WOOL & WAX

Provenance

Sailors have for generations taken pleasure in the art of rope work, both for personal functional uses and as keepsakes of a life at sea. Seamen frequently occupied their idle hours with handiwork that included knitting, crocheting, stitching, needlepoint and knotting of macramé objects. The material most available to the crew was remnants of old rigging and cable. Knotting began as the making of items of necessity at sea, such as lanyards, handles for sea chests, and belts to hold up sailors’ britches. Heavily knotted webbing, sometimes called strapping, used to cover and protect a fisherman’s water jug or glass float. Slingshots with monkey-fist knots were used to help in the throwing of lines ashore. Sailors historically sold or bartered their fancy rope work for a drink or other favors on shore.