Des Pawson’s Knot Craft & Rope Mats
Adlard Coles Nautical, 2016. ISBN 9781472922793
As a self-confessed bibliophile and knotoholic, it was quite a buzz to receive a brand new book about knots! However, every silver lining, by definition, comes with its own cloud! I have to review it!
The first question that pops into my head every time I look at a new book of knots is, “Do we need another book about knots?” or to put it another way, “What’s new?” More of that later.
I really enjoyed the first section about tools and tricks of the trade from which I learnt a lot. I also liked the general layout of the different chapters with the fawn box which cites materials – length/thickness of rope/cord and knots used – plus the suggestion that you make your own notes! The diagrams are also wonderfully clear, both as drawings of completed pieces and the steps for getting there.
I like the fact that the binding allows the book to be opened to a given page and it will stay there – important when trying to follow diagrams and instructions!
A couple of niggles for me. Despite what I said about how I liked the binding, where possible, I like my knot books to be pocket sized and if that is not possible, then to be of a more standard oblong shape. Whether this is realistic in this case, I am not sure. The other point is about knives… in many crafts there is a lot of discussion around the merits of knives and their need to be sharpened as opposed to the exchangeable or snap-off blades of cutters. It would have been interesting to hear Des Pawson’s views on the subject.
Overall, a handsome book which I think firstly will be slightly more attractive to those who practice their knotting and rope-work in a marine environment and secondly to relative newcomers: I own the pocket-sized Knot Craft (2003), all of which is reproduced in this new and fuller edition, so I, personally, would hesitate to pay the full price for just over half the book.
Maurice Mcpartlan