of the International Guild of Knot Tyers (IGKT; officially founded in 1982) updated ABOK in 1979, adding what was then believed to be a new knot called the Hunter’s Bend. Many of the guild members have gone on to write multiple books on the subject of knots. Most of these books, with the exception of a select few, focus on what has come before as opposed to new or recently created knots. When it comes to decorative knots, this last statement is especially true.
So where do we go from here?
What does the future hold for knots?
The answer to both these questions, I believe, is fusion knots: innovative knots created through the merging of different knot elements or knotting techniques.
Like origami figurines created through the folding of paper, rope in the hands of a fusion knot tyer becomes a vehicle for exploring ever more complex and imaginative knot designs. Fusion knot tyers gather inspiration from history, nature, mythology, or any other source that moves them to tie. They see knots as assemblages of discrete parts, rather than indivisible units of information.
For instance, the Celtic Tree of Life Knot (a fusion knot) is the result of combining three different knot elements—one derived from the Trinity Knot, one from the Ring of Coins, and one from the Handbasket Knot. Together, these three elements commingle to create something different, something more elaborate and impactful.
This book is an introduction to the world of decorative fusion knots, but more so it is a bridge between what is and what can be. In turn, alongside fusion knots, I present instructions for historical knots, knots that were discovered or created before 1979 (the year the IGKT updated ABOK). Historical knots are the foundations for and elements of fusion knots, so knowing how to tie them is important.
In a few cases the historical knot instructions shown will not be presented as elements to subsequent fusion knots. The purpose for this is twofold:
A) I want to provide instructions for an unusual or rarely described historical knot, and
B) I want to provide techniques you can use to create fusion knots of your own.
The chapters of this book are organized according to the primary knot element or knotting technique utilized in the knot’s construction. For example, if a knot starts off as a Double Coin Knot, but finishes with a technique associated with the Trinity Knot (as seen in the Djinn Bottle Knot), that knot will be placed in the Double Coin Knot chapter.
All this said, please remember, fusion knotting is a creative endeavor. Although the pages before you show a multitude of step-by-step instructions on how to tie knots, you do not have to be a passive consumer of this information. Modify what is shown, play with the techniques, integrate different knot elements, and create something new. Put another way…
Explore, Discover, Innovate!
Doing so will not only improve your understanding of fusion knots; it will improve your understanding of all knots and pave the way to ever more elaborate and creative knots tomorrow.
Thank you and keep tying.
—JD of Tying It All Together
Rope Orientation
The following definitions and visual clarifications are meant to provide an understanding of the terms and knotting procedures associated with this book.
Note: All the knots in this book were tied with a six foot length of ¼ inch solid braid nylon or equivalent lengths of paracord.
Definitions
Ascending End: The end of a line (usually the running end) going up.
Bight: A line doubled over into a U-shape.
Circle: A line making one complete revolution around another line.
Clockwise Loop: A loop that has a running end (or line on top) that rotates clockwise.
Counterclockwise Loop: A loop that has a running end (or line on top) that rotates counterclockwise.
Rope Parts
Knot Parts
Rope Loops
Knot Movements
Coil: A line that makes several (more than one) revolutions around another line.
Crook: The curved part of a bight, circle or loop.
Flip: Turning a knot or semi-completed knot upside down.
Firm: The point at which the adjusting of a knot results in a satisfactory appearance.
Fusion Knot: An innovative knot created through the merging of different knot elements or knotting techniques.
Historical Knot: Knots that were discovered or created before 1979 (the year the IGKT updated ABOK).
Hook: A line that makes a sharp curve or a shape resembling a hook.
Knot Component: A knot element or knotting technique used to make a fusion knot.
Line: The material used to tie a knot (e.g., rope, paracord, wire, etc.)
Loop: A circle of line that crosses itself.
P: A line that is looped to look like the letter P or the mirror image of the letter P.
Pentaradial: Lines or knots splayed out in a configuration characteristic of echinoderms (i.e., sea stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers). Similar in appearance to a pentagon.
Rotate: To turn a loop 180 degrees around an axis.
Running End: The end of a line that’s being used to make the knot.
Singe: Scorching the end of a cut line to hold it in place and keep it from fraying.
