Ten knots everyone should know

Round turn & two half hitches

Use: Attaching a rope to a ring or post.

1.  Pass the end round the object.

2.  Take another complete turn.

3.  Take the end over the standing part, around it and back through to form a half hitch.

4.  Repeat, to form a second half hitch.

5.  Pull tight.

	One of the most useful knots.
	Secure, if tied correctly and tightened up.
	Good for untying under pressure. Provided you keep tension on the end, the round turn will hold the loaded rope while you untie the half hitches.

Clove hitch

Use: Attaching a rope to a ring or post.

1.  Pass the working end over the object...

2.  ...and back over the standing part.

3.  Pass the working end round the object.......

4.  .....and back through the loop.

5.  Pull tight.

	Easy to undo.
	Must be an even pull, on both ends.
	When the pull is from one end only, the knot can slip and work loose.

Figure of eight

Use: As a stopper knot. Stops the end of a rope being pulled through a hole.

1.  Make a bight.

2.  Pass the end over the standing part to form a loop.

3.  Pass the end under the standing part.

4.  Pass the end through the top loop.

5.  Pull tight.

Easy to undo.

Reef knot

Use: For tying the ends of a rope around an object, e.g. a parcel, a bandage, the neck of a sack.

Note: A bow is a reef knot, with steps 4,5 & 6 made from loops.

1.  Keep working with the same end. Right over left.

2.  And under.

3.  Carry on with the same end....

4.  …left over right…

5.  …and under.

6.  Pull tight and check.

If one end snags, or only one end is pulled, the knot can capsize and come undone.

Check you haven’t tied a granny knot. This will slip.

Bowline

Use: Making a secure loop in a rope.

1.  Form a bight of the required size.

2.  Make a small loop.

3.  Pass the end up through the small loop .....

4.  ...under the standing part.......

5.  . ...and down through the small loop.

6.  Pull tight and check there is a long tail.

Check the loop is as shown.

You need a long tail.

Easy to undo, provided you can take the strain off the rope.

Bowline on a bight

Use: A chair or a harness.

A secure knot. Can still be tied if there is no free end. The working bight is the mid-part of the rope.

1.  Form a bight.

2.  Make a small loop and push the (doubled) end through.

3.  Open out the end and take it over the bottom of the knot.

4.  Push it right under the knot.

5.  Pull tight.

Running bowline

Make a bowline with a small loop.
This loop runs on the standing part.

Sheet bend

Use: Joining two ropes of similar thickness.

Where the ropes are very different in thickness, use a double sheet bend....... see pages 24-25.

1.  Make a bight in the thicker rope.

2.  Pass the thinner rope through the bight .....

3.  ....around and under, in the direction that will eventually leave both ends on the same side.

4.  Pass the end of the thinner rope under its own standing part.

5.  Pull tight. Double check that the loose ends are on the same side.

Double sheet bend

Use: A more secure version of the sheet bend.

1.  Make a bight in the thicker rope.

Check: Both ends must be on the same side

2.  Pass the thinner rope through the bight.

3.  Pass it over the thick rope,then under both parts of it.

4.  Complete a single sheet bend.

5.  Pass the end under the thick rope again.

6.  And under its own standing part.

More secure than a single sheet bend.

A double sheet bend can be used to join a rope (of any thickness) to a rope loop (becket).

Fisherman's bend/Anchor hitch

Use: Attaching a rope to a ring (e.g. on an anchor).

This knot is related to the round turn and two half hitches, but is more secure.

1.  Pass the end through the ring.

2.  Make another turn.

3.  Pass the end through the turns.

4.  Then over the standing part.....

5.