Rebecca Wax Shares the Importance of Knot-Tying in Daily Life
Many people think of knot-tying as a childhood activity, but it can become a vital life skill. They may remember learning how to tie knots in Scouts, and they may have largely forgotten how to do so. However, knots have a large number of practical applications in day-to-day life.
Firefighter and aerial artist Rebecca Wax of New York, NY, shares the top real-life applications of knots, exploring how knots are an integral part of many hobbies, sports, and occupations.
Camping
Camping is one of the best examples of outdoor activities required. There are many useful knots associated with camping, especially for the setup of tents and the hanging of canopies, clotheslines, and other items.
The knots that are the most useful while camping include the reef knot or square knot, sheet bend, round turn, half-hitches, bowlines, double figure 8 knots, and taut-line hitches.
Boating
Boating is another area where knots are essential. Mooring, towing, adjusting sails, and handling heavy loads are necessary knots in boating.
Bowline knots, figure-eight knots, heaving line knots, several types of hitches, sheet bends, alpine butterfly bends, and carrick bends are the most useful knots in the boating world. There are more sailing-specific knots, including the anchor hitch, cleat hitch, and bowline on a bight.
Fishing
Fishing requires knots as well. Fishing knots tie tackle to lines, making it possible to put bait or lures in the water to entice fish. These knots must be sturdy, or a fish could get away with the lure or bait with the hook still attached. This could damage the fish and cause problems if the hook is left in the water.
Fishing knots are more specialized than camping and boating knots.
Knots are also used for tying flies or the art of creating artificial “insects” to tempt fish to bite in fly fishing. The double improved clinch knot, Palomar knot, double uni-knot, blood knot, non-slip loop knot, Jimmy Houston knot, and others are important for securing lines and tackle.
Most anglers also need to use boating knots to secure their vessels safely. These knots are equally useful on the water and the shore.
Climbing
According to Rebecca Wax, climbing requires especially strong knots that support a person’s body weight. Without properly tied knots, climbers could face severe injury or death. Climbers are only as confident as their skill in tying knots.
The most common knot used by indoor climbers is the trace-eight. The ring bend, prusik or friction hitch, figure-eight on a bight, Munter hitch, double fisherman’s bend, and many others are necessary to learn before becoming a serious climber. With these knots, you can learn to scale rocks, mountains, and the highest indoor climbing walls.
Rescues
Knots are also useful for rescue operations. Many of the same knots are used for camping and climbing as rescues. Frequently a person’s weight will need to be supported by these knots.
Aerial Artists
Aerial artists or acrobats use knot-tying principles to elevate themselves during performances safely. They must be confident in their knot-tying capabilities, or they could come crashing down if they are not careful.
Knots used by aerial artists include foot locks and many other arrangements to help them climb ropes and create stable areas.
Hobbies
Macrame is the art of tying knots. Hobbyists produce attractive plant hangers, wall decorations, and other creations using rope and knots. This hobby was especially popular in the 1970s, but it is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance today with pandemic crafters.
Cross-stitch also uses knots to decorate canvases. Knots such as French knots contrast the easy X-shaped stitches that comprise most of a canvas.
Knitting and crochet can be considered exercises in knot-tying, using needles or crochet hooks. The complex patterns created by knots create our favorite knitted and crocheted items.
Other Useful Knots for Daily Applications
A trucker’s hitch is useful for securing loads on trailers or trucks. It is a historic knot that dates back to the days of horse-drawn wagons. This will allow you to move loads safely on the back of a truck without letting anything escape and cause a major hazard on the road.
Marlin spikes are used to attach rods to ropes to form handles. This means that people can create more tension by pulling on the rod than pulling the rope. They are excellent for tightening knots.
Learning Knots for Daily Use
You can teach yourself to tie knots by reading a book or watching YouTube and having a knowledgeable friend show you the basics. Becoming the knot expert among your group of friends will mean that you are indispensable when it comes to camping, hiking, climbing, and fishing expeditions. You can also use your expertise to teach young people in Scouts how to tie knots.
Rebecca Wax maintains that knot-tying is a fun and practical hobby. She encourages everyone to pick up a rope and practice this useful and teachable skill.
