Friendship Knots

[Owl62]

Speaking of "uniform"... What about Friendship Knots? As long as I have been in Scouting, Friendship kKots have been given by various people for various things. Most wear them hanging from the right shirt pocket button. I find no reference to them in the uniform and insignia guide either. But nearly everyone I know in Scouting either currently wears one or has worn one.

 

In our council, even the leather thong for the Wood Badge beads has a Friendship Knot tied in it.

 

Does anyone know when/where the tradition of Friendship Knots started?

 

Also, does anyone have instructions for tying a double strand Friendship Knot?

 

Thanks.

 

Owl62

 

[Bob White]

Owl buddy you feelin OK? You posted almost this same thing a month ago to the day and you were given a link to a site that shows how to tie the knot.

[Owl62]

Bob,

 

I am feeling fine - how are you.

 

A link was provided showing how to tie a single strand Friendship Knot - not a double strand. I am now looking for instructions to tie a double strand Friendship Knot.

 

 

And I am still looking for any information on when/where the giving of Friendship Knots may have started.

 

Thanks.

 

[Bob White]

Hi Owl, I'm fine thanks. The link says that is the two strand knot. The single strand is the called the Turks Head and is often used as a neckerchief slide.

 

Good luck tracking the knots scouting origin. It is a sailors knot and there have been sailors in scouting for quite some time. My WB lanyard was tied by my coach/counselor into such a knot 24 years ago.

[KA6BSA]

In Ashley's Book of Knots it is listed as a Bo'sun's Whistle knot (it also has the names Pipe Lanyard, Sailor's Knife Lanyard, Marlingspike Lanyard, and Single-Strand Diamond knot,illustration #787) based on the Carrick Bend with the ends tucked back through the center of the knot. Doubling the knot to two strands is more difficult (#788) and looks like a major jumble of twine until it is carefully drawn up and adjusted. But once you have learned the method and tied a few of them it isn't too hard and my 10 year old son has already learned it from me. We used one of these knots as a "button" for a decorative and secure way to attach the upper end of his acoustic guitar strap. When it is doubled it does have a kind of a woggle-looking nature, but here in San Diego I have never seen any of these hanging on a uniform pocket button, and I have not heard of the tradition.(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

[Owl62]

KA6BSA,

 

Hmm. Thanks for your post.

 

I have seen Friendship Knots given and displayed from the uniform shirt pocket button in several different councils for over 20 years. They are very common in the south and midwest. I have never been to CA so I can't speak for the custom there. Just about every course and activity I have attended for years have involved them. I just got another at a local Scout leader training course, and I just gave out 4 of them to 4 new Boy Scouts in my unit.

 

I like them because they are a very personal token of friendship - especially if the giver tied it themselves.

 

Do you have any instructions for the double strand version?

 

Thanks.

 

Owl.