How to Make a Crown Knot

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Place the working end of the rope to be crowned in your left hand

   Before you form the knot and begin backsplicing it, the end of each strand should be finished to prevent unraveling during this splicing technique.
   
   With polypropylene, nylon, or dacron ropes, you can heat treat the ends over a flame or some other source of heat hot enough to melt the rope fibres to fuse the ends together.
   
   With cotton, manila or sisal rope, wrap the ends with masking tape.
2. 2

   Step 2: unwinding about 4" (10cm) of it.

   Your thumb and forefinger should be pinching the rope strands and preventing further unraveling. , The third strand appears to come from behind the front two, in a lower right to upper left direction.
   
   This arrangement is important if the crown is to be properly constructed. , Be certain that the bight goes behind strand 2, the second of the rope strands.
   
   Secure the end of strand 1 between the fore and middle fingers of your left hand. , The wrap must be taken around the working end of the bight. , Strand 3 is the only strand left untouched at this point. ,, Study this arrangement for a moment and you'll notice that each strand locks and is in turn locked by another. , Start with any of the three strands and tug on it to begin tightening the crown knot.
   
   Don't attempt to pull one strand totally tight before starting to pull on another.
   
   Take each up alternately, a little at a time, until the crown is tight.
   
   At this point the crown is complete, and the backsplicing must begin to finish the process of "crowning" to prevent unraveling of the rope. , Select any of the strands sticking out from the crown and grasp it with your right hand.
   
   Notice that it passes under a strand of the crown and then lies on or passes over a strand of the end of the rope that is being crowned.
   
   Take a look at the whole crown as well as each strand so you are aware that this "under-over" arrangement is correct for each strand. , Grasp the rest of the crown knot with the tips of your fore and middle fingers. , This is the strand directly below the one that the working part of strand 1 passes over. , This will open the rope and enable you to isolate the second strand below the point where strand 1 exits from under the crown. ,,, This is strand
   2. , Grip the rest of the crown knot with the tips of your index and middle fingers. , Keep in mind the over-under principle.
   
   The crowned strand you are now working with, which is strand 2, is lying upon the strand it will pass over.
   
   You must take the strand of the main rope next in line below this and isolate it between your left thumb and forefinger.
   
   This is done by twisting the crown to the right and the standing end of the rope to the left. ,,, As mentioned above, there should be no difficulty in identifying the strand to be passed over, because strand 3 is lying upon it. , Now, before you begin twisting, identify the strand of the standing end of the rope to pass the crowned strand under.
   
   Once again, it's the strand immediately below the strand being passed over.
   
   Since this is your last strand, the crowning is getting "crowded" and it is easier now to make a mistake.
   
   Keep in mind that only one strand is passed over at a time, that only one strand can pass below another, and that only the strands of the standing end itself can be the ones passed over and gone under.
   
   With this in mind, grip the standing end of the rope in your left hand, twist the strands open as before, and insert the last crowned stand. ,, There is no need to repeat the process for more than three total rounds or over-under sequences. , Cut off the ends of the crowned strands around a quarter inch from the last strand they went under.
   
   Taper the ends when cutting so that the crown is less rough on your hands.
   
   The crown will not unravel and is now a permanent feature of the rope. ,
3. 3

   Step 3: Place your thumb on the front of the rope and your fingers on the rear.

4. 4

   Step 4: Arrange the strands so that the two of them come across the top of the rope in a diagonal direction (lower left to upper right).

5. 5

   Step 5: With your right hand

6. 6

   Step 6: take the uppermost of the front strands (which will be strand 1) and bend it over to the right forming a bight.

7. 7

   Step 7: With your right hand

8. 8

   Step 8: take strand 2

9. 9

   Step 9: the remaining strand of the two that originally came across the "top" of the rope

10. 10

    Step 10: and bend it around the bight in strand 1 that you are holding in your left.

11. 11

    Step 11: After making this wrap

12. 12

    Step 12: place the end of strand 2 between the standing end of the bight in strand 1 and 3.

13. 13

    Step 13: Secure the end of strand 2 between the forefinger and thumb of your left hand and the rope.

14. 14

    Step 14: With your right hand

15. 15

    Step 15: take the end of strand 3 and place it under the bight in strand 1 and over all parts of strand 2.

16. 16

    Step 16: Release your grasp on the strand ends.

17. 17

    Step 17: Hold the end of the rope with the crown knot in your left hand.

18. 18

    Step 18: Select a strand

19. 19

    Step 19: call it strand 1 (even if it's strand 2

20. 20

    Step 20: 3 or 1)

21. 21

    Step 21: sticking out from under the crown knot and begin the backsplicing at that point by placing your right thumb partially under it and at the same time upon the strand it is passing over or lying upon.

22. 22

    Step 22: With your left forefinger and thumb

23. 23

    Step 23: grasp the strand immediately below the one your right thumb is holding.

24. 24

    Step 24: With your right hand

25. 25

    Step 25: twist the crown clockwise while twisting the standing end of the rope counterclockwise with your left.

26. 26

    Step 26: Keep this strand isolated

27. 27

    Step 27: and with your right hand

28. 28

    Step 28: place the end of strand 1 under it and pull it through until it's pulling against the crown itself.

29. 29

    Step 29: Retighten the crown by holding it on your left hand and pulling each crowned strand downward with a clockwise twist.

30. 30

    Step 30: Move to the next strand to be spliced back into the parent rope by twisting the rope around 1/3 turn in either direction until the next strand coming out from under the crown knot is reached.

31. 31

    Step 31: As with the first over and under

32. 32

    Step 32: place your right thumb under strand 2 and upon the strand it's passing over.

33. 33

    Step 33: Study the crowning at this point.

34. 34

    Step 34: Keep this strand isolated

35. 35

    Step 35: and with your right hand place the end of strand 2 under it and pull it through until it is pulling against the crown knot.

36. 36

    Step 36: Retighten the crown as before by pulling each crowned strand in a clockwise downward twist.

37. 37

    Step 37: There is only one strand

38. 38

    Step 38: being strand 3

39. 39

    Step 39: remaining

40. 40

    Step 40: and it too must go through the over-and-under process.

41. 41

    Step 41: Grasp the knot in your right hand exactly as you did before for the first and second strands.

42. 42

    Step 42: Retighten the crowning as before by pulling each strand in a clockwise downward twist.

43. 43

    Step 43: To continue the crowning or backsplicing

44. 44

    Step 44: repeat the preceding steps for as many rounds of splice as desired.

45. 45

    Step 45: Finish the crowning or backsplicing with a final retighten and rolling of the entire crown between the palms of your hands.

46. 46

    Step 46: Finished.

Detailed Guide

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