Discover the art of knotwork and rope-making inside the Hobart Town Hall Ballroom, with daily demonstrations by the International Guild of Knot Tyers and local artisans.
Daily 10:00 – 16:00


- International Guild of Knot Tyers
- 2 x accessible parking spaces
- Drop-off in carpark with turning circle
- Lift from carpark to Town Hall Ballroom venue
- Wheelchair accessible
- All access toilets


ACTIVITIES
Enjoy activities like spinning, weaving, crochet, knitting, cord-making, knot tying, embroidery, lacemaking, and tying up a dinghy.
There will be volunteers from the:
- International Guild of Knot Tyers
- Hand Weavers Spinners and Dyers Guild of Tasmania
- Hobart Embroiderers’ Guild
- Australian Lace Guild
- Local knotty enthusiasts
- Hobart Book Shop




KNOT PUN COMPETITION
And you can’t knot want to take part in the silliest competition to hit Hobart shores this festival.
Write down your best knotty pun at the Hobart Town Hall so you can win a knotty prize! Judging is on Monday afternoon at 12:30pm.

Introducing our knot pun judge — Daryl Peebles
Daryl Peebles is known around town as a playwright, actor, comedian, magician, ventriloquist and failed strawberry farmer.
In his spare time, he gets involved with major events and festivals including being the Entertainment Coordinator for this year’s Australian Wooden Boat Festival.
Having served for 42 years in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve, he knows a thing or two about knots. Daryl also completed a PhD focusing on humour, so now he can see the funny side of knots which he is keen to share with you at this event.
SPEAKER SCHEDULE
DAY | TIME | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
---|---|---|---|
DAY
Friday
|
TIME
14:00
|
SPEAKER
Ray McLaren
|
TOPIC
Splicing and Handling Car Tow Ropes
|
DAY
Saturday
|
TIME
11:00
|
SPEAKER
Yoav Daniel Bar-Ness
|
TOPIC
Ropework for vertical exploration: knots, ideas, and tips to help you defy gravity
|
DAY
Saturday
|
TIME
14:00
|
SPEAKER
Sue Pennison
|
TOPIC
The Philosophy of Rigging
|
DAY
Sunday
|
TIME
14:00
|
SPEAKER
Gareth
|
TOPIC
Interesting Knot Families
|
DAY
Monday
|
TIME
11:00
|
SPEAKER
Barbara Frankel
|
TOPIC
Introduction to Nautical Knotwork – Tools and Materials
|
MEET THE SPEAKERS
RAYMOND MCLAREN

Splicing and Handling Car Tow Ropes
Friday 7 February 11:00
International Guild of Knot Tyers – Tamworth NSW
Raymond McLaren’s interest in ropework and knotting began around 1957 when he borrowed a book from Newcastle library. This book was “KNOTS SPLICES AND FANCY WORK”, by Chas L. Spencer, and from this book he learned how to make sinnets and braids, as well as the basic working knots. Later he was to apply this knowledge to making flexible steel cables, and this was the beginning of Andromeda Industries Pty Ltd, who are leading manufacturers of steel lifting slings in Australia. In a way, this craftwork book provided the seeds for the creation of a specialised industry, which has been operating for over 50 years. He still does some fancy ropework, mainly in the form of rope mats, and some artistic ropework.
YOAV DANIEL BAR-NESS

Ropework for vertical exploration: knots, ideas, and tips to help you defy gravity
Saturday 8 February 11:00
Designer – Outreach Ecology
YD Bar-Ness ended up in Tasmania entirely because of a keen interest in ropes, knotwork, and vertical access. He started out with learning glacier travel and mountain climbing techniques in Seattle, stumbled somehow into an opportunity climbing giant forest trees as a researcher, and came directly to Tasmania to conduct the first on-ropes biodiversity surveys of the giant Eucalyptus treetops. He is a keen student of the knots and concepts used to work safely at heights on industrial structures, trees, mountains, caves, cliffs, canyons, and more. He has conducted one arboreal cat rescue.
SUE PENNISON

The Philosophy of Rigging
Saturday 8 February 14:00
International Guild of Knot Tyers – Hampshire UK
A lifelong sailor who learnt that there are knots for different jobs at a young age during sailing holidays on the Norfolk Broads. Sue then discovered a small pamphlet ‘The Wee Lighthouse Knot’ and eventually conquered it which led to a fascination for ornamental knotting. Later in life she rigged the boat built by her husband leading to an opportunity to rig the seven Dublin Bay 21s being rebuilt in Ireland and a chance to indulge her interest in marlinspike seamanship. She now works as a rigger, knot tyer and rope maker and couldn’t be happier.
GARETH

Interesting Knot Families
Sunday 9 February 14:00
International Guild of Knot Tyers – Gold Coast, Queensland
This is my 7th trip to Hobart including 3 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Races, 2 holidays, and the 2019 Australian Wooden Boat Festival. My knotting history started nautically, but has evolved through curiosity in the comparative structure of knots and knot families, and unrediscovered knots. (I believe that all knots that could have been tied in the last 100,000 years, probably have been tied by someone, somewhere.)
BARBARA FRANKEL

Introduction to Nautical Decorative Knotwork – Tools and Materials
Monday 10 February 11:00
International Guild of Knot Tyers, Exhibition Organiser – Howden Tasmania
Barbara was inspired to learn decorative nautical knotwork a few years ago whilst aboard the RSV Aurora Australis during one of her many trips to Antarctica as a Geoscientist and expedition manager. She is self-taught through books, websites and online videos, and has found enormous support through her membership of international social media groups. She often demonstrates rope making and teaches knotwork to community groups around Hobart, and has a small business called Australis Knots. She hopes to continue teaching locally as time permits from her day job as geological laboratory manager.