The Granny Knot (Drewry)

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s set, 1M casts 1 place, 1M+2L dance ½ Fig of 8 round 1L+2M to end beside partner (Lady on partner's right)
9-16 1s+2s+3s set and circle 6H round to left for 2 bars, turn partner 2H and circle 6H round to left back to place (in circle formation)
17-24 1+2+3 Ladies set advancing, dance RH across and dance round partners (LSh) to place (in circle formation)
25-32 1+2+3 Men set advancing, dance RH across and turn partners LH to face anticlockwise with partner on right in prom hold
33-40 1s+2s+3s Promenade once round, 2s followed by 1s+3s dance down and drop LH to face up
41-46 3s followed by 1s+2s lead up and cast down on opposite sides. (2)(1)(3)
47-48 2s cross RH while 1s+3s dance ½ RH across. 231

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Dance Information

The granny knot is a binding knot, used to secure a rope or line around an object.

It is considered inferior to the reef knot, which it superficially resembles.

Granny Knot

Reef Knot

Thief Knot

Grief Knot

The reef knot (square knot) is the strongest of this knot family, but it should be noted that this is a very poor way of connecting two rope ends. This is because the knot will undo if a free end is pulled outwards.

The thief knot is so-named because it is supposed to have been used for tying around valuable trunks. On first inspection it looks exactly like the reef knot so if an unauthorised person undoes the knot to look into the trunk, and then refastens the rope with a reef knot, their actions could easily be detected by the owner.

The grief knot is so-named because it looks similar to the reef knot but is very likely to slip undone, causing grief.

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