Non-climber needs advice on symbolic use of climbing knots

I've been with my hard-core climber boyfriend for a year and a half, now. We've been living together since we began our relationship, and I can say almost without a single doubt that i would like to spend the rest of my life with this man. We have seriously begun looking for apartments for life after graduation (we've been looking at areas in between new paltz and hunter).

In about six months or so, when we reach our two year mark, I would like to sort of pop the question, and get him an "engaged to be engaged" ring to put a tangible reality to my dedication.

I would like to commission a custom titanium bracelet for him (i fihure that will withstand his rather rough and tumble lifestyle better than any ring).

I come to you looking for advice on climbing knots that i could use as the pattern for this piece. I'm not a climber by any stretch of the imagination - I boulder V.1 and climb 5.6 outside on a good day - but i feel like using a climbing knot would be a good way to express my feelings towards our relationship.

Could anyone give me details on different kinds of knots used for building gear anchors, for equalizing loads on anchors, or any other knots that promote safety and mutual support?

if this is in the wrong place, please let me know and I'll repost. I just figured the general climbing section might be a good place to begin.

Thank you in advance!

Double Figure 8 - looks like an eternity symbol and is the knot that is frequently used to tie into a harness / anchor.

This is what a figure-8 looks like if you were to glue the two free ends together after tying the knot:

Of course, other configurations of the figure-8 would also be nice on a ring.

I`ve seen the double fishermans knot referred to as the love knot....I guess because the 2 halves of the knot slide into each other.

animatedknots.com/doublefis…

A loose version of most knots look better than a tightened. That is if you haven't already realized that yourself! Good luck with your relationship!

I'd vote for a double fisherman's knot. Joins two ropes perfectly when your life depends on it. A classic, used for everything before sewn runners came along.

thanks so much! so far i'm liking how a loose, double figure 8 would look. i also like that it would create a thicker bracelet, since the "rope" would double over. this would be more masculine, and more sturdy.

and thanks for the wishes, choss!

:)

I would have to agree that joing two ends together with the double fisherman's would be the winner. You find that all the time in climbing. Hell, I have an extra cord tied in this manner on my belay loop as a backup. Just in case there is a snap, that good buddy will save my climber's life. It is a great way to join a relationship together because of the use of the knot and any climber on the face of the earth will understand it when he sees it. Good luck and I have to say that is a very cool sentimental way of showing your love for him and his passions.

The figure 8 represented love in medieval times...

My wife and I had a little rope tying ceremony at our wedding. We joined two pieces of rope with double fisherman knots (we decided on the double fisherman's before we learned the history of the figure eight). Also, our vows said: "to Love, Honor, and Belay"

anyway, good luck!

Euro Death Knot.

A figure 8 probably looks better, but there's one big advantage to a double fisherman's knot: they're a real pain to untie. Nothing symbolizes a marriage more than a cord that's been tied for years, with the knot welded in place.

ann ann wrote:I would like to commission a custom titanium bracelet for him (i fihure that will withstand his rather rough and tumble lifestyle better than any ring).

I'm certainly no metallurgist, but I think you'll find it easier to commission the piece in silver or gold. Most (some? all?) titanium jewelry is machined from billets (long blocks) of titanium. Jewelry like you're envisioning is usually cast in a lost-wax mold (again, as I understand it...), which I believe is impossible with titanium steel.

Machining such a bracelet from titanium steel would be quite a feat, I'd imagine, but maybe as or more expensive than having it cast in a precious metal alloy.

Good luck!

This is a fine idea you have; I agree with the figure eight recommends. As a note of encouragement, my wife and I had a friend make our wedding bands, hers (her name is Ann) with flowers, mine was molded from climbing rope-we're going strong, coming up on 22 years. Good Luck to you guys!

Every climber wants a titanium band that he can open beers with.

Or....a double figure 8 pattern for sure.

might look into tungsten as an alternative metal too. I know they make rings and whatnot out of it. Tougher than gold, and still fancy. Are you expecting him to wear this while climbing? if so, dont. Jewelry and climbing can be a nasty and potentially dangerous combo.

good luck!

Is this something you expect him to wear all the time? Because if he's a jewelry guy maybe he will, but I don't like any jewelry around my hands especially a big piece of metal when I am climbing.

That being said, I think the double figure eight is the only obvious choice based on it's strength and prevalence, but even though loose may look cool, symbolically, a loose knot may not be what you're looking for. Some people also tie safety knots along side the figure eight if you want the piece to be busier.

You're a pretty cool girl to appreciate his passion for climbing.

I could incorporate the double fisherman's knot to kind of frame the figure 8 on both sides...realistic, i'm not sure. but it'll keep with the relevance of the piece, and maintain the simplicity while filling some negative space...

phill the tungsten idea sounds promising. he wears jewelry frequently, and while he always takes it off while climbing i have to be sure it'll survive the month long trips into the midwest, expeditions into the daks, etc. he has a tendancy to destroy nice things when he goes galivanting off into the woods.

and thanks, rob. i'll be the first to say that, while i love going out and climbing on occassion, it's not exactly my thing. but i admire the passion he has for climbing, even if i don't really understand why he gets so excited when he comes home with cut up, nasty hands.

besides, we established early on int he relationship that climbing's the mistress, not the other way around.

yet again all, thanks for the help!