4 Why Knot Knots are very useful Boaters and fishermen use knots to tie down sails or pull in lobsters Rock climbers use knots to keep themselves safe while climbing Search-and-rescue teams know all sorts of helpful knots So do campers soldiers and farmers Knitters and crocheters use knots to make sweaters and blankets Doctors use knots to make stitches You make a knot every time you tie your shoe
5 You probably tie knots every day Need proof Look at your shoes A handy knot probably holds your laces in place If you are a Boy Scout or Girl Scout you may also have learned how to make many other types of knots Knots can also be decorative You can use them to make jewelry belts key chains and even works of art So try some of the knotting activities in this book Why knot It’s fun A pretzel is a tasty sort of knot
6 Knot History Nets are made by knotting ropes together Knots have probably been around for as long as people have needed to lift pull or attach things Ancient people used knots to make tools such as arrows snares and nets to catch animals for food They used knots to pull stones for large building projects such as the pyramids in Egypt
7 Ancient knots were both practical and artistic Sailors used knots to tie down sails and make hammocks In South America the Incas knotted cords called quipus to keep track of important numbers and other information Chinese knots and Celtic knots are beautiful works of art Many textile arts involve knots Knitting is a way of making knots on two long needles Crocheting creates knots using a hook Macramé is an art form combining simple knots to make amazing creations You can make some amazing knot creations of your own Crafting techniques such as crochet and knitting use knots to turn yarn into blankets sweaters and other useful objects
