The True Lover’s Knot is a classic.
It’s made by tying two Overhand knots in opposite directions, which creates an eye-catching design.
It’s a decorative knot that is about love, unity, and loyalty.
In the Ashley Book of Knots (ABoK), several knots have been referred to as the True Lover’s Knot.
We will learn ABoK #798. Let’s start!
True Lover’s Knot Details
Type: Decorative
Other Names: True Love Knot, Love Knot
ABoK Reference: #798
How to Tie a True Lover’s Knot
- Tie an overhand knot in the middle of the rope.
- Feed the working end through the loop.
- Tie a second overhand knot, which interlocks with the first from step 2.
- Tighten the first knot and then the second one.
To untie, just untie the Overhand knots, and the knot will come apart easily.
What True Lover’s Knot Symbolizes?
The True Lover’s knot is a symbol of love, friendship, and affection.
Back in the days when sailors spent months and years at sea, they used this knot as a symbol of connection to loved ones at home.
It’s like a promise to stay loyal to their partner.
It’s regarded as the symbol of luck, prosperity, and good fortune in the Hindu religion.
In fact, the symmetrical design is an indication of harmonious and strong relationships.
It’s also known as the Buddha knot in Chinese culture which is a symbol of unity and spiritual connection.
Pros & Cons
- Easy to tie, so anyone can learn this knot and express their love without investing in specific tools and skills.
- Its appealing design can be used to make jewelry and decorative works.
- Difficult to untie this knot once it’s tightened.
- Not as strong as knots like the Bowline and Figure 8 knot, so it’s rarely used in sailing, fishing and climbing.
Applications and Uses
- In Hindu tradition, this knot is used in wedding ceremonies as a symbol of the couple’s union.
- It signifies the start of the new journey as a couple together.
- The interlocked loops of this knot are used to make jewelry like rings, bracelets, necklaces, and other accessories.
- Historically, it was used for creating gold wire wedding rings for sailors. It served as a token of love for their partners after a long voyage.
- It is used to make a zipper pull, a paracord survival bracelet, and a decorative loop for a lanyard, whistle, and car keys.
Other Similar Knots
Matthew Walker Knot
The Two Strand Matthew Walker (ABoK #2421) is one of the many variations of the True Lover’s knot.
It consists of two interlocked Overhand Knots and is used for making decorative Lanyards.
Fisherman’s Knot
As Ashley puts it, the Fisherman’s Knot (also known as the Water Knot, Englishman’s Knot) is probably the least pleasing to the eye of all other True Lover’s Knots.
Don’t confuse this one with the Water Knot used to tie webbings together.
It also consists of two Overhand Knots, but they are tied in a different way than the True Lover’s Knot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is True Lover’s Knot a Bend?
NO. The True Lover’s knot is not a bend knot.
It should be used for decorative purposes only and should NEVER be used for joining two ropes together.
If you need a bend knot, go through our complete list of bend knots, like the Sheet Bend, Double Fisherman’s Knot, Zeppelin Bend, and many more.
That’s it for this article.
Tie a True lover’s knot TODAY and express your love to your beloved one!
