How to tie Knots

[Mr.Maynard]

Hi All

For the past two years I have been a Boy Scout leader in Chicago, before that I had 3 years in cub scouts

Where I was given the task of showing the boys how to tie knots never being a boy scout or cub scout I never had to tie specific knots before so I looked at the scout book to do them my self and found it hard to follow how to tie the knots so after trying & trying to do it I finally got it. But I figured that if it was hard for me to do then what do you think the kids go thru to do it.

By trade I am a drafts man so I decided to make my own book to help the boys.

I named it MY SCOUT KNOT BOOK. The book is right & left handed to make it easy on all kids.

If there are any leaders interested in the book let my know.

 

Y.I.S.

Mr. Maynard

 

[flamingeye]

That sounds like a great book. Tying knots, can be very tricky. I do a lot with the scouts in the areas of climbing and rappelling, including the merit badge as well as leader training. It is always interesting to teach all these knots to so many different people. There is also a cool video out that teaches many great knots called Just Tie It, it ads another perspective to learning knots. You can actually see the knot being tied, as well as get some info on where to use it. Check out www.justtieit.com if you are interested. Also where is your book available?

 

flamingeye

[Mr.Maynard]

Hello flamingeye

Thanks for the info i will look into it to see what it is about.

send me an e-mail and i will tell you where you can down load it on PDF.

 

Mr.Maynard

[madkins007]

I'm looking forward to the info!

 

When I taught knots at Pow-Wow, I came up with an outline I have used that works well for me.

 

First- nomenclature. Without an idea of the parts of a knot or a rope, it just looks like a big piece of tangled string, so we start with the standing and working ends, bights, loops, etc.

 

Next, we do a simple overhand knot. Then, we modify the knot by slipping it and doubling it, discussing what that does for us.

 

Then, we change it from a stopper knot to a hitch, a loop, and a joining knot- (two different joining versions)

 

The Figure 8 comes next and we quickly review the basics- doubling, slipping, hitch, join, loop. I do this with the Figure 8 since learning that many fire departments teach this group as their primary knots.

 

At this stage the class has the basics of knots down better and has sort of learned how to 'see' a knot. From here, we can go on to the basic Boy Scout knots, usually in the order of Square, Sheet Bend, and Bowline; 2 half hitches, taut-line, timber and clove hitches.

 

As time allow we go to one-handed bowlines, sheepshanks, and then touch on decorative knots.

 

 

Personally, I love knots and am ALWAYS looking for more stuff on them!

[OneHour]

Mr. Maynard, it's a wonderful book that you have put together! Thank you!

 

Here are some more great knot sites if you are interested. They are some of my favorites. I'm somewhat of a knothead myself!

 

http://www.realknots.com/knots/

 

http://www.netknots.com/

 

http://www.scoutingresources.org.uk/knots_index.html

 

animated sites:

 

http://www.tollesburysc.co.uk/Knots/Knots_gallery.htm

 

http://www.42brghtn.mistral.co.uk/knots/42ktmenu.html

 

http://www.grogono.com/knot/

 

http://www.folsoms.net/knots/

 

YIS,

 

1Hour(This message has been edited by OneHour)

[gavvin]

Book sounds interesting. Is it just scouting knots or does it expand some? Do you talk about the relative strengths of the knots? One of my favorite knot sites is http://www.layhands.com/Knots/

 

I learned my new favorite knot at that site: The Alpine Butterfly. Fantastic loop knot. I like it better than the bowline.

[Mr.Maynard]

Thanks for your reply

The book is geared at scouting but if i can find a knot that people think would help the boys i will Draw it out & ad it to the book.

[Eamonn]

While showing or teaching a Lad or an Adult how to tie a knot, I think the real trick is putting him in a situation where he really gets to use it.

Kinda comes under the heading "Use it or lose it"

Eamonn.

[Mr.Maynard]

Use it or loose it

Yes I agree with that thinking for swimming merit badge I make the kids use the bowline for water rescue. Leader are the same way I did a knot station at our pow wow for 2 hours & 3 hours for the leaders that wanted to know how to show the boys I always tell them that they need to tie the knots at least 10 times before they know the knot then at outings I have them use the knots on there tents or I bring my knot rack for them to do the knots on.