The Klutz book of knots
Knot-tying for the landlubber. Nylon cord, color-coded to the illustrations, is tied through the holes on each heavy-stock page, allowing the reader to practice all 24 knots right there on the premises. A unique gift, intriguing puzzle, practical tool and entertaining book... all tied up together. Comes With: 5 feet of nylon cord * Create wonderful things * Be good * Have fun
Stats for nerds
6recommend
8mentions
8people
2020–2026years
75% recommend25% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- The Klutz Book of Knots was one of my favorites as a kid, and cited Ashley throughout. Here's what it had to say about the square knot:
"But Which Knot Is Really The Best Knot?
A true landlubber's question, but one that is inevitably raised. The correct answer should be the responsible—albeit boring—"It depends." Are you knotting together sheets for an open-air exit from a burning hotel? Or are you tying up your hair?
But let's say you've really only got room for two or three knots in your long-term memory files. If such were the case, I could be forced to recommend the bowline, the sheet bend, and the clove hitch. The three of them are the class of the three primary knot categories—loop knots, rope-to-rope knots (bends), and rope-to-something-else knots (hitches). Between them, they should get you into most binds.
Incidentally, the opposite question, "Which is really the worst knot?" is far simpler to answer. As disillusioning as this sounds, it's the square knot, the most over-hyped, under-strength knot in creation. Clifford Ashley, the author of the definitive encylopedia on the subject of knotting, states that the square knot "...has probably been responsible for more deaths and injuries than all other knots combined."
The reason is that the square knot capsizes, i.e. it unties itself. A couple of quick tugs on the rope, or an inadvertant bump, and the honest square knot turns into thin air, an unhappy result that demonstrates the difference between a "strong" knot, one that weakens the rope least, and a "secure" knot, one that resists unraveling."
This was disillusioning when I first read it as an avid Boy Scout. Now I can't think of a more apt symbol for the Scouting program.
- Explorabook is the best!! That big fresnel lens was the most amazing way to quickly start a fire! I mean not that I tried or anything :D Klutz made so many awesome books back then. I still have my Explorabook, Klutz Book of Knots, and "Juggling for the Complete Klutz" (and the original bean bags)... all super awesome stuff for a kid to enjoy and learn from!
- I like Knots3D, but there are some alternatives that made it easier for me:
1. The Klutz Book of Knots (it's a book with holes around the pages so you can practice the knots next to their instructions). I think it's supposed to be a kid's book, but I bought for myself few years ago and was probably the resource I used the most.
2. I find it _much_ easier to learn how to tie a knot by watching someone's hands while they explain what they're doing. KnottingKnots on Youtube is incredible at that: https://www.youtube.com/c/KnottingKnots/
I think the knots I use the most, both in everyday life as well as for hiking are (from most used to least used):
- Trucker Hitch - Bowline knot - Clove hitch - Figure of Eight knot (bend too but less often) - Sheet Bend - Prusik knot - Square knot - Taut line hitch - Home for the holidays I found my copy of the Klutz book of Knots. I spent an hour on the floor having fun, took the book home, and have been referencing it all year for everything from shoelaces to extension cords.
Some are more eternal than others (Icky Poo) but as a child I never had one that I didn't completely devour. Any time I need a gift for a friend's young child, Klutz immediately comes to mind.
- I was wondering how the OP could have neglected to mention the klutz book of knots! It came with two lengths of rope (one red one blue, just like the illustrations). I still regularly use the bowline, sheet bend, and clove hitch - although my bowline technique is quite different (and much faster) these days.
The juggling book also worked for me. Good times.
- For standard knots the Klutz book of knots is really excellent! https://www.amazon.com/Klutz-Book-Knots-John-Cassidy/dp/0932...
The article doesn't mention fishing knots; in case anyone's curious anglers care a lot about knot strength but strength changes based on whether you lubricated the knot when tying and what kind of line you used to tie it (braid vs smooth fluorocarbon for example).
My favorite fishing knot is the uni knot, which is a slip knot that can be used to join lines (double uni) or tie things to line. It's super strong but fishing knots aren't designed to be untied and always cinch down (vs climbing knots which can't collapse / strangle a person). Slipknots are very useful: I use a 3-wrap uni when I'm trussing thankgiving fowl for the oven!
There are some really cool fishing knot strength testing videos on YouTube. The line-to-line joining knots are my favorites -- people get heated debating the merits of the FG knot vs the alberto vs the double uni.
