK	#545

A Celtic button knot is a stopper knot on a single rope that results in a spherical decorative knot with hair braid / basket weave pattern.^[1] It is essentially a single strand Turk’s Head Knot that is structured such a way that it is effectively tied around the rope itself, creating a stopper. It typically is used as a button, or as a knot securing the end of the rope from fraying.

There are 4 main steps to tying the Celtic knot:

1. two consecutive overhand loops, the last one placed partially over the first forming two petals of a four petal flower
2. left end woven from right horizontally through the loops; over, under, over, under forming the third petal
3. left end woven again from left: over the edge, under, under, over and up through the central hole finishing the four petal flower
   1. optional: pushing the end again into the knot following the main part consistently on the inside. This may be repeated to give volume to the knot
4. tightening evenly to close the petals of the flower forming a sphere around the main part

• 
  Step one of tying a Celtic Button knot is a simple loop
• 
  Step two of tying a Celtic Button knot is another loop
• 
  Step three of tying a Celtic Button knot end woven into loops
• 
  Step four: the end goes over the edge line, and under until the middle
• 
  Optional second pass-step one: follow the first pass on the inside
• 
  Optional second pass-step two: follow the first pass on the inside
• 
  Optional second pass-final step of tying a Celtic Button knot done
• 
  Optional third pass-final step of tying a Celtic Button knot done
• 
  Tightening step of tying a 3 pass Celtic Button knot
• 
  A 3 pass Celtic Button knot as seat of a rope swing
• 
  Celtic Button knot on the bight therefore double, flat, with loop
• 
  Celtic Button knot on the bight therefore double, tightened, with loop

Sennit is a type of cordage made by plaiting rope fibres or strands of dried fibre or grass. In western European nautical traditions, it was used to make flat plaited straps for use aboard ship.^[1] It can be used ornamentally in crafts, like a kind of macramé, or to make straw hats. Sennit is an important material in the cultures of Oceania, where it is used in traditional architecture, boat building, fishing and as an ornamentation.^[2]

• Chain sinnet
• Sennit hat

Cat’s paw
Category	Hitch
Origin	Ancient
Related	girth hitch, lark’s foot, cow hitch
Releasing	Non-jamming
Typical use	Attaching a rope to a hook or ring
ABoK	#1891

The Cat’s paw is a knot used for connecting a rope to an object. It is very similar to the cow hitch except there is an additional twist on each side of the bight, making it less prone to slipping.

The cat’s-paw is the common hook hitch for slings. It is the same basic form as the bale sling hitch but has additional twists. Brady says “two or three altogether”, and Steel, who mentioned the name in 1794, says “three twists”. It is the best of all sling hitches and is often recommended for a slippery rope. But no hitch can slip when tied in a slings since it has no ends. All that is needed is a hitch that cannot jam, and this requirement the cat’s-paw fills admirably. The knot spills instantly when removed from the hook. It is the hitch always used for heavy lifts.

• Attaching a sling (a rope that has been formed into a continuous loop) to a hook

The knot balances the load between the two halves of the hitch, and is used in wharfs and docks. If one half fails, the other should hold until the load can be safely and swiftly lowered to the ground.

When the sling is long the knot can be pre-formed in anywhere in it, then slid over the end of a hook or post.

Formed from a bight turned up over itself (like a girth hitch) but with extra twists on each side to achieve the desired friction.

• List of knots

• Beknotty – Cat’s paw
• 101Knots – Cat’s paw