The Disappearing Knot
The foregoing remarks have dealt entirely with making knots in the handkerchief. By following the instructions now given you will be able to make a knot disappear entirely.
Take two differently colored handkerchiefs—red and white, for instance, and cross them, as in [Fig. 8]. Now make a simple knot similar to that shown in [Fig. 9]. By laying D over C and making another simple knot, as in [Fig. 10], the red end will appear on the left, whilst the white end will be on the right. This is called a Grannie’s knot.
Fig. 8.—Colored silks for disappearing knot.
Fig. 9.—Simple knot for disappearance.
Fig. 10.—Grannie’s knot.
It is now plain that if you take hold of each end of the red handkerchief it can be pulled quite straight and entirely free of the turns so closely resembling a genuine knot. Heighten the deception, however, by seizing the end D and the bulk of the red handkerchief and pulling them with all your strength. The knot will now appear to have been tied most securely.
Take several handkerchiefs and tie them in the same way, making apparently a well-fastened rope to be exhibited to the spectators. Bunch them all together on a table, and under cover of the folds pull all the ends free, exhibiting as a result a number of separate handkerchiefs, not one of which has a knot of any description.