Grandpa
I must disagree with Flip. When I do it at cub scout banquets I always get 6 knots right on top of each other, and having trouble getting there is when they all get on my side, and cheer for me. I love it when I have a room full of screeming kids rooting for me. Being almost perfect makes it so much more entertaining.
Al Angello

I also disagree with Flip. There are many things that are not 100% certain, but which can be done 95% or more. When it comes to skill displays, that's good enough, if you built it up properly. I flatter myself that I've found how to do that over the years, and my patter is on the Knot Routine DVD. A juggler I worked with on a tour for the old Big John Strong Show told me that if you watched a juggler's act and the juggler never missed a single trick and never had anything hit the floor that you could be sure that he was not showing you his "best" or "hardest" stuff. In fact, circus performers will often miss a stunt intentionally just to build it up and then when they hit it on the second or third attempt, the audience goes crazy.

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Best to all.

Dennis Loomis

I once saw the great Francis Brunn perform two shows in the same night. In the first show he was perfect, and the audience gave him an appropriate round of applause, but in the second show he missed the finish three times before he got it. Mr. Brunn was visibly angry at himself, his face turned red, he stomped his foot, and mumbeling under his breath. When he finally hit the finish he smiled, and took a bow to a standing ovation, so perfection is not all it's cracked up to be. When I do the six knots one on top of each other it usually takes me 10 or more tries to get 6 knots, and like mister Brunn I'm visibly angry, and frustrated, but with me it is all an act, because I know I'm not Francis Brunn.
Al Angello

Six knots! You're my hero Al!

Grandpa
I used stop at 5, but I love to milk it, and when I'm done the rope is about 18" long.

Dennis
Your trick is now my trademark, and I practiceing the double every day.
Al Angello

Andre
The secret to getting 6 knots one on top of the other is to stop after each knot to make them as close to each other as possible, which is a perfect opportunity to tell a bad joke, a silly comment, or facial expression. This is the only way to get more than 5.
GOOD LUCK
Al Angello

Thanks Al! All my jokes are bad and my facial expression is already silly so I'm halfway there. I'll keep you posted!

You can get more knots by starting with a longer rope. Just choke up on the excess for the first couple of snaps and then let the rope out little by little as you proceed. Also, if you are going for a quantity of knots, you don't want a thick rope. You want a flexible but slender rope because each knot takes up less of the rope.

Dennis Loomis

P.S. This business of doing multiple knots and sliding each one down to the bottom of the rope was the trademark of the late Bob Lewis. I talk a little about his routine on my DVD.