HolyTransfigurationOrthodoxChurcH

STARTING THE ROPE

Introduction

For a 33 knot prayer rope, fold a 7 yard piece of 2mm (black) rattail cording in half and make a "slip - knot" approx. 1 ft. from the doubled end (This knot will be removed. Any kind of knot will suffice as long as you can easily untie it. Depending on the method you use to fasten the finished rope into a loop, more or less "extra" cord may be desired. Your project will be created using the remaining cord / the 2 "long" ends of it). The left hand will be used as a "loom" upon which you will wrap the cord to form the basis of each knot.

one

Start with the left hand open, relaxed, and facing toward you.

two

Place the knot behind the pointer finger of the left hand with one end of the string hanging between the pointer and the middle finger and the other between the thumb and pointer finger: The two loose ends of the string will trail to the floor (see figure one).

Figure One

WEAVING A KNOT

one

With the right hand, grasp the right string and bring it around the front of the thumb, clockwise, behind the thumb and down between the thumb and pointer finger to trail as before.

two

Grasp the loop formed around the thumb at the front of the thumb with the right hand and, pulling slack from the hanging end, enlarge the loop: Flip your right hand to form a figure 8 twist in this loop and place the forward loop (a) over the middle finger of the left hand. One loose end (b) now runs through the middle finger's loop (loop a) and the other loose end (c) runs from behind the pointer finger and between the pointer finger and the thumb.

three

Notice part of loop (a) runs from behind the middle finger, in front of and around the back of the thumb, and then emerges from behind the thumb and returns back to the middle finger to form an x where the string crosses under itself on the "return trip". Grasp the leftmost loose string (c) on the middle finger side of this x (it will be hanging behind and below the x and will be draping across the palm), pull this string through the x on the right side of the x just far enough to form a loop, drape the loop formed over the thumb, and simultaneously drop the string from behind the thumb. A weave will be created.

A Weave

There can be seen: A knot (around the middle finger), a "broken" loop (one part in front of, and one part behind, the pointer finger), a twist (between the pointer and thumb), a loop (behind the thumb), and another twist (in front of the thumb). Thus, a loop has now been weaved in the palm that grasps the "ends" of the thumb loop so that only one of these "ends" is loose (the other "end", if followed back from the loose end can be seen to continue the knot around the other fingers before reaching the other loose end. See figure two).

Figure Two

WRAPPING THE KNOT

one

Reach under the rightmost loose - ended string and grasp the leftmost loose - ended string as it emerges from behind the thumb and after it passes through the weave. Bring this string (behind the other) across the palm, between the pinky and ring fingers, around behind the ring finger and the middle finger, and back to the front of the hand between the middle and pointer fingers: (Still grasping this cord … ) the section of the cord you are holding now lays over the palm - part of the knot assembly; however, it should next be pulled all the way through the front of the thumb - loop and behind it's most forward "end" to complete the first wrap (wrap it over, push it through, and pull it behind this fastened "end" of the thumb - loop; then, pull the free end of the cord completely through the part of the thumb - loop above the webbing of the thumb and on the left side of the remaining "weave" such that the "wrapped" cord is now situated behind the cord around which it has been "wrapped" and so drapes across the palm and to the floor).

two

Notice that the cord you just wrapped now appears to come from behind the middle finger to the front of the palm so as to cross the palm - weave in such a way that another x - shape can be discerned in the palm area when looking through the knot toward the palm. Pick up this "x" with the thumb and first finger of your right hand so that the thumb of your right hand is to the left of the crossed strings and the pointer finger of your right hand is to their right (do not pick up the x from the top and bottom of it): Situate the cords by pulling them as necessary to move the x from the palm and drop the crossed cords behind the thumb (such that the thumb, it might similarly be said, was "inserted" beneath and through the x and now resides on the right side of it; or whereby the crossed strings rest behind the thumb; and assuming the thumb has returned to and / or had remained in its original position). Do not drop the loop that was originally behind the thumb: There are now 3 string - parts behind the thumb / two loops and one cord which emerges from behind the thumb to become a trailing end.

three

Grasp the rightmost free - ended cord with the thumb and pointer fingers of the right hand from the left palm somewhere near the pinky finger and move the string immediately through the gap between the pinky and ring fingers from the palm side to the back of the hand. Bring this cord around behind the ring and middle fingers and between the middle and pointer fingers again to the front of the palm. Still holding this cord: Bring it in front of the pointer finger, over the 3 strands situated between the pointer finger and thumb (two are on the front side of the palm and one is on the back side), around the back of these cords, and through the opening below them (from the back side of this opening to the front). Pull the loose end of the cord you just wrapped all the way through this opening and then let the cord trail (it will be wrapped behind the top 3 cords of the weave and lay over the top of the bottom cords of the weave).

four

The "other", leftmost, trailing end (it is the one hanging from the back of the thumb) should be wrapped in a similar fashion: Bring it behind the cord you just wrapped, across the palm, between the pinky and ring fingers (from the palm side), behind the ring and middle fingers, between the middle and pointer fingers again to the front of the palm; then over the 3 strands strands in front of the pointer finger (two of these 3 strands are the same as in the last wrap and the 3rd was formed during that phase) … around the top of these, behind them, and immediately through the gap. Pull the loose end of the cord you just wrapped completely through and release the cord to trail (see figure three).

Figure Three

REMOVING THE KNOT

one

Grasp the cord which goes from the front of the palm at the base of the thumb, around the outside and behind the thumb, and connects to the knotted end of the rope … grasp this cord somewhere on the palm side of the left hand at the base of the thumb (pulling the correct one of the three strands in this area will cause the knot to move slightly) … grasp this cord, hold it and remove it from the thumb (continue to grasp it). Slide the other 2 strands from around the thumb and release them; but, still holding the first strand until the other 2 strands are removed from the thumb, replace the strand you are holding back into its original position over the thumb.

two

Grasp the cord which runs between the ring and middle finger (there is only one) … grasp this cord where it runs between these fingers and slip it from around the middle finger, over the top of the finger, and (still holding this cord) remove all the other cords from behind the ring and middle fingers to lay free in the palm weave area. Replace the cord you are holding (the one which you removed from the middle finger) back over the middle finger. You now have a knot.

A Knot

You should notice a loose knot in the palm of your hand, a loop around the thumb, another around the pointer finger, and a third loop around the middle finger: There are two loose - ended trailing strings emerging from this knot hanging across the palm to the floor. Pull these two cords "in an orderly fashion" to tighten the knot (see figure four).

Figure Four

(In an orderly fashion) If the weave and wrapping were done fairly snugly, if the slip - knot has remained fairly close to the back of the pointer finger, if the loops around the thumb and middle finger aren't too large (it helps to move these loops higher up on these fingers when tightening the knot), and if — when turning the hand slightly to "drop" the loose knot from the palm — the trailing ends emerge cleanly from the knot; then, the design of the knot can "almost" be discerned and so the knot can be monitored as tightening is done in an slow and orderly fashion: There is a slight twist in one area of the knot which should straighten itself if the left loose - ended cord is pulled slightly more than the right, at first. Otherwise, pulling straight down on both loose - ended cords at the same time will tighten this knot equally on all sides. However, you may have to rock the strands slightly as you pull them to move some parts of the knot in unison with the other parts. And getting the pulling action coordinated with the tightening of the areas of the knot that are controlled by the loops around the thumb and middle finger takes some practice (the less tightening done with the thumb and middle finger, the better). Thus, a fairly well formed and "tight knot" (but one which is not too tight) should form between the thumb and middle fingers and remain hanging from them as well as from the pointer finger and in front of that finger. As such, whatever knot you achieve will likely be good enough to continue with the PULLING stages (see "Pulling Up" and "Pulling Through").

PULLING THE KNOT

Pulling Up

Take the knot and 3 loops off the left hand. Keeping everything pretty much as it was when on your hand "loom", lay the "assembly" down: Place the left loop (the one formerly around your thumb) to the left, the right loop (the one formerly around your middle finger) to the right, and the other loop (the one formerly around your pointer finger) to the top … with the slip - knot (or, later, the row of knots) trailing away from you: The top cord of the left hand loop and the bottom cord of the right hand loop, when pulled simultaneously, should "shorten" the other loop and move the new knot toward the knotted end of the string (if you've twisted the cords, or are unsure, pulling on different parts of the left and right loops will eventually show you which strands are the correct ones. With only a little practice, this stage becomes quickly self - evident). Move the knot in this way as close to the other knot(s) as possible (sometimes, there is a "flipping" of the upper part of the knot as it turns out from itself … this is ok; though, if the knot seems extremely loose or mishapped you should untie it and start over).

Pulling Through

While the knot is still laying flat in front of you: With the thumb and first finger of the left hand, grasp 2 the loose - ended cords tight against the bottom of the new knot and pinch to push the knot into the other knot(s) so as to hold it in place. Simultaneously hold down the left loop just as tightly against the side and bottom of the knot and grasp it, as well, with the thumb and pointer finger of the left hand (without allowing any slack to form). Then, pick up the knot(s), as you have grasped them, with the left hand and bring the knot toward your eyes by bending your elbow (of course): The knot will be at the tip of your pointer and will point to the right.

one

If these procedures have been done as indicated then what you are looking at is the "top" of the knot: The right loop is facing you and the top cord of that loop can be seen to go into the knot such that the top continuation of the right loop goes under a single strand of the knot and then re-emerges (to continue around the back of the knot and re-emerge again on the bottom right of it). After it goes under the single strand and comes back out, grasp the knotted cord and pull "clockwise" (away from you, toward the back of the knot … such that "down, around, and back up" would complete a clock's circuit): This should have the effect of making the first loop shorter by moving it under this strand of the knot (away from you) and such that it re-emerges as "another" loop (one which grows bigger as the first loop shrinks).

two

Next pull on the bottom right cord of the knot (point the knotted end away from you a bit and twist the left hand "up" so you are looking at the "bottom" of the knot). Note: Sometimes this strand "hides" (you can always follow the continuation of the loop you just formed around the back of the knot and see where it, like its predecessor, goes under a single strand of the knot and re- emerges). If you are pulling the correct strand, the second loop will shrink and a third loop will be formed.

three

Back on the top of the knot (bend the elbow a bit and twist the left hand "down" to look down on the knot), there is a thread that always appears to me to be sticking out a little from the rest of the knot: Pulling this thread should shrink the third loop and form a fourth (under a single strand … you can follow the continuation of the loop to see which strand it goes underneath if you are in doubt).

Assuming it's not so easy to see which part of the knot to pull in order to shorten the "right" loop, bring it under a single thread in the knot, and pull it back out as a "another" (and it won't be, not at first); you can always search the knot and pull on various parts of it to see what needs to be pulled and in which direction so as to accomplish these steps. You will learn the correct strands to pull with practice. However: If the loops don't pull through "easily" (there may be some resistance depending on how snugly you've tightened the knot); or if, when pulling a cord, you find yourself pulling "another part" of the assembly (any part other than the loop you are working on); then, you have likely either a) wrapped the left and right loose - ended cords in the wrong order (see Wrapping) or b) removed the wrong cords from around the thumb (see Removing). You should untie the knot and start it again.

Pulling Through (Part Two)

one

Open the fingers of the left hand a bit, separate the loose - ended strings from the left loop, free the left loop, and grasp the right loop (along with the loose - ended strings) between the pointer and thumb of the left hand tightly against the knot(s) as you did before with the right loop to free the left loop completely (make sure the loose - ended cords are freed from the inside bottom edge of the left loop … which they should be if you've grasped them tightly).

Note: Because the old "right" loop has been brought around the knot, it ends up facing away from you … and becomes more left than the old "left" loop (The old "left" loop is now in the position of the old "right" loop). Notice that as the loose - ended cords are grasped between the thumb and pointer fingers of the left hand to pinch them against the knot(s) and the elbow is bent; the knot(s) still point to your right, the second loop points toward you (as the first did), and you are once again looking down on the "top" of the knot … so you will also be pulling this loop through "clockwise" (above, around back, down behind, and up from the bottom right of the knot; under one cord each time; and so as to shorten the one loop and create another).

two (and three)

Following (with your eyes) the top continuation of the freed loop under one knotted strand at the top of the knot: Pull the cord where it emerges from under this strand, away from you, to shorten the freed loop and lengthen it again on the far side of that strand. The continuation of this new loop now goes behind the knot and emerges from beneath a loose - ended cord you are grasping … but continues to go again beneath another cord to emerge "again": You can pull the loop through "twice" (if that makes sense to you); or, you can pull the loose thread at the top of the knot — a bit more toward you than the strand you pulled before — since pulling this cord will shorten the loop "twice in one pull" (this, because of the one time that it doesn't actually go through the knot).

That's It!

Release the loops. Grasp one loose - ended string with the right hand and the other with your left. And pull these two cords to shorten the left and right loops. They will "fold in" and tighten against the far side of the new knot (one on each side of it). You can pull these cords as tightly as you wish to spread the near side of the knot and abut the knot snugly against the other knot(s): I leave my knots, this way, in a flattened oval shape (rather than a rounded bead shape) and flush against each other. But whether you like your knots oval or round, you can shape the knots some during and after tightening by rolling them between your thumb and pointer finger or squeezing them where they bulge (if they do).

After tightening, you've successfully made your first knot. The slip - knot can be removed at this point: Your new knot will become the "first" knot in your prayer rope (see figure five).

Figure Five

About (see also)

The photos on this page were taken from How to Tie an Orthodox Prayer Rope. As such: Special thanks to Patricia VanderLaan who supplied the photos for that site / I asked before putting them on this one. BTW: You are welcome to follow the instructions on the linked site if they are easier for you to understand.

Freely Ye Have Received Freely Give