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My Knots

© Copyright 1996, Jim Loy The first knot that we see on the left is the famous square knot, used for tying two rope ends together. It is highly respected, except among people who know about knots. When jiggled, it has a tendency to come loose, which can be fatal. Much safer is the sheet bend (second knot on the left), which is similar to the square knot, but is asymmetric. In order to make this knot even more secure, I have devised the third knot on the left. It is a sheet bend, with one twist on one end. The twist can be in either direction (right or left handed). This knot seems to be more secure than the sheet bend, and it may have been invented earlier. Further twists can be added to this knot or any other knot.

Another knot, that I have devised, is useful for tying a rope to the end of a smooth cylindrical object that is positioned so that any normal knot will slide right off the end. The more loops around the cylinder, the more secure the knot is. It may jiggle loose, but is very secure if there is a constant pull on the rope. The knot is tied loosely, and then tightened by holding the loose end of the rope while pulling harder and harder on the other end. The knot may spread out, so try not to tie it very close to the end of the cylinder. This spreading out is just fine, as the rope is actually squeezing the cylindrical object as the knot spreads.This knot, too, may have been invented long before I thought of it.

A friend of mine used my second knot, above, to remove a ski pole that was embedded in his wall. Hmm.

I invented a third knot which is useful for tying a rope to the end of a smooth cylindrical object that is positioned so that any normal knot will slide right off the end, and is much stronger. But I can't remember how I did it. It was so strong, getting tighter as you pull, that it may crush some cylindrical objects (mailing tubes, for example). And that knot did spread out, to 2 or 3 times its original length, when I pulled on it.

Here is my figure 88 knot (two figure eight knots). I suppose it was invented long before I invented it.

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