Bottalt

Bottalt refers to a specific type of decorative knot. It is a slipped overhand knot, meaning it has a loop that can be easily released by pulling a working end. This characteristic makes it useful for temporary fastenings or as a decorative element where ease of untying is desired.

The knot is often formed by creating a bight in a rope or cord, then passing the standing part through this bight. The key feature is the trailing end of the rope that passes through the formed loop. When this end is pulled, the knot cinches down and then slides open.

Bottalts are found in various crafts, including macrame and decorative knot tying. Their simplicity and the ability to be easily undone make them a practical choice for projects where the knot needs to be adjustable or removed without damaging the material. While not as strong as a fixed knot, its primary purpose is ornamental or for temporary securing. The term itself is not universally standardized and may appear with slight variations in different knot-tying literature.