A Knot a Day: 365 Knot Challenges for All Abilities

Former Classic Boat editor Compton (Off the Deep End) offers a knot project for each day of the year in this beautifully designed guide. The projects are sorted by skill level: the section on basic knots lays the foundation for more intricate options and covers the simple overhand loop and the reef knot. “Indoor Knots” feature such projects as a “Simple plant hanger” and a “Flower knot,” and progress into more difficult “Outdoor knots” such as a beer bottle carrier and a ladder for tree climbing. Compton presents practical uses for his projects—knots can be used to carry water bottles or in an emergency on the water, and can help transport a pile of logs—while others are meant for entertainment, as seen in a “Magic Knots” section that contains projects that “appear out of nowhere, vanish, and one knot appears to slice straight through your neck.” Photographs of cords and ropes supplement the step-by-step instructions for each project. For readers looking to beef up their knot knowledge, this is a handy resource. (Feb.)