On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 22:29:02 -0400, Ford and Mary Ann Walton
wrote:

Thanks for revisiting this issue.
Your solution #1 is charming in it's simplicity and efficacy.
#2 is also simple, symmetrical, and effective.
#3 will take me more time to grasp, but it promises to be perhaps the
best solution yet.

Group,

The original thread seems to have died out, but here are three more
solutions to the problem of forming a non-slipping lanyard with a large
loop and a small loop, using a single knot.

1. Lay the rope in a flat S shape, with the ends overlapping 2 - 3
inches. Tie a single overhand knot in all 3 strands (both ends and the
center strand). Keep the strands even as the knot is tightened and the
result looks fairly symmetrical.

2. Tie an overhand knot in the center strand where you want the loops to
meet. Stick one end through the overhand from one side of the knot, and
the other through from the other (or tie a Tom Fool knot). You will
have one end and two long strands coming out of each side of the
overhand. Using each end, put a half hitch around both long strands as
they emerge from the overhand (one hitch on each side of the overhand).
Two wraps, as on a taut-line hitch is even better. Pull the loops so
the half hitches are snug against the central overhand. For symmetry,
make one half hitch to the left and one to the right. This may not
quite meet the "single knot" requirement, but many "single" knots are
formed of smaller interlocking components.

3. Tie an overhand knot as above, bring one end up through the overhand
and tie an interlocking overhand to form 2/3 of a Matthew Walker knot.
(Google for instructions on M.W.) Bring the other end down through the
top of the knot in an overhand knot, forming the third part of the
Matthew Walker. This may take some trial and error, but it would form a
single perfectly symmetrical knot.

Good luck,
Ford Walton