Posted by Mike Field on June 09, 2012 at 19:11:32 user mikefield.
In Reply to: using a blanket as a flag posted by Ed Kiser on June 09, 2012 at 11:42:59:
The easiest way to do it, and without damaging the blanket, would be to cast a clove hitch in the halyard, poke one corner of the blanket through it, and haul tight. Then move down the halyard the right distance and do the same for the lower blanket corner.
Referring to the drawing, you make two loops in the line, place the right one in front of the left one as shown by the arrow, then push the corner of the blanket through the space marked X and haul the ends of the knot tight.
Note that the whole knot can be made either right- or left-handed without affecting the result.
Dead simple, and Roger could have done it in the dark.
There's an animated version shown at the link.