The West Country whipping is a quick practical
whipping knot
A whipping knot or whipping is a binding (knot), binding of twine or Whipcord#Cord, whipcord around the end of a rope to prevent its natural tendency to fray.
Some whippings are finished cleanly, as by drawing the bitter end of the cordage b ...
, a method of using twine to secure the end of a rope to prevent it fraying. It has several advantages: it can be tied without a needle; it is simple to understand and remember; if the whipping fails, the loose ends can usually be re-tied to temporarily prevent the rope's end from fraying.
Technique
Half knots are tied alternately behind and in front of the rope until the width of the band of twine approaches the diameter of the rope. A
reef (square) knot, or better a series of reef (square) knots, completes the whipping. If a needle is available this string of reef (square) knots can be pulled through the rope to bury the ends. Alternatively, a short bight of another rope can be laid first and used to pull the rope ends through. If the rope is a stranded rope, the ends can usually be pulled through without a needle.
Alternatives
The
sailmaker's whipping
The sailmaker's whipping is one of the most durable and stable of rope whippings known. According to ''The Ashley Book of Knots'', "''palm-and-needle whipping'', or ''sailmaker's whipping'', is the most satisfactory of all."
Technique Palm an ...
is the yardstick for comparison, for its durability. There are two approaches to forming the frapping turns, the source of the durability, both of which are harder to understand and remember compared to the West Country whipping.
See also
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List of knots
This list of knots includes many alternative names for common knots and lashings. Knot names have evolved over time, and there are many conflicting or confusing naming issues. The overhand knot, for example, is also known as the thumb knot. The ...
References
External links
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