Welcome to Basic Knots The knots in this section are the most basic knots - the building blocks

of knot tying. Selection The eight knots selected for this section were chosen because they illustrate some of the fundamental principles of knot tying. Many are also components of other knots or they provide the underlying structure. The Square Knot (Reef Knot) and Sheet Bend are the two basic methods of joing two ropes; and the Figure 8 underlies many other important knots. Confusion The terms Overhand Knot, Half Hitch, and Half Knot are aften confused and frequently used as though they are interchangeable. Similarly with the Slip Knot and Noose. Their importance and their differences are explained for these five knots and cross-links are provided with the animations to facilitate quick comparison. Other Sections Many of these knots have critical uses in the various other sections of this website. However, to manage the size of the sections, these knots are not always repeated elsewhere Bsico Instructions: Move the mouse over each knot. Look at the description to find out what it can be used for. Click on the knot you wish to see. On the new page wait until the selected knot starts to tie itself. How to tie the Overhand Knot Form a loop and pass the end through it. Tighten it to form the Overhand Knot. When pulled tight it can function as a simple stopper knot. More details about the Overhand Knot Uses: The Overhand Knot was described by Ashley (ABOK # 46, p 14) as "the simplest of the Single-Strand Stopper Knots." It can also be used to prevent the end of a piece of rope unravelling. Comparison: The animation shows the close similarity between: The Overhand Knot tied in the end of a rope; The Half Hitch used to attach a rope to something, e.g.,a Hitching Post; The Half Knot a binding knot usually the first part of a Square (Reef) Knot knot. Double Overhand: The first turn is often followed by a second - to create the larger stopper knot, the Double Overhand. Recommendations: As a stopper the Overhand Knot has one advantage: it is one of the few stopper knots that can be tied tightly up against an object or a knot. Although the Double Overhand makes a good stopper "Knot", when an even larger stopper knot is required, the Ashley Stopper Knot is preferred How to tie the Half Hitch Form a loop around the object. Pass the end around the standing end and through the loop. Tighten into a half hitch which is designed to take a load (Arrow) on the standing end.

More details about the Half Hitch Uses: The Half Hitch was described by Ashley (ABOK # 50, p 14) as "tied with one end of a rope being passed around an object and secured to its own standing part with a Single Hitch." Comparison: The animation shows the close similarity between: The Overhand Knot tied in the end of a rope; The Half Hitch used to attach a rope to something, e.g.,a Hitching Post; The Half Knot a binding knot usually the first part of a Square (Reef) Knot knot. Tying it: As shown in the animation it can be capsized from looking like an overhand knot into the normal look of a half hitch. In this animation the second half hitch shows how it is customarily tied wrapping it round the standing end and tucking it under itself. Two Half Hitches: The first half hitch is nearly always followed by a second or more. It is customary to pass the rope the same way around to make both half hitches. This creates a Clove Hitch around the standing end. When the second half hitch is reversed it creates a Cow Hitch round the standing end. Recommendations: Although two half hitches do make a complete "Hitch", it is better to begin by first passing the rope around the post or bollard a second time to make the Round Turn and Two half Hitches. This is more secure and provides easier control of the load while tying the half hitches. How to tie the Half Knot Cross the two ends over each other. Pass one end over and then under the other to make the half knot which takes the load (arrows) in both ropes.

More details about the Half Knot

Uses: The Half Knot was described by Ashley (ABOK # 48, p 14) as "a binding knot, being the first movement of the Reef or Square Knot." Comparison: The animation shows the close similarity between: The Overhand Knot tied in the end of a rope; The Half Hitch used to attach a rope to something, e.g.,a Hitching Post; The Half Knot a binding knot usually the first part of a Square (Reef) Knot knot. Tying it: As shown in the animation one end is wrapped round the other to produce a symmetrical knot. The symmetry is important because the knot can only "bind" when tied like this. If tied in the air - it cannot bind and if it is allowed to capsize into the Half Hitch it will slip. Two Half Knots: The first half knot is nearly always followed by a second or more. Remember to take note of which way you tied it, e.g., "Right over Left". This is important because to correctly tie the Square (Reef) Knot the next Half Knot must be "Left over Right". If the second half knot were a repeat of the first, it would create a Granny Knot. Recommendations: Although two half knots make a satisfactory "Knot", its use should be restricted. The knot created, the Square (or Reef) knot, is notorious for its ability to capsize and slip. It must never be used for critical loads. Macrame: In Macrame, the Half Knot is frequently tied around a central core of two or more strands. Depending on how it is tied it is known by other names. When tied with repeated identical Half Knots, the result is a spiral or Bannister Bar (ABOK # 2494, p 400); when tied with alternating left and right Half Knots, the result is called the Solomon Bar (ABOK # 2496, p 400). How to tie the Square Knot (Reef Knot) Take two ropes and cross them (red over blue) to form a half knot. Cross them a second time (red over blue again) and pull the ends tight to form the Square Knot. More details about the Square Knot (Reef Knot) First Knot: The Square (Reef) Knot (ABOK # 1402, p 258) is usually learned when we tie the laces on our first pair of shoes. Admittedly it is usually a bow that we tie - but the underlying knot is a Square (Reef) Knot. We also learn just how unsatisfactory the knot is. It slips, it comes undone, it jams, and it is all too easy to tie a granny instead which behaves even less well. Purpose: It is intended to be a binding knot and, tied in the right material against a curved surface, the first half knot may bind but it cannot be trusted. That is why surgeons use an extra turn in the first half

knot &ndash to achieve the binding required while they prepare the second half knot. Caution: Click on the picture on the left to demonstrate how even a "Stack" of square knots capsize and pull undone. These photographs were created by pulling on the ends of the red rope. "There have probably been more lives lost as a result of using a square knot as a bend (to tie two ropes together) than from the failure of any other half dozen knots combined." (ABOK page 258). Never use it for critical loads. Uses: Nevertheless, the Square (Reef) knot has many uses but not where safety is critical, e.g., you can tie a sail cover over a sail; you can tie the string on a gift; and you can tie the laces on your shoes (if they still come with laces). It is also one of the many knots used in macrame. More importantly, the experience of tying a Square knot teaches the fundamental process of tying a half knot or half hitch. Variations: When the Square (Reef) Knot is used it is common to add additional half hitches as security a tribute to how unsatisfactory a knot it is. The Square (Reef) knot can also be tied using bights (loops). For example, to use up long shoelaces, the knot can be tied with loops from the start. This means the final "bow" cannot be untied by pulling the ends - but it makes a secure knot. How to tie the Sheet Bend Form a loop in the thicker rope (blue) and hold it in one hand. Pass the thinner rope (red) through the loop and behind the (blue) tail and standing ends in that order. Finally, tuck the smaller rope under itself to finish the knot.

More details about the Sheet Bend

Uses: The Sheet Bend (ABOK # 1431, p 262) is recommended for joining two ropes of unequal size. The thicker rope must be used for the simple bight as shown. It works equally well if the ropes are of the same size. Becket Hitch: The Becket Hitch is a very similar knot. However, it is a "Hitch": it does not join two ropes, it attaches a rope to a Becket (a rope handle or an eye). In the picture above the Blue Rope would be Becket and the Red Rope would be tied to it with a Becket Hitch. The Sheet Bend would replace the Square (Reef) knot except for the awkward fact that it is not a binding knot it has to be tied with both ends loose in your hands with no load on the ropes (The Square Knot with all its faults - can be tied tight against a sail, or parcel, and usually stays tight while the second half hitch is tied). Double Sheet Bend: When the ropes are markedly different in size, the tail of the smaller rope can be taken twice round the bight in the larger rope to create the double sheet bend. Structure: When correctly tied the two tails lie on the same side of the knot. The alternative version with the tails on opposite sides - is less reliable. How to tie the Figure 8 (Flemish) Knot Pass the tail over itself to form a loop. Continue under and around the standing end. Complete the knot by passing the tail down through the loop. More details about the Figure 8 (Flemish) Knot

Uses: The Figure 8 (ABOK # 570, p 95.) provides a quick and convenient stopper knot to prevent a line sliding out of sight, e.g., up inside the mast. Its virtue is that, even after it has been jammed tightly against a block, it doesn't bind; it can be undone easily. This virtue is also, occasionally, a vice. The figure 8 can

fall undone and then has to be retied. Comparison: As a stopper knot the Figure 8 should be compared to other knots commonly used as stoppers including the Double Overhand, and the Ashley, both of which have the advantage of greater stability. However, the figure 8 is better than the simple overhand knot (picture left) which can bind so tightly that undoing it can be really difficult. Climbing: For climbing, where safety is paramount, the Double Overhand is the preferred Stopper knot. However, the Figure 8 is important to climbers because it is the basis for tying the Figure 8 Bend (Rope Join), the Figure 8 Loop Follow Through, and the Double Figure 8 Loop. How to tie the Slip Knot Form a loop in the end of the rope. Prepare a bight in the short end. Tuck the bight through the loop and tighten. The knot can be used as temporary stopper knot. More details about the Slip Knot Uses: The slip knot (ABOK # 529, p 87.) is identical in structure to the Noose Knot except that the bight to be inserted is formed from the short end not the long. It is one of the most frequently tied knots being used in knitting as the first loop when casting on where it is called a slip knot but frequently tied as a noose. It can be used as a temorary stopper knot - as shown in the animation. Confusion: Some writers apply the term "Slip Knot" to other knots - where any loop slides along the standing end. However, such knots also have well known other names, e.g., Bowline on a Bight and various fishing knots which can be slid to tighten. Moreover, such knots do NOT function as Slip Knots. Because they tighten under load, they actually function as a nooses. For this reason, the generic misuse of the name Slip Knots is deplored. On this website Slip Knot is reserved for this one knot. Slipped Knots: Many knots can be completed with a bight instead of the end. A knot tied this way is described as slipped, e.g., a Slipped Rolling Hitch. Slipped Buntline Hitch, Slipped Half Hitch. Theoretically, the knot can then be quickly untied by pulling on the free end to release the bight. In practice, this depends on how much load has reached the bight. With some tightly loaded knots, e.g., a Buntline Hitch, it can be difficult to release and almost impossible to pull the final curve of the bight itself out of the tightened turn.

How to tie the Noose Knot Form a loop in the end of the rope. Tuck a bight of the standing end through the loop. Make the bight larger and pass it around the object. Pull on the standing end to tighten the noose. More details about the Noose Knot

Uses: The simple noose (ABOK # 1114, p 204.) is identical in structure to the Slip Knot except that the bight to be inserted is formed from the long end and not the short one. It has been used as a snare to catch small animals. It is not the Hangman's Knot. It is a frequently tied knot - being used in the Arbor Knot and in knitting as the first loop when casting on where it is frequently tied as a noose and called a slip knot. It has many other uses including gaining initial control of the string when tying up a package. The Hangman's Knot is related to the simple noose except that many turns are wrapped around the loop. Its supposed advantage for hanging was humanitarian: appropriate use was intended to result in a broken neck - causing a rapid death. It is deliberately not illustrated here (see below). "Noose" Name Confusion: It is unfortunate that "noose" is used in a number of ways: 1. As the name of the knot described on this page; 2. As a descriptive term for loop knots which tighten under load; and 3). Sometimes applied to the Hangman's Knot. To make it worse, the Uni Knot and the Hangman's Knot are often treated, wrongly, as though they are the same. It would simplify life to use "Noose" for this knot and use the proper names, e.g., "Running Bowline" or "Uni Knot", etc.. for other noose-like knots. Tying it: The technique used in the animation tucks a bight of the long end through a loop. The same result can be obtained almost as easily by passing the end round the object and using the short end to tie a half hitch around the long end. Tied this way it is the first part of one version of the Butcher's knot used to secure meat for roasting - where again, just as in knitting, it is often misnamed a "Slip Knot". Danger: The noose knot is not a Hangman's Knot but it can also be deadly. It should never be tight round someone's neck. The knot can bind and critically restrict blood flow. Several Questions on Snopes ask whether it is illegal to describe the Hangman's Knot. It isn't. Legislation: However, Louisiana House Bill 726 and New York Article 240.31 both prohibit the display of a noose because of its use as a means of intimidation. The Louisiana Bill specifies the Hangman's Noose. The New York State Article uses the generic "noose".