Knotting
The Thumb Knot
The thumb knot is a basis for the following knots:-
Reef Knot
Yes I know that strictly speaking it it not really two
thumb knots but the concept is easy for Scouts to grasp and it seems to
work.
Fisherman's Knot
The Fisherman's knot is simply two thumb knots. We point
out to the Scouts that they can already do the thumb knot and so two thumb
knots is just as easy.
The 'exploded'
view
The tightened knot.
Double Fisherman's
Knot
This is taught as nothing more that an extra turn when
tying the thumb knots in the fisherman's knot.
The extra turn on a thumb knot
Once the Scouts manage to grasp the idea of an extra turn
on a thumb knot, a double fisherman's knot is relatively easy to do.
Until I get all the pictures etc finished, here is a
text description.
Thumb knot
with an extra twist becomes the
figure of eight
with a doubled rope this becomes
the Double Figure of Eight
a Fishermans knot is simple two thumb
knots
an extra twist and it beomes a
Double
Fishermans knot
two thumb knots (almos
Reef Knot
stick a loop in the last thumb
knot and it becomes a Slip reef
stick in two loops and you get
a Double Slip Reef(which you tie in your shoes most days)
pull one of the ropes straight
and you get a Larks Head (now try tie it without using the Reef first)
twist the roped to get a Cats Paw
try to tie the reef on a loop. If you
can do that then it is easy to tie a Sheet Bend
an extra twist and you get a Double
Sheet Bend
a minor change in the tuck under
at the end and you get a Throwing Line Sheet Bend
a Bowline is an upside down sheet
bend
double the rope and you get a Triple
Bowline
double the rope, tie it like a
normal bowline but with a funny ending and you get a Double Bowline (on
the bight)