
At the heart of the story is the simple, empowering idea that a single year is all the time you need to make a life-changing creative leap. Whether you are an expert at knot tying, have experience with macrame, or are new to knots, projects abound: a necklace, a dog leash, along with wall hangings and a hanging light. Here are instructions and projects that celebrate the diverse beauty and creative possibilities of macrame and knots. The Year of Knots explores all of those things, as Windy Chien brings her gift for storytelling, her passion for her craft, and her straightforward teaching style to this gorgeous knot-making guide.” ―Lisa Congdon, artist, author, illustrator
CONSTRICTOR KNOT WITH LANDYARDS HOW TO
How to Make a Traditional Fish Hook (Video)įor fun facts and useful tips, join the free Bushcraft Newsletter.“Knots symbolize many things, from tension, to energy, to love. How do you use the Constrictor Knot? Leave a comment below to let me know. The right teaching approach is the one that best fits the way the student learns. The right teaching approach greatly helps or hinders someone learning bushcraft skills. Here’s a chance to see different approaches so that one of them may “click” with you. But I want to present another way to learn the knot. I’m not familiar with WhyKnot, who created this next video. He also shows how to tie a “Double Constrictor Knot” that I find useful. So this explanation makes it easy to learn the Constrictor Knot. Many people know how to tie a Clove Hitch. He explains that the Constrictor Knot is actually a Clove Hitch with a little extra work. I’m sharing it because he presents the Constrictor Knot in terms I haven’t heard before. This is not his finest video, it’s actually about making a sheath for a parang (machete). I greatly admire his videos about bushcraft skills used in tropical jungle. And the first video triggered an “Aha!” moment that will help me remember how to tie the knot in the future. I often have trouble remembering how to tie this knot. But the instructors present it differently. Each teaches the same way to tie the knot. I want to share two videos with you that show how to tie a constrictor knot. The inner strands will help protect the material you’re binding from the blade of your knife. When you cut the cordage, cut the outer strand of of the knot. And you may need to cut the knot to undo it. The Constrictor Knot can be very hard to release.

If you try to tie it against a flat surface, it quickly unravels.

You can only tie it against a curved surface. The Constrictor Knot has a significant limitation. You can even use it as an emergency hose clamp for your car! And you can use it as a clamp when you’re gluing wood together. It can be used as a temporary whipping for the frayed ends of a rope. You can use it like a modern zip-tie to hold parts of broken gear together. For example, I used it to stop a split from running when I made a torch from natural materials. In fact, it can be so hard to release that you may need to cut the knot to release it. The constrictor knot constricts (squeezes) as tension is applied to the knot. And when you apply the right knot to solve the right problem, you are using “knot technology!” Many knots are suited for specific purposes. The only thing holding a knot together is the friction of the knot itself!Įach type of knot has different properties. The material is held in the knot only by friction! It’s pretty incredible when you think about it. You form a knot by interlacing flexible material such as cord, ribbon, or rope.

Remember: A knot joins, fastens, or holds objects. The ancient world was literally tied together! And tying knots was a vital technology. When I wrote about the world’s funniest knot, I point out that modern fasteners like nails, screws, and welds are recent inventions. But today, I want to share an important knot with you that is underused and underappreciated. When I talk about knots, I usually focus on my inability to tie them. A constrictor knot (not shown) secured grass cordage around this torch to prevent the split from running.
