Mark Shiner from the Nav School in Stromness demonstrated the delights of rope and knots
to a group of us from Orkney College.
Talking mainly from a mariners perspective, particularly those of the past, Mark explained
that every `rope` had a practical use on board a ship but made aesthetically beautiful.
With a degree of status attached to creating the most intricate rope work pieces,
sailors took great pride in this skill combining function with decorative form.
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| This is a `monkeys fist` used as a weight for a heaving line on ships but today is probably most recognizable as an ornamental knot on the end of a key fob! |
Whipping (as seen below) is a binding knot used at the end of a rope to stop it from fraying but was also used as a form of protection round wood and gave extra grip on rails etc.
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| Snake whipping |
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| French whipping |
I really like this technique and there are many lovely whipping styles to choose from.
Mark showed us this beautiful sea chest `becket` (handle) which is constructed
entirely from rope using a combination of knot work styles.
These would have been finished by painting them with Stockholm tar, a black mixture
used for waterproofing rope protecting it against the seas elements.
The history of rope is extremely interesting,dating back to pre-historic times.
I`ve included a link below that gives a quick summary of this and a tutorial link so you can start exploring the world of knot making!!
Mark also suggested these book sources that give a comprehensive look into the knot world.
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