Knots and bows
Six knots cover almost everything in daily life: shoelaces that stay tied, a square knot for bundles, a bowline for a fixed loop, a clove hitch for a post, a necktie and a ribbon bow. Each lesson shows how to tie it, how to check it, and when it can fail.
- 9.5How to tie a clove hitchUse a clove hitch for a quick, adjustable hold, and lock it with two half hitches whenever the load matters.
- 9.2How to wrap a presentCut the paper to fit the box before you fold anything, because neat corners come from the right amount of paper, not from more tape.
- 9.4Tying a square knot (reef knot)Cross right over left, then left over right, and check that the knot lies flat.
- 9.10Tying a bowlineMake the small loop with the end on top, then go up through the hole, around the tree, and back down the hole.
- 9.1Tying shoelaces that stay tiedTie the starting knot in the opposite direction to the bow, so the knot balances and holds.
- 9.13Tying a four-in-hand necktie knotStart with the wide end long, wrap it over, under and over, then go up through the neck loop and down through the front.
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