So, I’ve been in a quandary….I was recently asked to give some advice to a pre-teen boy. Those were the instructions…give advice to a pre-teen boy. As you can imagine THAT is mind-stumping. I could think of things are preachy, or dumb, or clueless, and I shudder to think of the eye-rolling responses that I would get….and would probably be entirely appropriate.
It’s been a long time since I was between 10 and 13 and I was never a boy, although I have a lot of brothers. I might be able to give some suggestions about how to roll spitballs, or how to fold paper into the small triangle that’s used for tabletop football. I could maybe tell them how one of my brothers’ “signatures” was to place his lips on a windowpane and open his mouth so he looked like a lamprey eel. Or, maybe, how they used to go into apartment buildings and tie the front doors that faced each other together and then ring both doorbells at once. (They would run and collapse with laughter…I don’t think anyone was ever home, though.) I shouldn’t pass on those tips, because the little guy might end up doing time, though.
So, what’s something “safe” and neutral to pass on…that won’t seem totally moronic or could be construed as encouraging felonious behavior.
I settled on KNOTS…how to tie some basic knots. While these are basic–some of them are a little more unusual, at least to me. And, actually, this is something that everybody can use–so here we go. I went to the “2020 site” and found some instructions.
http://www.2020site.org/knots/bowlines.html
The Overhand Knot is the first:
Overhand Knot
The overhand knot is used at the end of ropes to prevent their unraveling and as the commencement of other knots such as a simple noose, overhand loop, angler’s loop, fisherman’s knot and a water knot. It is a very secure knot and should be used when you want a knot that is permanent.

While it seems so simple this knot is important, as it is frequently used in fastening the ends of yarns and strands in splicing, whipping, and seizing.

Make a loop with your rope
Take one end of your rope and stick it through the loop you just made.
Pull both ends of the rope tight.
Clove Hitch Knot
A more secure knot is the “Clove Hitch”, sometimes known as the “Builders’ Hitch.”

How to Tie a Clove Hitch Knot

Pass the end of the rope around a spar or timber.
Then pass it over itself and over and around the spar or timber.
Pass the end under itself and between the rope and spar.
Tighten.
Rolling Hitch Knot
The Rolling Hitch is a modified Clove hitch.

How to Tie a Rolling Hitch Knot
Two round turns are taken round a spar in which it is to be hauled and one half hitch on the other side of the hauling part. This is very useful, as it can be put on and off quickly.
Figure of Eight Knot
The figure of eight knot (also known as Listing’s knot) is used to prevent ropes from unraveling; it forms a large knob and is a very important knot for both sailing and rock climbing as helps to stop ropes from running out of their retaining devices.
How to Tie a Figure of Eight Knot

Cross the end of the rope over the top of the remaining rope making a q shape.
Pinch the top of the loop and twist it away from the tail of your q.
Pull the end of the rope or the tail of the q up through the upper loop from behind.
Pull both ends of the rope to tighten forming a figure eight.
Bowline Knot
This is a most useful knot employed to form a loop which will not slip. Running bowlines are formed by making a bowline round its own standing part. It is the most common and convenient temporary running noose.

The sailor’s knot par excellence, is the “Bow-line” and wherever we find sailors, or seamen, we will find this knot in one or another of its various forms. When you can readily and surely tie this knot every time, you may feel yourself on the road to “Marline-spike Seamanship,” for it is a true sailor’s knot and never slips, jams, or fails; is easily and quickly untied, and is useful in a hundred places around boats or in fact in any walk of life.
How to Tie a Bowline Knot

In A the rope is shown with a bight or cuckold’s neck formed with the end over the standing part.
Pass A back through the bight, under, then over, then under, as shown in B.
Then over and down through the bight, as shown in C and D.
Draw taut, as in the first image above.
Cat’s Paw Knot
This principle of fastening by twisted rope is utilized in the “Catspaw”, a most useful knot or “hitch” for hoisting with a hook. Mine is pretty wimpy…., but you get the idea!

How to Tie a Cat’s Paw Knot

Pass the bight of your rope over the end and standing part.
With a bight in each hand, take three twists from you.
Then bring the two bights side by side and throw over the hook.
Maybe I can start hanging out with the 10 – 13 year olds now…it would certainly ROCK my world!
