The InterKnot. Newsletter of the International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch. December Mini-NAB Meeting

Transcription

1 The InterKnot Newsletter of the International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch December 2010 Mini-NAB Meeting The IGKT-NAB had their Mini-NAB meeting in St. Michael s, Maryland, December 3-5. Members stayed at the Best Western Motel on the outskirts of the city. Old friendships were renewed and new friendships were made over the three day meeting. Members came from Canada, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, and Ohio. Being the non-tourist season, we had the motel pretty much to ourselves. Unofficial meetings were held in the motel lobby, official meetings in the hospitality room. The motel staff were first baffled by our antics, then overwhelmed with knotting gifts. Employees were most helpful, giving directions, advising us on local attractions, and calling ahead to make sure reservations were confirmed. If you were a seafood aficionado, it was one of the best places to be, every local restaurant had their favorite specialty. Led by Jim Torbert we were treated to the best oyster bar in the area. The next night allowed us to sample the seafood at another local restaurant which was just as good. There were no chain restaurants in St. Michael s which gave us a chance to enjoy the local flavor. InterKnot December International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch Pg 1

2 Mini-NAB Meeting (continued) The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michael s hosted the IGKT for two days and gave us one of their buildings for our displays. Everyone had something to contribute. Visitation by the general public was limited which gave the IGKT members time to visit, catch up on new displays, and learn some new knotting. Everyone agreed we can hardly wait for the IGKT meeting next year. Happy knotting! - InterKnot December International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch Pg 2

3 InterKnot December International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch Pg 3

4 Troop 56 "Weather Chair" By Patrick C Glisson What happens when you take a group of Boy Scouts camping and they have too much time on their hands? You get creative pioneering projects build that is what! When Troop 56 of the Lincoln Heritage Council went camping August 6-8, 2010 at the Tunnel Mill Scout Reservation not all the planned activities went as planned. When planning the campout it was thought that there were a number of large staves that could be use for lashing together a pioneering project, turned out there were none and we were only able to gather three in a short time. They scouts were told they needed to practice their lashings, Craig Glisson, being a Knothead himself, took charge of the "operation". The boys decided to build a tripod and once done thought it needed something added to it. Remembering the old weather rock they had seen many times before they decided it needed something hanging from it. After several tries a chair was finally attached using a barrel hitch resulting in the "Weather Chair". If you're in it and getting wet it's raining, if it is swinging its windy, if you're hot its sunny, if its dark...you need to get in your tent because you fell a sleep in it! No one slept in it and the next morning it was taken down, but not before it was decided that this may have to become gateway at future campouts. So if you are ever at a scout camp were Troop 56 is take a look at our campsite, you never know what these boys will decide to build next, given enough rope. Editor s Note: If you teach or use knotting in a Scouting activity I d like to publish what you ve been doing. Please send your information to alexd_3@juno.com. InterKnot December International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch Pg 4

5 One Knot This article is continued from the September issue of the InterKnot. The second hitch is the Guy Line hitch. To tie this hitch you reverse the order of the Overhand knots. Step 1: The first Overhand is tied loosely in the line going to the stake. The line is looped around the stake / anchor point and brought back through the Overhand knot. Step 2: After threading the end of the line back through the Overhand knot, tie another Overhand knot over the line going to the stake. Tighten knots and lines to finish the Guy Line hitch. A fixed loop Sometimes you need a fixed loop; i.e. a loop that won t constrict. Using the sequence of using two Overhand knots you can form a fixed loop. The example shown here is the Englishman s Loop. InterKnot December International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch Pg 5

6 Step 1: To tie the Englishman s Loop, first tie a loose Overhand knot in a cord. Make a loop in the end. Step 2: Next bring the working end through the Overhand knot. Then tie another Overhand knot over the standing end. Then pull to tighten. This will form a fixed loop. Step 3: Pull the two knots together and tighten. This will form the fixed loop. This completes the Englishman s loop. Another way to make a fixed loop is to make a loop and then tie an Overhand Knot. Called the Overhand Loop, it is simple to tie. Step 1: Make a loop with the cord you will be using. Using the loop start to tie an Overhand knot. Step 2: Complete making an Overhand knot using the loop portion of the cord. Pull the loop to tighten. This completes the Overhand Loop. InterKnot December International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch Pg 6

7 A constricting loop At other times you ll need a loop that will constrict around something (a noose). The Farmer s Hitch (also called the Reel Hitch) is a good example of this. To make the Farmer s Hitch, run the cord around an object such as a stake, then tie an Overhand knot around the standing line. This will give you a constricting loop. Pull on both ends to tighten the knot. Tie another Overhand knot at the end of the cord. If the cord slips, the Overhand knot at the end will work as a stopper knot and prevent the Farmer s hitch from coming untied. As I indicated before, provided you are willing to accept the limitations of the Overhand knot, it can give you a good repertoire of knots to use in almost any situation. Hopefully this short article has given you a group of easy to remember knots for almost any situation. Happy knotting! ================================================= More photographs from the Mini-IGKT meeting. InterKnot December International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch Pg 7

8 The IGKT-NAB Executive Board is interested in hearing from the membership as to possible locations for our 2011 NAB Meeting. Please send your suggestions to John Burke at SUBMISSION OF ARTICLES & PICTURES FOR THE InterKnot Please submit written articles in MS Word Document or convertible document. (I can also accept MS-Publisher documents.) If sending instructions for tying a knot please include black & white sketches with motion arrows would be easier to understand. Pictures are welcome but try to make sure that they are high-contrast photographs in jpeg format. You may be asked to send the pictures separately so they can be more easily incorporated into the publication. Printed copies will be grayscale pictures to save cost. Please send submission items to alexd_3@juno.com Include IGKT article on address line. Membership Fees IGKT-NAB membership fees are $45 for an individual per year. MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR! Please Note Your Membership Expiration Date is shown on the InterKnot next to each member s name. will be in cover letter. InterKnot December International Guild of Knot Tyers North American Branch Pg 8 IGKT-NAB InterKnot C/O 4417 Academy Street Dearborn Heights, MI 48125