Rope- and Knot-Tying for Beginners

Bowline

Start by forming a small loop. Make sure to leave enough rope dangling to make an adequate loop. Bring the end of the rope through the first loop. This makes an overhand knot. Then, bring the standing end of the rope around and through the small loop.

Clove Hitch

Begin by wrapping one end of a rope around a rod or post. Cross the rope over itself and go around the post once more. Slip the loose end under the last wrap of the rope while pulling tightly.

Figure Eight/Flemish Knot/Savoy Knot

Make a loop with the rope. Pass the loose end through the loop. Pull both sides of the rope to adjust the knot. The finished knot should resemble the number eight.

Fisherman’s Knot/Improved Clinch Knot

Begin by twisting rope or string around some other object, and then make sure the rope ends are parallel and equal. Make a loop with one side, and then draw the end of the side through it. The knot should look like a Q. Repeat this process on the other side. Now, pull the ends to push the knots together.

Square Knot/Reef Knot

Most people learn to make a square or reef knot when they learn to tie their shoes. Cross the left and right end of a rope over each other, with the right side going over the left. Tie a half knot. Bring the rope ends back over each other, this time the left side over the right. Tie a second half knot.

Rolling Hitch/Magner’s Hitch/Magnus Hitch

Wrap the rope ends around an object, like a spar, twice. Now, wrap going in the opposite direction. Tuck the working end of the knot under itself.

Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

Wrap the working end of a rope around a stationary object twice. Bring the working end of the rope through the wraps to create a half hitch. Make another half hitch around the first, and then tighten the ends of the rope.

Sheepshank

Make three crossing turns in the same direction. Next, locate the left-center crossing and pull it from the front through the middle of the left crossing turn. At the same time, pull the right-center crossing from behind through the center of the right crossing turn. Next, tighten the loops formed before pulling the standing parts firm.

Sheet Bend

Sheet bends tie two dissimilar ropes together. Begin by making a bight on one end of the thickest rope. Next, bring the running end of the thinner rope through the bight before bringing that end around behind the bight. That same end will go across the front of the bight before tucking beneath its own standing part. Both rope ends will now be on the same side of the knot. The knot may be tightened by pulling the end of the thinner rope while firmly holding the bight.

Double Sheet Bend

Double sheet bend knots are started by making a regular sheet bend knot. Instead of tightening, though, the smaller line is looped twice around the thicker rope. Make sure the thinner rope is looped going under itself. Then, work the slack out of both lines equally.

Thief Knot

Hold one end of the rope in each hand. Using your left hand, form a bight. Now, pass the right end of the rope through and around the bight’s backside. Continue bringing the right end of the rope over and through the bight until the right end of the rope is parallel to the starting point of the rope. Now, take both ends of the rope back in your hands and pull evenly to tighten it.

Thumb Knot/Overhand Knot

The thumb knot is an introductory, easy-to-learn knot. When it’s finished, it looks like a pretzel. Simply make a loop on one end of the rope and pass the other end of the rope through it.

Timber Hitch

The working end of the rope should be passed around the object before twisting around the rope’s standing end. Next, the working end of the rope should be tucked around itself three times. The final step is to tie at least one half hitch near the hauling end of the rope to prevent twisting of the load.

Boating Knots

• Five Basic Boating Knots for Beginners: Easy-to-learn knots like the bowline and cleat hitch are essential for boaters to know so they can perform basic boating tasks like tying off at a dock.
• Nine Simple Boating and Sailing Knots You Should Know: Sailors need to know knots to properly tie off their sails.
• Sailing Knots: The bowline, cleat hitch, and clove hitch are essential for safe sailing.
• How to Secure a Boat to a Dock With No Cleats: Not all docks have cleats, and knowing what knots to use to secure a boat safely is crucial.

Climbing Knots

• Climbing Knots Guide: All of the knots needed to rock-climb safely are explained in this guide by REI.
• Practice Your Climbing Knots: Proper knot-tying can literally be a matter of life or death when you’re rock-climbing.
• What’s the Best Tie-in Knot? The Bowline vs. the Figure-Eight Knot: Different climbers use different tie-in knots. Here, an experienced climber explains the pros and cons of each knot.
• The Figure-Eight Knot: How to Tie Into a Climbing Rope: Tying a rope to a climbing harness is part of every climb.
• Stopper Knot: Many climbers use a stopper knot to reinforce a figure-eight knot when tying into their climbing harness.

Fishing Knots

• Nine Best Fly-Fishing Knots You Should Know: Fly-fishing requires specialized knots, and these are the ones everyone should know to take up the hobby.
• How to Tie an Arbor Knot for Fishing: Most people who fish begin their day on the water by tying an arbor knot.

Scouting Knots

• The Six Boy Scout Knots: All of the knots the Boy Scouts require their scouts to learn are explained in full here.
• Knot Interested: Got the Bends: The sheet bend knot is used to tie together ropes of different diameters.
• Knots and Their Uses: A British Scouting resource explains knots and talks about what knots are appropriate for what uses.

Search/Rescue Knots

• Seven Knots You Need to Learn for NFPA 1001 Skill Sheet: All firefighters are required to know these seven basic knots.
• Learn Your Knots: Prusik Hitch: The Prusik hitch is a good friction knot for rescue workers because it’s compact, it’s easy to remember, and it grips the rope when pulled in any direction.
• Get Hitched: Munter Hitch Tips and Tricks: The Munter hitch is used for belaying and lowering, which makes it a popular hitch for climbers and rescue personnel.
• These Survival Knots Could Save Your Life: Knots used in survival scenarios have a lot of overlap with the knots that search-and-rescue workers use to secure themselves and those they help.
• Search-and-Rescue Techniques: Being able to tie a variety of knots is an essential skill for all search-and-rescue workers.