Skinless

So far, we have been focused on ancient knots, and this one is no different. The sheet bend has been found used in Neolithic fishing nets, a practice that still holds in some traditional methods of netmaking. It was also used by weavers, if there were breaks in the vertical strands, called the warp, hence why it is sometimes called the weaver’s knot. It is more commonly known as the sheet bend among sea witches, because the “sheets” it refers to are sails. It was used for a lot of sails because it is extremely effective in binding two ropes under a lot of tension that are of different diameters or thicknesses. Now that we’ve gone over historic applications, let’s discuss magical ones. 

1. The Weaver’s Knot for holding things together. Like the historic use, where this knot was used to stabilize the warp of a loom, so that the weaving can continue, a witch can use the weaver’s knot when struggling and frazzled, to help keep things together until they can get past the danger point and get out of the danger zone. In this case I advise finding two pieces of old, worn but strong rope or cord, and doing the knot. In my family it is traditional to incant while doing so: Warp to warp I bind you still/Three times three with all my skill. Is  incanting it necessary? No. Do I know what the the ‘three-times-three,’ it means? Nope. It’s older than my grandparents, and they’re not sure. I have theories regarding three and nine being exceptionally powerful magical numbers, and the heavy Norse-Gael influences in my family, but no hard facts. Do I say it anyway? Absolutely. Do as you like. I know some people find rhymes easier. 

2: Recalling the historical use as netting, this can sometimes be used as a money charm, usually with ropes of two different colors or materials. Once tied together, it is hung inside an office, business, or home to help “catch” money. small and large. If you are feeling more ambitious, it can also be used to create an ornamental net, that one can hang, usually with a bowl and a few pennies in to draw more of the same, like baiting the net.

3. The most common use in my family, and the most annoying among my cousins and I, the sheet’s bend as a temporary binding knot, specifically used to bind a younger person’s magic, as a form of punishment. leading to being grounded being called “being tied to the sheets’’ in our home. It is a binding of magic either as punishment because you did something stupid, irresponsible, and/or dangerous, or because of an excess that one needs to learn to handle slowly in puberty. It is easily undone when not under tension, which makes it good for this. The larger rope represents the parent or guardian, while the thinner represents the child. These ropes might be blooded to ensure proper snaring, or not.