Shortening Knots
A third type of knots are those which are used where a rope is too long and where it is awkward to have the free ends hanging loose or where the ends are in use and the slack must be taken up in the middle of the rope. These are known as shortening knots. They are also sometimes used merely for ornament.
[Fig. 36.] The Chain knot is frequently used for shortening and is made by forming a running loop, then drawing a bight of the rope through the loop, and a second bight through the first and so on until the rope has been shortened sufficiently. The free end should then be fastened by passing a toggle or the end of the rope through this last loop. To undo this shortening is very simple as all that is necessary is to either remove the toggle from the last loop or remove the end of the rope if it were used, and then pull on the free end until the knot is completely unraveled.
[Fig. 37.] The Whipped Shortening or Bend Shortening is one of the most easily made and is well adapted to heavy ropes where a shortening must be made quickly and where it is not to withstand a heavy strain.
[Fig. 38.] Three-fold Shortening is started by making an Over-hand knot and continuing to tuck the end through the loop three more times, and drawing tight.
[Fig. 39.] The Sheep-shank or Dog-shank as it is sometimes called, is one of the most widely used of all shortenings. It is made in several forms but the first form shown, while adaptable to fairly stiff ropes, will not withstand much strain. It is used for shortening electric light cords.
[Fig. 40.] Sheep-shank for free end rope is similar to the plain Sheep-shank except the free end of the rope is passed through the loop. This makes a secure shortening, but it can not be used where the ends of the rope are not free.
[Fig. 41.] A Sheep-shank with toggle, is a plain Sheep-shank with the toggle inserted as shown, and makes the shortening as secure as that shown in [Fig. 38]. It is also easily untied.
[Fig. 42.] Sheep-shank with ends whipped is the same as in a plain Sheep-shank except the loop is whipped to the standing part of the rope. This makes the shortening as secure as those shown in [Fig. 38], and [Fig. 39].
[Fig. 43.] Bow-shortening is an ordinary knot in the middle of a rope in which a double bend has previously been made. It is not adapted to heavy ropes nor will it stand a heavy strain successfully.