Cored Granny Knot (CGK)
By Lazarus
Go learn the Cored Square Knot first. The Cored Granny Knot (just a series of identical half-knots, aka "macramé knots") is tied almost exactly the same way as is the Cored Square Knot (aka Solomon Knot), with only one tiny variation. But the results make it look dramatically different. This creates a twisted strap instead of a flat strap. This can be a great way to add vicious texture to the end of your falls. The twisted version (this technique) is called the Bannister Bar in the Ashely Book of Knots (ABOK#2496).
You can use this technique with differing numbers of ropes as your core. Here I demonstrate doing so with a single cord as the core and a double cord as a core.
Video
…Around a Double Cord
Begin exactly as we would with a Cored Square Knot
…Around a Single Cord
This technique works great around a single cord as well
This technique can be interesting when using a rope that is made with three twists. You can unlay the rope, giving you three cords and use this technique to add a different texture for your falls in place of simple twisted rope. If you do this, I recommend starting and stopping this portion with some kind of stopped knot. When I’m doing this, I prefer the 3-strand version of the Matthew Walker Knot
Begin exactly as we would with a Cored Square Knot, but this time, instead of always choosing the side where the tail is underneath the containing loop…
Rope consumption
- With ¼” (~6mm) rope,
- Each square of a Cored Granny Knot around a 2-strand core consumes ~3.5” of rope in each strand. Tightly tied, one square covers a linear distance of ~0.75” (2cm). So to have 4” of Cored Granny Knot twist, you would need ~13-14” of rope
| Variant | Rope / strand | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Cored Granny Knot (one square, 2-strand core) | 3.5" (9 cm) | 0.75" (2 cm) |