The Most Useful Rope Knots
for the Average Person to Know

Decorative Knots

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Decorative Knots

1. Blimp Knot
   URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#Blimp
   
   This can be used as a decorative "stopper knot" or "pull knot" at the end of a rope or string.
   
   To tie this knot, start with an Overhand Knot (picture 1), then follow the rest of the pictures.
   
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   Budworth calls this a "Blimp Knot" because it is similar to a Zeppelin Bend but is smaller and softer, and he says, "This is a nicely symmetrical ornamentation for an otherwise uninteresting length of cord." (The Complete Book of Decorative Knots, p.34).



2. Braid Knot
   URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#Braid
   
   This can be used as a decorative "pull" at the end of a rope or string, or as a "friendship braid," or as a decorative handle, and so on.
   
   To tie this knot, start by looping the rope around twice in order to create three strands to work with (picture 1). Begin "braiding" the three strands (just like braiding hair) by bringing the bottom strand over the center strand, then bringing the top strand over the new center strand (picture 2). Continue alternating in this way (picture 3) until you've braided as far as you can go (picture 4). As you're braiding the rope, keep the end of the rope outside of the braid (picture 3).
   
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   Budworth says, "It shortens and adds attractive bulk to a light pull, waist-tie, friendship braid, or whatever. In thicker material it creates a superb makeshift handle for a travelling case." (The Complete Book of Decorative Knots, p.35)



3. Chain Stitch or Chain Plait or Chain Sinnet or ABOK #2868
   URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#ChainStitch
   
   Like the Braid Knot, this can be used as a decorative "pull" at the end of a rope or string, or as a "friendship braid," or as a decorative handle, and so on.
   
   Start by tying a Slip Knot (picture 1). Push a bight from the end of the rope through the loop of the Slip Knot (picture 2), and continue pushing a new bight through each previous bight, working your way towards the end of the rope. Push the end of the rope through the final bight in order to "lock" the Chain Stitch (picture 3). To untie this knot, simply remove the end of the rope from the final bight, then pull both ends of the rope apart from each other. This will untie all of the Slip Knots. Kids love this one because all of the knots seem to "magically" disappear at once when both ends are pulled!
   
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4. Chinese Button or ABOK #600
   URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#ChineseButton
   
   This was the knot which Chinese tailors traditionally used as buttons on dresses, jackets, night attire, and so on (The Complete Book of Decorative Knots, p.64).
   
   To tie this knot, lay out the rope on a table and follow the over and under sequence exactly as in the pictures. It looks complicated, but just take it step by step. Picture 4 is identical to picture 3, but with blue lines to indicate more clearly which parts of the rope are crossing over other parts of the rope. After you tie the knot as in picture 3, slowly and carefully tighten the knot and work it into a button shape (picture 5).
   
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   Budworth says that "Like so many fancy knots, this is a pleasure simply to make for its own sake, but it does create a basic button suitable for any occasion." (The Complete Book of Decorative Knots, p.63)



5. Dragonfly
   URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#Dragonfly
   
   To tie a Dragonfly, start as in picture 1 (I added some beads for eyes, but they're not necessary). This creates two bights pointing upward, and a downward-pointing bight in the middle. Bring the right-most section of string across on top of the downward-pointing bight, then pass it under the section of string on the left (picture 2). Bring the left-most section of string under the downward-pointing bight, then pass it through the loop on the right (picture 3). The section of string which is now on the left is the one that passed over on top of the downward-pointing bight, and it will always pass over on top of the downward-pointing bight as you tie the Dragonfly. Essentially you'll be tying Reef Knots all the way down, similar to the Portuguese Sinnet (below).
   
   Bring the end on the left (which is green in picture 4) over on top of the downward bight (picture 4), then bring the other end (which is red in picture 5) over on top of the green string, then under the downward bight, then through the green loop on the left (picture 5).
   
   In picture 5, notice that you've tied a Reef Knot. Tighten the Reef Knot and draw it up towards the beads in order to form the Dragonfly's head (picture 6). Repeat steps 2 through 6 in order to tie another Reef Knot. Tighten the Reef Knot and draw it up towards the Dragonfly's head, then tie another Reef Knot to form the wings (pictures 7 and 8). Tighten the Reef Knot and draw it up towards the Dragonfly's head, then tie another Reef Knot (picture 9). At this point you might want to tie a couple more Reef Knots in order to create some separation between the two sets of wings, but I didn't do this in the pictures. Tighten the Reef Knot(s) and draw them up towards the head, then tie another Reef Knot to form a smaller pair of wings (pictures 10 and 11).
   
   You can continue to tie Reef Knots all the way down the Dragonfly's body, or you can simply make a few more Reef Knots and then leave the rest of the downward bight as the Dragonfly's body (picture 12). To finish off the Dragonfly, cut the ends of string and then glue them behind the Dragonfly (pictures 11 and 12).
   
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6. Good Luck Knot or Shamrock Knot or ABOK #2436
   URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#GoodLuck
   
   This is a very attractive knot which seems complicated at first, but it's actually not very difficult to tie. It's similar to the Triple Crown Knot.
   
   To tie this knot, first lay out the rope on a table as in picture 1 so that there are three bights pointing North, West, and East. The two ends of the rope are pointing South. It's helpful to place an object such as a screwdriver across the two ends of the rope (as in picture 2), then bring the two ends of the rope up and over the East-pointing bight so that the ends of rope are now pointing North (picture 2). Bring the East-pointing bight over to the left so that it's now pointing West (picture 3). Bring the North-pointing bight over and down so that it's now pointing South, and tuck it under the screwdriver (picture 4). Bring the West-pointing bight over to the right and tuck it through exactly where the screwdriver is laying, then remove the screwdriver (picture 5). Carefully pull the ends of the rope and the three bights in order to tighten the knot at the center (picture 6).
   
   Place the screwdriver across the ends of the rope again, then bring the ends of the rope over and down so that they're pointing South (picture 7). Repeat the procedure for the three bights as before (first with the East-pointing bight, then with the South-pointing bight, then tuck the West-pointing bight through where the screwdriver is, then remove the screwdriver) (picture 8).
   
   Turn the knot over and notice that the back side has four extra strands of rope which don't appear on the front side of the knot (compare pictures 8 and 9). Pull those four extra strands of rope out slightly so that they form four small loops (picture 10). Finish tightening the knot (picture 11).
   
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   Budworth says, "Embellish a gift-wrapped parcel with this knot, hang it around your neck (or give one to a friend) or on your front door during any festive season, or use it as a complex of belt loops for keys or tools." (The Complete Book of Decorative Knots, p.46)



7. Jug Sling Hitch or ABOK #1142
   URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#JugSlingHitch
   
   This knot is useful for creating a handle for bottles, bags, and so on.
   
   To tie this knot, start as in picture 1. Grab the vertical strand of rope on the left (near the top), and bring it under the vertical strand on the right, then bend it back over towards the left again (picture 2). Notice the part of the rope which crosses over the two vertical strands in picture 1, and find that same section of rope in picture 2 (it's marked with a blue circle in picture 2). Bring that strand under the strand above it (marked with a red square in picture 2), then bring it over the two linked loops at the top of picture 2 (as in picture 3). With your thumb and finger, hold the two strands which are crossing each other where the red arrow is pointing in picture 3. Bring the pink and black sections of rope in picture 3 down to their new positions in picture 4. Place the neck of the bottle through the center of the knot, then tighten the knot (picture 5).
   
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8. Knife Lanyard or ABOK #787
   URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#KnifeLanyard
   
   This makes an attractive lanyard knot.
   
   To tie this knot, first lay out the rope on a table and form a bight facing to the left (which will become the loop for this lanyard knot), then form a small loop with the upper end of the rope (picture 1). In pictures 2 and 3, take the bottom end of the rope and then form a Carrick Bend. After you complete the Carrick Bend, look closely to make sure that the rope is crossing under and over in an exactly alternating pattern. Pictures 6, 7, and 8 are identical to pictures 3, 4, and 5, but with blue lines to indicate more clearly which parts of the rope are crossing over other parts of the rope.
   
   In picture 4, take the end of the rope which is pointing to the South-West and bring it up and over the knot, then bring it through the center of the Carrick Bend (from behind). In picture 5, take the end of the rope which is pointing to the North-East, bring it under the other end of the rope, then over the original bight (the one which will become the main loop), then bring it under the Carrick Bend and through the center of the Carrick Bend (from behind). Now both ends of the rope are coming out of the center of the Carrick Bend from behind.
   
   Carefully tighten the knot into a symmetrical shape as in picture 9. To use this as a lanyard knot, slide the loop through a key ring, knife ring, etc. (picture 9), then pass the loop over the object (the key, knife, etc.) and pull the knot tight (picture 10). This forms a Lark's Head Hitch (Cow Hitch) around the ring. If the object is too big to pass the loop of rope around it, then in picture 9 you can pass both ends of the rope through the loop in the rope. This will also form the Lark's Head Hitch (Cow Hitch) around the ring.
   
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   Budworth says, "Originally used to form the loop of a neck lanyard that actually did have a seaman's knife suspended from it. This knot will do for anything requiring a fixed loop in a middled strand." (The Complete Book of Decorative Knots, p.48)



9. Monkey's Fist or ABOK #2202
   URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#MonkeysFist
   
   This is a decorative knot which is often asked about, and it has a practical purpose as a way to add weight to the end of a rope for throwing it to someone else (as in heaving a line from one boat to another). My Monkey's Fists never seem to come out very well, so here are some instructions for how to tie this knot: Monkey's Fist.



10. Portuguese Sinnet or Solomon Bar or ABOK #2496
    URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#PortugueseSinnet
    
    Like the Braid Knot and the Chain Stitch, the Portuguese Sinnet can be used as a decorative "pull" at the end of a rope or string, or as a fancy handle, and so on.
    
    To tie this knot, I like to begin with a Slip Knot in a doubled rope (picture 1). Tighten the knot, leaving just a small portion of the two loops sticking out to the right (picture 2). Make sure that the ends of the rope are the same length, and they should be about three times the length of the big loop which is pointing to the left in picture 2 (you'll get a better feel for this as you practice a few times). The big loop which is pointing to the left in picture 2 will be the "core" of the Portuguese Sinnet, so the finished Portuguese Sinnet will be the same length as the big loop. With the two ends of the rope, tie an Overhand Knot around the big loop as in picture 3, then tie another Overhand Knot so that you've tied a Reef Knot around the two strands of the big loop (picture 4). In picture 4, notice that the end of the rope which is at the bottom of the picture is always on top of the two strands of the big loop, and the other end of the rope is always on the bottom of the two strands of the big loop. Keep this order as you tie Overhand Knots all the way down the length of the big loop (picture 5). When the ends of the rope are almost used up, my way of locking the end of the Portuguese Sinnet is to pass both ends of the rope through the remaining portion of the big loop (from opposite directions), then tighten the big loop (to lock the ends of the rope) by pulling the big loop from the other end (where you had tied the Slip Knot) so that you end up with two loops at the "top" of the Portuguese Sinnet (picture 6).
    
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    This method creates a flat version of the Portuguese Sinnet. If you tie Granny Knots instead of Reef Knots (picture 1 below) then you'll end up with a fancy twisted version of the Portuguese Sinnet (picture 2).
    
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11. Square Knot or ABOK #1032
    URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#SquareKnot
    
    Many people refer to the Reef Knot as the Square Knot, but this is the "real" Square Knot. First make two small bights (curves) as in picture 1. The lower bight points to the left and the upper bight points to the right, then the main part of the rope curves up and around and then down. Bring the main part of the rope under the upper part of the upper bight, then completely on top of the lower bight (picture 2). Then bring the main part of the rope up and under both bights (picture 3), then bring it downwards over the upper bight and pass it under the lower part of the lower bight (picture 3). Dress and set the knot (picture 4).
    
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12. Turk's Head Knots or ABOK #1306
    URL: http://daveroot.neocities.org/knots/Knots_Decorative.html#TurksHead
    
    Turk's Head knots are popular for decorative as well as practical purposes. Turk's Heads are described in terms of the number of "Bights" (the "bends" along the outer edges) and "Leads" (the sets of criss-crossing strands) that they contain. If you don't have enough Bights (B) around an object then the knot will appear stretched out or elongated, and if you have too many Bights then you won't be able to properly tighten the knot around the object. The number of Leads (L) will determine how wide your knot will be.
    
    To tie a 4Lx3B Turk's Head as a flat "mat," first form the shape in picture 1. The longer part of the rope which extends off to the left beyond the border of picture 1 will be the working end. Bring the working end back towards the right so that it passes entirely under the loop on the left (picture 2). Bring the working end of the rope back towards the left so that it weaves through the strands of rope in an over-under-over-under-over pattern, then curve it back towards the other end of the rope (picture 3). You've now created a "one-ply" 4Lx3B Turk's Head knot. To make a "two-ply" knot, simply rethread the entire knot with the working end of the rope, precisely following the original path (picture 4). This creates a "doubled" 4Lx3B Turk's Head mat, and you can make it as loose (with large gaps where the green is showing through in picture 4) or as tight (with little or no gaps) as you desire. If you have enough rope then you can thread the working end through the knot again to make a "three-ply" knot, and so on.
    
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    Turk's Head knots are often tied around cylindrical objects. To tie a 4Lx3B Turk's Head around a post of some kind, first tie a basic Overhand Knot around the object (picture 1 below). Bring the working end of the rope behind the object (to the left of the Overhand Knot) and around to the front at the bottom of the object, then thread it through the Overhand Knot as in picture 2. Bring the working end back towards the left, over the first strand and under the second strand (picture 3). Now bring the working end behind the object (to the left of the knot) and around to the front at the bottom again, then thread it over-under-over as in picture 4. Now bring the working end behind the object (to the right of the knot) and around to the front at the bottom, and you've completed a one-ply 4Lx3B Turk's Head. If you thread the working end of the rope through the knot again, precisely following the original path, then tighten carefully, you'll have a two-ply 4Lx3B Turk's Head (picture 5).
    
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    To tie a 3Lx5B Turk's Head as a flat mat, first form the shape in picture 1. Now bring the working end of the rope back towards the right so that it weaves through the strands of rope in an over-under-over pattern (picture 2). Bring the working end back towards the left and down so that it weaves through the strands of rope in an under-over-under-over pattern, then curve it up towards the other end of the rope (picture 3). You now have a one-ply 3Lx5B Turk's Head mat. To make a two-ply mat, simply rethread the entire knot with the working end of the rope, precisely following the original path (picture 4). This creates a "doubled" 3Lx5B Turk's Head mat, and you can make it as loose (with large gaps where the green is showing through in picture 4) or as tight (with little or no gaps) as you desire. If you have enough rope then you can thread the working end through the knot again to make a three-ply knot, and so on. If you wish, you can pass an object through the center of the 3Lx5B mat, then tighten the knot carefully (picture 5).
    
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    Here are several websites with more information on Turk's Head knots:
    • Turks head knot
    • Woggles, Turk's Head Knots, and Other Single-Strand Braids
    • Hand-crafted Knot Jewelry