GEELONG’S “Phantom Knotter’’ has hitched, looped and shanked the city’s waterfront in a frenzy that’s roping in newcomers daily.
PK, as he’s also been dubbed, has become an overnight Facebook sensation with fans posting shots of curious and intricate knots he’s hooked and slipped and rolled at numerous sites along the city’s shoreline.
The Phantom Knotter, who has targeted posts and poles, bollards, even sculptures, told the Independent he had installed more than 100 rope knots around town.
“It’s a bit of novelty and a bit of fun,’’ he said, declining to reveal his identity “just yet’’.
“A lot of the knots I put on you can slip off and take away. If they cut them off that’s great too – I like it if people take them as souvenirs.
“I’m a member of the International Guild of Knot Tiers and as part of that you try to encourage people to learn about knots.’’
The Phantom Knotter emerged on Facebook page Geelong.
He was aware his knots were generating considerable interest.
“I came out of the shipping industry,” he said.
“I’ve been teaching my grandkids. My grandson’s fairly good and my granddaughter knows how to splice three-strand bits.
“It all started when we were out fishing. My granddaughter said ‘I’ll tie a knot out here and see if anyone notices it’.
“Two or three people did and it’s taken off from there.’’
PK, who lives in inner-suburban Geelong, said his knots were both a bit of fun and a bit of therapy for hands he damaged when playing football as a younger man.
“There are thousands of knots and I’m impressed with one I developed myself,’’ he said.
“It started out as a racking knot we used as a bit of fendering on barges so they didn’t hit the wharf. I added three or four movements to add some bulk.
“I’m told it looks just like a trilobite, an animal form found in fossils. I’d like to credit that.”
