Carrick bend
Encyclopedia
The Carrick bend is a knot
used for joining two lines. It is particularly appropriate for very heavy rope or cable that is too large and stiff to easily be formed into other common bends. It will not jam even after carrying a significant load or being soaked with water. As with many other members of the basket weave knot
family, the Carrick bend's aesthetically pleasing interwoven and symmetrical shape has also made it popular for decorative purposes.
The knot features prominently as a motif
in the hard science fiction
novel Picoverse by Robert A. Metzger
.
authored by Daniel Lescallier. Its origins prior to that are not known with certainty. There are several possible explanations for the name "Carrick" being associated with this bend. The Elizabethan era
plasterwork of Ormonde Castle
in Carrick-on-Suir
shows numerous Carrick bends molded in relief
. Or the name may come from Carrick Roads
— a large natural anchorage
by Falmouth
in Cornwall
, England
. The name may also have been derived from the Carrack
, a medieval type of ship.
Unfortunately, with so many permutations, the Carrick bend is prone to being tied incorrectly.
The Carrick bend is generally tied in a flat interwoven form shown above. Without additional measures it will collapse into a different shape, a process known as capsizing, when tightened. This capsized form is both secure and stable once tightened, although it is bulkier than the seized form below. When knot is allowed to capsize naturally under tension, considerable slippage of line through the knot can occur before tightening. The knot should be set carefully before loading.
In the interest of making the Carrick bend easier to untie, especially when tied in extremely large rope, the ends may be seized to prevent the knot from collapsing when load is applied. This practice also keeps the knot's profile flatter and can ease its passage over capstans
or winch
es.
The ends are traditionally seized to their standing part using a round seizing. For expediency, a series of double constrictor knots, drawn very tight, may also be used. When seizing the Carrick bend, both ends must be secured to their standing parts or the bend will slip.
In the decorative variation, both standing ends enter from one side and both working ends exit from the other. In this configuration the knot is known as the Josephine knot (macrame
) or double coin knot (Chinese knotting). This form of the Carrick bend is found depicted in heraldry
, sometimes with the tails of heraldic serpents
woven (or "nowed") into this knot. In heraldry the knot is associated with Hereward the Wake
and is known under the name Wake knot
. It is depicted in the coat of arms of Bourne Town Council, Lincolnshire http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/bourne.JPG link title
The knot can be tied using doubled lines for an even flatter, more elaborate appearance. A doubled Carrick bend was used to ornamentally secure the lanyard
s on the breastplate of the US Navy
Mark V diving helmet
during inspection and between dives
.
When the ends of the carrick bend are connected together, or more practically hidden behind the knot, it becomes a carrick mat
. This same configuration is also one of the most basic Turk's head knot
s.
Although the Carrick bend has a reputation for strength, some tests have shown it to be as weak as 65% efficiency.
Knot
A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load"...
used for joining two lines. It is particularly appropriate for very heavy rope or cable that is too large and stiff to easily be formed into other common bends. It will not jam even after carrying a significant load or being soaked with water. As with many other members of the basket weave knot
Basket weave knot
The basket weave knots are a family of bend and lanyard knots with a regular pattern of over–one, under–one. All of these knots are rectangular and lie in a plane...
family, the Carrick bend's aesthetically pleasing interwoven and symmetrical shape has also made it popular for decorative purposes.
The knot features prominently as a motif
Motif (narrative)
In narrative, a motif is any recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story. Through its repetition, a motif can help produce other narrative aspects such as theme or mood....
in the hard science fiction
Hard science fiction
Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by an emphasis on scientific or technical detail, or on scientific accuracy, or on both. The term was first used in print in 1957 by P. Schuyler Miller in a review of John W. Campbell, Jr.'s Islands of Space in Astounding Science...
novel Picoverse by Robert A. Metzger
Robert A. Metzger
Robert A. Metzger is an electrical engineer and science fiction author. He was a Nebula Award finalist in the novel category in 2002 for his second novel, Picoverse....
.
Etymology
This knot's name dates back to at least 1783 when it was included in a nautical bilingual dictionaryBilingual dictionary
A bilingual dictionary or translation dictionary is a specialized dictionary used to translate words or phrases from one language to another. Bilingual dictionaries can be unidirectional, meaning that they list the meanings of words of one language in another, or can be bidirectional, allowing...
authored by Daniel Lescallier. Its origins prior to that are not known with certainty. There are several possible explanations for the name "Carrick" being associated with this bend. The Elizabethan era
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
plasterwork of Ormonde Castle
Ormonde Castle
Ormond Castle is a castle on the River Suir on the east side of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland. The oldest part of the existing castle is a mid-15th century walled bawn, cornered on the northeast and northwest by towers....
in Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. As the name – meaning "the rock of the Suir" – suggests, the town is situated on the River Suir. The of the town gives the population as 5,906 and shows that it has grown by 5.7% since 2002...
shows numerous Carrick bends molded in relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
. Or the name may come from Carrick Roads
Carrick Roads
Carrick Roads is located on the southern Cornish coast in the UK, near Falmouth. It is a large waterway created after the Ice age from an ancient valley which flooded as the melt waters caused the sea level to rise dramatically , creating a large natural harbour which is navigable from Falmouth to...
— a large natural anchorage
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
by Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The name may also have been derived from the Carrack
Carrack
A carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in 15th century Western Europe for use in the Atlantic Ocean. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese , and later by the Spanish, to explore and...
, a medieval type of ship.
Variations
The eight crossings within the Carrick bend allow for many similar looking knots to be made. The lines in a "full" or "true" Carrick bend alternate between over and under at every crossing. There are also two ways the ends can emerge from the knot: diagonally opposed or from the same side. The latter form is also called the double coin knot. The form with the ends emerging diagonally opposed is considered more secure.Unfortunately, with so many permutations, the Carrick bend is prone to being tied incorrectly.
Capsized
Seized
Capstan (nautical)
A capstan is a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to apply force to ropes, cables, and hawsers. The principle is similar to that of the windlass, which has a horizontal axle.- History :...
or winch
Winch
A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in or let out or otherwise adjust the "tension" of a rope or wire rope . In its simplest form it consists of a spool and attached hand crank. In larger forms, winches stand at the heart of machines as diverse as tow trucks, steam shovels and...
es.
The ends are traditionally seized to their standing part using a round seizing. For expediency, a series of double constrictor knots, drawn very tight, may also be used. When seizing the Carrick bend, both ends must be secured to their standing parts or the bend will slip.
Decorative uses
Macramé
Macramé or macrame is a form of textile-making using knotting rather than weaving or knitting. Its primary knots are the square knot and forms of "hitching": full hitch and double half hitches...
) or double coin knot (Chinese knotting). This form of the Carrick bend is found depicted in heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
, sometimes with the tails of heraldic serpents
Charge (heraldry)
In heraldry, a charge is any emblem or device occupying the field of an escutcheon . This may be a geometric design or a symbolic representation of a person, animal, plant, object or other device...
woven (or "nowed") into this knot. In heraldry the knot is associated with Hereward the Wake
Hereward the Wake
Hereward the Wake , known in his own times as Hereward the Outlaw or Hereward the Exile, was an 11th-century leader of local resistance to the Norman conquest of England....
and is known under the name Wake knot
Wake knot
The Wake knot , a type of decorative knot, is a heraldic knot used primarily in English heraldry. It is most notable for its appearance on the Wake family heraldic badge, where it is formed by an intertwining rope and strap.This knot is similar in appearance to a Carrick bend....
. It is depicted in the coat of arms of Bourne Town Council, Lincolnshire http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/bourne.JPG link title
The knot can be tied using doubled lines for an even flatter, more elaborate appearance. A doubled Carrick bend was used to ornamentally secure the lanyard
Lanyard
A lanyard is a rope or cord exclusively worn around the neck or wrist to carry something. Usually it is used where there is a risk of losing the object or to ensure it is visible at all times. Aboard a ship, it may refer to a piece of rigging used to secure objects...
s on the breastplate of the US Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Mark V diving helmet
Diving helmet
Diving helmets are worn mainly by professional divers engaged in surface supplied diving, though many models can be adapted for use with scuba equipment....
during inspection and between dives
Surface supplied diving
Surface supplied diving refers to divers using equipment supplied with breathing gas using a diver's umbilical from the surface, either from the shore or from a diving support vessel sometimes indirectly via a diving bell...
.
When the ends of the carrick bend are connected together, or more practically hidden behind the knot, it becomes a carrick mat
Carrick mat
The carrick mat is a flat woven decorative knot which can be used as a mat or pad. Its name stems from the fact that the mat is based on the decorative-type carrick bend with the ends connected together, forming an endless knot...
. This same configuration is also one of the most basic Turk's head knot
Turk's head knot
A Turk's head knot is a decorative knot with a variable number of interwoven strands, forming a closed loop. The name is used to describe the general family of all such knots rather than one individual knot. While generally seen made around a cylinder, the knot can also be deformed into a flat,...
s.
Security
The fully interwoven diagonal Carrick bend is the most secure variation. All other forms are inferior and not recommended as bends.Although the Carrick bend has a reputation for strength, some tests have shown it to be as weak as 65% efficiency.
External links
- L8a8 at Knot Atlas (mathematical "link" topologically equivalent to seized Carrick bend of practical knot-tying).
- Animated Carrick bend video and step by step process.