Sometimes the solution is not in what you do after starting, but in how you start. If you place your body correctly before touching the rope, the knot almost appears by itself.
The Knot Without Letting Go
Riddle statement
You have a rope lying on a table.
You must take one end in each hand and tie a knot in the rope.
The condition is this:
once you have taken the ends, you may not let go of either one.
Can you do it?
Show solution
Solution
Yes, you can do it.
The key is to cross your arms before taking the ends of the rope.
Do this:
Cross your arms. With your arms crossed, take one end of the rope in each hand. Without letting go of the ends, uncross your arms.
As you uncross them, the rope becomes knotted.
You did not let go of either end after taking them. All you did was prepare the initial position of your arms.
Answer: yes. Cross your arms before grabbing the rope; then uncross them.