Product Manual

Each throw within a knot can either be a single or double throw. A single

throw is formed by wrapping the two strands around each other so that the

angle of the wrap equals 360°. In a double throw, the free end of a strand

is passed twice, instead of once, around the other strand; the angle of this

double-wrap throw is 720°. The tying of one or more additional throws

completes the knot. The configuration of the knot can be classified into

two general types by the relationship between the knot “ears” and the loop

(Figure 2). When the right “ear” and the loop of the two throws exit on the

same side of the knot or parallel to each other, the type of knot is judged to

be square (reef). The knot is considered a granny type if the right “ear” and

the loop exit or cross different sides of the knot.

When the knot is constructed by an initial double-wrap throw followed by

a single throw, it is called a surgeon’s (friction) knot. The configuration of a

reversed surgeon’s knot is a single throw followed by a double-wrap throw.

A knot consisting of two double-wrap throws is appropriately called a

double-double.

Figure 2. The configuration of surgical knots.