Complete clauses 1 - 3, and a further six clauses which provide a personal challenge to you. Throughout, you should choose a suitable weight of string, cord or rope for each knot, bend or hitch. All knots should be tied securely and you should know the uses, strengths & weaknesses of each one.
Clause 1 Tie the following knots, and teach them to somebody else.
Reef Knot - Flat secure knot used in first aid
Clove Hitch - Used to tie a rope to a pole, is the basis for many other knots
Round Turn and two half hitches - Used to fasten rope to a pole
Larks Head - Used to attach cord to a ring or bar eg macrame
Double overhand - Forms a loop in the middle or end of a rope eg skipping rope
Sheet bend - Used to join ropes of unequal thickness
3-stranded plait - Often used in hair to keep it tidy
Have tried to teach hubby with limited success, he seems to be ok when I'm showing him, leaving him on his own to tie the knot and he has varying degrees of success depending on the knot. Have used all the above with the exception of the plait on my knot board.
Clause 2 Explain the difference between a knot, a bend and a hitch.
Knots are something that has deliberately been tied in a rope
Bends are knots that join to ropes together
Hitches are knots that tie a rope to another object
Clause 3 Coil a length of rope, and know how to store cord or string.
Coiling - Lay one end of the rope across the palm of the hand keeping one end about 50cm long. With the other end coil the rope across your hand. Bend the end across your hand to form a loop. Take the first end and whit it round the loop and the coil. Take the end through the loop. Pull the other end though.
Rope should be hung in clean dry well ventilated area away from sunlight.
Clause 9 Tie a friendship knot in a neckerchief, and teach somebody else how to do it.
Have tied a friendship knot in a neckerchief have tried to teach the Brownies, though not very successfully, I have also used this knot on my knot board but using cord instead of a neckerchief
Clause 10 Tie up a parcel or bedding roll securely, using a packers knot.
The packers knot is similar to the figure of eight knot and is used as it's name suggests for tying parcels as it is a slip knot and can therefore be pulled tight. Have used this knot on my knot board around a match box parcel.
Clause 11 Tie a Fisherman's knot, sheep shank and figure of eight knot.
Fisherman's knot is used for joining ropes of uneven thicknesses Sheepshank can be used to reduce the length of rope without cutting Figure of eight is used a stopper knot or as a decorative knot Have used these knots on my knot board.
Clause 12 Tie a Pole hitch and timber hitch.
Pole hitch is used to fasten tent poles together for transportation, appears to be unique to guiding. Timber hitch is a temporary way to hold together logs or poles Have used these knots on my knot board.
Clause 13 Tie two of the following: Slipped hitch, Halter Hitch, Donkey Hitch.
Slipped hitch though not very secure has the advantage of being release quickly
Halter hitch can be used for tying up horses
Donkey hitch not used for donkeys but to tie up brailings or door on a tent Have used these knots on my knot board
Clause 14 Tie a bowline round yourself, and round another person.
Have tied this knot for my knot board though not around myself or another person.
Clause 17 Plait using four or more strands.
Have plaited in scoubidou strands using 3, 4, 5 and 6 strands.
Clause 19 Make a Turk's head woggle, or similar.
Clause 20 Use a decorative knot such as a Carrick to make a brooch, mat or similar.
Have tied the Carrick knot as shown on the BOGUK site using pink and blue Scoubidou strands. Have decorated a photo frame using the Carrick knot and for the 'picture' I've used the dragonfly knot.
Clause 21. Demonstrate three ways of tying a clove hitch.
The first method is when using a pole with both ends closed off. This is achieved by passing the rope around the pole twice and then though itself.
The second method is using an open ended pole and is achieved by making two loops, passing one behind the other and slipping it onto the pole
The third method is similar to the second method but done one handed and can be used to impress
Clause 24 Make a knot board to demonstrate at least 6 knots.
I'm quite please with the finished knot board, this is going to be a gift for my father. It's amazing what you can do with 2 meters of cord a length of dowling, a match box and a brown envelope.
Clause 26 Demonstrate the knots, bends and hitches that you use in a sport or activity in which you are involved, for example, rock-climbing, boating or angling. You should use the correct materials and be able to explain:
Why and when a particular knot is used.
The strengths and weaknesses of each knot.
The dangers or incorrect construction and use.
One of my other hobbies is dancing. I don't think knowing how to tie tap and ballet shoes really counts! Others include cross stitching and knitting, no knots required at all apart from a slip knot when beginning to cast on.
