A miller's knot (also sack knot or bag knot) is a

binding knot Binding may refer to: Computing * Binding, associating a network socket with a local port number and IP address * Data binding, the technique of connecting two data elements together ** UI data binding, linking a user interface element to an eleme ...

used to secure the opening of a sack or bag. Historically, large sacks often contained

grains A grain is a small, hard, dry fruit (caryopsis) – with or without an attached hull layer – harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and legume ...

; thus the association of these knots with the miller's trade. Several knots are known interchangeably by these three names.Clifford W. Ashley, ''The Ashley Book of Knots'' (New York: Doubleday, 1944), 62. Constrictor makes a fiercer binding knot, but Miller's/Bag is suitable for most applications, and is easier to tie/untie. Miller's/Bag makes a great hitch, like the similar Ground-Line. Binding usage has force emanating from inside rope ring evenly, hitch usage has force input from one side, then reducing around.

Variations

As noted above, several other distinct

knot A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches, bends, loop knots, and splices: a ''hitch'' fastens a rope to another object; a ' ...

s have historically been known as miller's, sack, or bag knots; namely ABOK-1241, ABOK-1242, ABOK-1243 (Ground line hitch), ABOK-1674, ABOK-11 and their slipped versions. These fit the short description "two crossing turns – ends tucked under". The following 3 knots do not fit the simple "two crossing turns – ends tucked under" definition but are very secure: * A slipped

constrictor knot The constrictor knot is one of the most effective binding knots.Clifford W. Ashley, ''The Ashley Book of Knots'' (New York: Doubleday, 1944), 224-225.Brion Toss, ''The Complete Rigger's Apprentice'' (Camden, Maine: International Marine, 1998), 1 ...

where the ends are passed through the opposing slips for security is quite secure as a bag knot. Unslipped, it is even more secure, but it may have to be cut at the bridge to open the bag. * A slipped

strangle knot The strangle knot is a simple binding knot. Similar to the constrictor knot, it also features an overhand knot under a riding turn. A visible difference is that the ends emerge at the outside edges, rather than between the turns as for a constr ...

where the ends are passed through the opposing slips for security is also quite secure as a bag knot. * A

bottle sling The bottle sling (also called a jug sling, a Hackamore knot, or a Scoutcraft knot) is a knot which can be used to create a handle for a glass or ceramic container with a slippery narrow neck, as long as the neck widens slightly near the top. Whi ...

around a swirled and folded neck of the bag (elbow of the neck) is also a very solid and reliable bag knot. The fold provides the slight bulge a bottle sling needs for a secure hold. The bag may be hanged fully loaded by the ends of the

Bottle sling The bottle sling (also called a jug sling, a Hackamore knot, or a Scoutcraft knot) is a knot which can be used to create a handle for a glass or ceramic container with a slippery narrow neck, as long as the neck widens slightly near the top. Whi ...

tied together.

Tying

The common aspects of the most common bag knots are two crossing turns, and both ends tucked under some turns near the crossing point. Two ends, and two turns one can tuck under, gives a limited number of alternatives. All of these knots can also be made in a slipped form by starting with a bight and/or by completing the final tuck with a bight instead of the end.Ashley, 224. To avoid ambiguity, versions of these knots that are not slipped are pictured below with the reference numbers found in ''

The Ashley Book of Knots ''The Ashley Book of Knots'' is an encyclopedia of knots written and illustrated by the American sailor and artist Clifford W. Ashley. First published in 1944, it was the culmination of over 11 years of work. The book contains 3,857 numbered en ...

''. File:Millers-Knot-ABOK-1241.jpg, 4 - ABOK #1241 File:Millers-Knot-ABOK-1242.jpg, 2 - ABOK #1242 FIle:Groundline-Hitch-Loose-ABOK-1243.jpg, 3 - ABOK #1243 or Spar hitch or

Ground-line hitch The ground-line hitch is a type of knot used to attach a rope to an object. Worked-up and dressed properly, it is more secure than the simpler clove hitch and has less tendency to jam, but does not respond well to swinging. It can also be used ...

File:Millers-Knot-ABOK-1244.jpg, 5 - ABOK #1674 (slipped: ABOK #1244) File:Clove hitch (PSF).jpg, 6 - ABOK #11 or

Clove hitch The clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most important knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing kno ...

File:Inkscape Constrictor Knot.svg, 1 - ABOK #176 or

Constrictor knot The constrictor knot is one of the most effective binding knots.Clifford W. Ashley, ''The Ashley Book of Knots'' (New York: Doubleday, 1944), 224-225.Brion Toss, ''The Complete Rigger's Apprentice'' (Camden, Maine: International Marine, 1998), 1 ...

File:Strangle-knot-ABOK-1239.jpg, 7 - ABOK #1239 or

Strangle knot The strangle knot is a simple binding knot. Similar to the constrictor knot, it also features an overhand knot under a riding turn. A visible difference is that the ends emerge at the outside edges, rather than between the turns as for a constr ...

File:SiseBagiHazir.JPG, 8 - ABOK #260 or

This is to tie a

version of the miller's knot: # Grip the neck of the bag with the left hand, # Fix / immobilize one end of the rope tucked upwards over the left hand long finger and under the index finger (option 1 : double folded as a

bight The word is derived from Old English ''byht'' (“bend, angle, corner; bay, bight”). In modern English, bight may refer to: * Bight (geography), recess of a coast, bay, or other curved feature * Bight (knot), a curved section, slack part, or loo ...

to prepare a start-side-slip for the final knot) # Make two crossing turns around the neck of the bag. Detailed steps: ## Cross over the hand downwards and take one turn around (front, then back) the neck of the bag at the sack side of the hand (under the hand) ## Cross over the hand upwards as well as over the immobilized other end, ## Take a second turn around the neck of the bag at the opening side of the hand (over the hand) # Cross over the immobilized other end of the rope, then cross back tucking under the crossing point of step 3.2 (of the immobilized other end, and the part between the two turns), (option 2 : this last tuck with a

instead of the end as an end-side-slip for the final knot). To tie the other variants: # If at the last step one chooses not to cross the immobilized other end and tuck only inwards under the part between the two turns, the knot will be an ABoK #11 or

. # If at the last step one chooses to cross the immobilized other end and tuck only under the part between the two turns, the knot will be an ABoK #1242 (tuck inwards) # or a

ground-line hitch The ground-line hitch is a type of knot used to attach a rope to an object. Worked-up and dressed properly, it is more secure than the simpler clove hitch and has less tendency to jam, but does not respond well to swinging. It can also be used ...

( ABoK #1243 - tuck outwards) pictured. It should be tightened by pulling the end first. It is also called Spar hitch # If at the last step one chooses to cross over the crossing point, and then tuck outwards under the first turn, the knot will be an ABoK #1241 pictured. # If at the last step one chooses to cross over the crossing point, and then tuck inwards under the first turn, the knot will be an ABoK #1674 pictured. Shown in a slipped form at entry #1244, this variation is noted by

Ashley Ashley is a place name derived from the Old English words '' æsc'' (“ash”) and '' lēah'' (“meadow”). It may refer to: People and fictional characters * Ashley (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name ...

as having better binding characteristics than the others. Tying other knots that also may function very well as a bag knot but are slightly different from above descriptions: #

(two non crossing turns with one end crossing over both and tucked under both) ## Grip the neck of the bag with the left hand, ## Fix / immobilize one end of the rope tucked upwards over the left hand long and under the index finger (option 1 : double folded as a

to prepare a start-side-slip for the final knot) ## Make two parallel turns around the neck of the bag. Detailed steps: ### Cross over the hand downwards and take one turn around (front, then back) the neck of the bag first at the sack side of the hand (under the hand), then over the hand and behind the immobilized other end. ### Take another turn crossing over the immobilized other end, crossing downwards over the hand around (front, then back) the neck of the bag parallel to the first turn ## Cross over the immobilized other end of the rope, then cross back tucking under both turns, (option 2 : this last tuck with a

instead of the end as an end-side-slip for the final knot). #

(sides of a bight form one turn each, pleat between all 4 enter and exit points inside of two turns) File:SiseBagi1.JPG, 8-1- For ABOK #260

start with an

Overhand knot The overhand knot is one of the most fundamental knots, and it forms the basis of many others, including the simple noose, overhand loop, angler's loop, reef knot, fisherman's knot, Half hitch, and water knot. The overhand knot is a stopper, e ...

pulled to a

Slip knot The slip knot is a stopper knot which is easily undone by pulling the tail (working end). The slip knot is related to the running knot, which will release when the standing end is pulled. Both knots are identical and are composed of a slipped ...

File:SiseBagi2.JPG, 8-2-The end side of the slip is folded into a loop with end side up File:SiseBagi3.JPG, 8-3-The resulting loop is folded under and the slip side of the

pulled through it File:SiseBagi4.JPG, 8-4-The remaining slip is passed over the loop and under the knot bight pulled through the loop File:SiseBagiHazir.JPG, 8-5-The hole in the middle ready to be slipped over the swirled and double folded bag mouth, and tightened

References

{{Knots

Variations

Tying

See also

References