Publishers Weekly
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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.)

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Do you need a knot to . . . tie a scarf? Make an outdoor gym? Transport a six pack? Impress a friend? Look no further! This is a fun, well-photographed collection of knots for any and every occasion. Simple photos illustrate each step, accompanied by clear instructions. While simple knots lead off in the first few pages, some more complicated knots are introduced early on, which will keep it interesting for those working through the book front-to-back. Knots are color-classified by use (general, indoor, outdoor, magic, craft, fashion, decorative, and splices); they are not otherwise organized in that way, making the collection best for browsing or embarking on a year-long knot-skill learning journey, but not a quick reference the next time you need the perfect knot for hobbling a grazing cow, unless you know it's called a Tom Fool's knot. Sure to delight scouts, sailors, amateur magicians, and shoelace mavens alike.