Welcome to the International Guild of Knot Tyers

International Guild of Knot Tyers

International Branches

Good News - the new IGKT forum is up and running & open to all

At long last we have a new forum which incorporates most of the posts from our previous two versions. IGKT Members can use their normal IGKT log-in details, non-members will need to use an email & create a password in order to add posts or replies. 

It is accessible here or by clicking the New Forum link in the middle of the top line of this page.

About the Guild

The International Guild of Knot Tyers (IGKT) is a very friendly association of people, whose interests are in ropes, knots and knotting techniques of all kinds.

We have about a thousand members world-wide from all walks of life including knitters, surgeons, sailors, climbers, anglers, scouters, magicians, lace-makers, farmers, miners, knitters and mathematicians. Membership is open to anyone interested in knotting, ropes, cords and yarn (whether expert or simply hoping to learn from others).

We celebrated our fortieth anniversary in 2022 and have now produced over 160 issues of our journal Knotting Matters. The journal contains news and ideas from all aspects of knotting and is full of useful and interesting articles, letters, queries and opinions.

Issues of Knotting Matters 1 - 160 are readable online here. The issues from the latest 12 months are only available to members.

There are active branches of IGKT around the world and we are always very happy when another group starts up. The UK has most of these (it is a small country which makes travelling to events fairly easy) at eight, and there are national organisations in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and North America (IGKTNA and two informal branches on the Pacific coast and Alaska). Non-English-speaking knotters can join their national organisations without needing to join IGKT.

Latest News


Books on Knots

IGKT publishes a number of books on knotting and also sells a few other books on related subjects which are not easily available. These are distributed by our sales volunteer, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and are catalogued here.

Forthcoming Special Events

A Knotting Event in Stockholm
26th - 28th September 2025.

Marianne Brohäll (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) is organising  this exciting event and offers a warm welcome to everyone. More details can be found here.

IGKT October Meeting 2025

This year, our half-yearly October meeting will be on October 3rd - 5th 2025, in the beautiful 18th century Piece Hall in Halifax, Yorkshire, UK.

It was built around a large square, with over 300 small rooms for weavers and traders selling 'pieces' - 30 yard (27m) lengths of hand-loom woven woolen material 24 - 36 inches (75 - 90cm) wide. 

Attached to the Piece Hall is an excellent museum of the machinery and processes in the wool trade which made the hand-looms redundant in the 19th Century. We are offered a guided tour of the museum.

Annual Meeting of IGKT North America 2025

This year's meeting and AGM will be held over the weekend of September 11-14 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Clifford Ashley's home is nearby and the museum has many Ashley memorabilia.

IGKT AGM & Exhibition 2026

Next year's main meeting will be held at the Rough Close Scout Campsite. This will be our second visit to this excellent set of facilities run by City of Coventry Scout County. 

The venue is about 5 miles to the west of Coventry City Centre. Address: Tanners' Ln, Coventry CV7 7DD

The dates will be 7-10th May 2026


Permanent home for IGKT Library Books

In July 2022 we arranged with the Brunel Institute, an organisation set up by the SS Great Britain Trust and the University of Bristol, England, to house our collection of knotting and ropework books in the Institute’s library. The collection consists of books the IGKT has amassed over it’s 40 years of operating, along with a considerably larger number of volumes from a founder member.

The Brunel Institute library is open daily to the public throughout the year and is free to visit. The cost of incorporating the books into the Institute’s library is being funded by a very generous donation from a member in the USA.

The Library have nearly finished the long task of adding the books to their database and, later in 2024, the titles will be searchable on the Brunel Institute’s website.

Here is a link to search most of the uploaded IGKT books.

George Hart Bursary

Thanks to the generosity of George, the IGKT has been able to set up a fund to provide funds for helping and encouraging members, especially younger members, to engage in an ‘extraordinary’ activity which involves knotting and the Guild. For full details please see the Member News section here or contact the secretary This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We really would like to give some money away to suitable applicants, so do give it your serious thought. Non-member applications are also given serious consideration.

NW England Branch Meeting

19-07-2025 12:00 pm -4:00 pm

NW England Branch Meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month except December which is on the 2nd Saturday.

Contact: Ian Rogers on Ian by text, please,  on 0794640196.

2025 Knotting Topics

 January - Splicing   February - Turks heads   March - Monkey's fists

April - Braid on Braid   May - Grommets   June - Mathew Walker knots

July - Pineapple knots   August - Netting   September - Mats

October - Skeleton Solomon dolls   November - Knotted Christmas decorations

December - Christmas lunch

Netherlands Branch Meeting - Dordrecht

02-08-2025 10:00 am -4:00 pm

Netherlands Branch meeting - first Saturday of each month (except December) in the Binnenvaart Museum

Contact - André van der Salm This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: +31 (0) 625 067 174

NW England Branch Meeting

16-08-2025 12:00 pm -4:00 pm

NW England Branch Meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month except December which is on the 2nd Saturday.

Contact: Ian Rogers on Ian by text, please,  on 0794640196.

2025 Knotting Topics

 January - Splicing   February - Turks heads   March - Monkey's fists

April - Braid on Braid   May - Grommets   June - Mathew Walker knots

July - Pineapple knots   August - Netting   September - Mats

October - Skeleton Solomon dolls   November - Knotted Christmas decorations

December - Christmas lunch