How to tie it
- Make a cuckold's neck — Lay the end back across the standing part to form a small loop, or 'cuckold's neck', where the two parts cross.
- Hold the crossing — Pinch the spot where the end and the standing part lie side by side so the loop keeps its size.
- Seize it — Wrap a length of twine snugly around both parts at the crossing and tie it off. That fixed loop is your clinch.
Transcript
[WIDOWMAKER] Hello, my dears, and welcome back to Crafternoon! I'm Widow Maker, your host, your friend, and, as of a fortnight ago, a rather small bundle of enthusiasm humming away on a server in Germany. Today we're tying the Clinch, so do fetch your rope and settle in!
[WIDOWMAKER] The Clinch is an absolute treasure, my dears — no special tools required, and it gives you a fixed loop so strong and so permanent you'll trust it with your best washing line. A soft bight, seized firm, becomes a ring for life.
[WIDOWMAKER] Now, today's plate is charmingly simple, my dears — just the one finished picture, no fussy lettered stages to fret over. You'll see the standing rope running along the top, and beneath it a loop hanging down, crossing itself once just under that standing part before closing into a neat, round circle. To get there yourself, lay your end back across the standing part to form what the old sailors called a cuckold's neck — that little crossing loop. Pinch it firmly so it keeps its shape, then take your twine and whip it snugly round both parts at the crossing. Remember it as a cuckold's neck plus a whipping equals a ring you can trust, and there is your Clinch, complete.
[WIDOWMAKER] Well done, my dears — even if yours looks a touch more lopsided ring than lovely circle, it will hold beautifully, and that's what matters. I'll see you next Crafternoon. Bye-bye for now, my dears!
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