How to Tie a Square Knot Properly

Also known as a reef knot, the square knot is secure and easy to untie. Get out a piece of rope and start practicing the techniques down below and you should have it down in no time.

Step 1:Start with two pieces of rope that are close in diameter. We'll call them rope A and rope B for ease in describing this process.

Step 2:Hold the end of rope A in your left hand and the end of rope B in your right hand.

Step 3:

Cross rope A over rope B to form an X.

Step 4:

Wrap A once to the right around B, just like the first step in tying a bow in your shoelace. A is now sticking out to the right and B is to the left.

Step 5:

Cross A over B again, forming another X.

Step 6:

Wrap A once to the left around B.

Step 7:

Pull on the free ends to tighten the knot.

How to Tie a Clove Hitch Knot

This is an adjustable knot that's great for temporary uses such as mooring.

Step 1:

Loop the rope around the object you're tying to. Hold an end in each hand.

Step 2:

Cross the end in your right hand over the end in your left hand, forming an X with your hands holding the pieces at the top of the X.

Step 3:

Wrap the end in your right hand around behind the object again in the same direction as before, leaving the wrap loose. When you bring it back around to the front, poke the end under the piece of rope that you just wrapped around.

How to Tie a Double Half-Hitch Knot

This knot is fast and easy to tie and untie and is best used for fastening a rope to an object such as a post.

Step 1:Hold the end of the rope in your right hand and the rest of the rope in your left. For ease in describing how to tie this knot, the part of the rope in your left hand will be identified as A and the part in your right hand will be called B.

Step 2:

Loop B around from right to left behind the object you're tying the rope to.

Step 3:Loop it again, below the first loop, so it's wrapped twice around the post or pole. B should still be in your right hand and A in your left, with B crossing below A, forming an X.

Step 4:

Poke the end of B down through the hole formed at the top of the X. Again, B should be in your right hand.

Step 5:

Wrap B around A, crossing first over the top, then underneath.

Step 6:

Bring the end up through the loop formed and pull the knot tight.

How to Tie a Figure Eight Knot

This knot, also called a Flemish knot, is easy to untie.

Step 1:Double a piece of rope over, forming a loop at the top, which we'll call end A.

Step 2:

With the rope still doubled, form another loop, creating an X where the rope crosses itself. The section of rope closest to end A should be passing under the other section, from top left to lower right of the X.

Step 3:Hold the X with your left hand.

Step 4:

Use your right hand to poke end A into the hole.

Step 5:

Pull on end A and tighten the knot.

How to Tie a Flying Bowline

A flying bowline is a variation on the bowline, a knot that is used to tie halyards and sheets to sails, or an anchor line, or even two lines together. Have a yen to go to sea? You must tie this knot.

Flying Bowline--Method One

Step 1:Hold the loose end of a rope in your right hand.

Step 2:Make a loop about a foot from the end of the rope.

Step 3:Put the loose end of the rope through the loop and then around the rope, then back through the loop.

Step 4:Pull the loose end of the rope until the knot tightens.

Flying Bowline--Method Two

Step 1:Put one end of a rope over an object.

Step 2:Make a slip knot with the longer portion of the rope by making a small loop beneath the object, then passing another loop through it.

Step 3:Pass the short loose end of the rope over the object and through the loop of the slip knot.

Step 4:Pull on the long end of the rope. The resulting knot will be a flying bowline.

Flying Bowline--Method Three

Step 1:Form a loop near the end of the rope with the end of the rope lying on top of the rest of the rope.

Step 2:Hold the crossed portion of the rope with your fingers on top and your thumb beneath the rope.

Step 3:Turn your hand over and put your fingers and the end of the rope through the loop.

Step 4:Pull the end of the rope until the knot is tight.

How to Make a Lark's Head Knot

Use the lark's head knot in macramé or wherever you need a loose, temporary knot.

Lark's Head Knot

Step 1:Fold the cord or rope in half.

Step 2:

Place the loop made at the halfway point in front of your support (dowel or post or another rope or cord).

Step 3:

Take the loop behind and under the support.

Step 4:

Place the two cord ends through the top of the loop and pull to tighten.

Reverse Lark's Head Knot

Step 1:Fold the cord or rope in half.

Step 2:Place the loop made at the halfway point behind your support (dowel or post or another rope or cord).

Step 3:Take the loop over and in front of the support.

Step 4:Place the two cord ends through the loop from front to back and pull to tighten.

How to Tie a Sheet Bend Knot

Use this knot to join two ropes of different sizes together.

Step 1:Make a loop in the first rope, holding it with the fingers of your left hand.

Step 2:Make a loop with the second rope around the neck of the first loop.

Step 3:

Form an X with the tails from the second loop.

Step 4:

Bring one end of the second rope (one leg of the X) up through the first loop.

Step 5:

Tighten the knot.

How to Make an Overhand Knot

This is a basic knot. Some people call it a granny knot.

Step 1:Form a loop in a piece of rope.

Step 2:Cross the rope over itself, forming an X at the bottom of the loop.

Step 3:Bring one end up and stick it through the loop.

Step 4:Pull the ends tight.

How to Tie a Slip Knot

A slip knot is a type of running knot, a category for any knot that can slip around the rope and tighten with a pull of one end. Often used to secure objects, the slip knot provides versatility because one hand can easily tie it while a tug of one end will easily undo it. Tying the knot carelessly leaves it vulnerable to losing its grip on the item it's meant to secure. Follow the steps in this article to correctly tie a slip knot.

Step 1:Lay the rope flat and bring the two ends around and into the middle, laying them parallel to each other and perpendicular to the center of the rope. One loop has now formed on each side.

Step 2:Decide which side of the knot will slip because this will determine how you tie the slip knot and the angle from which you will be able to use it. If you choose the right side, fold the right-hand loop towards the center and pass it through the left loop. If you choose the left side, fold the left-hand loop towards the center and pass it through the right loop.

Step 3:Pull on the loop that you have chosen as the slip. With your other hand, steadily cinch the knot around the loop.

Step 4:Wrap the loop around the object to be secured and pull the main length of the rope to tighten it.

Step 5:Use a slip knot in a variety of situations: to tie the ends of a rope necklace strung with beads, secure rock climbing gear to an anchor or tie-off point and when fishing or sailing.

How to Tie a Fisherman's Knot

The fisherman's knot is used to tie two similar ropes together. Traditionally it has been known as a lover's knot because of the way it is tightly intertwined. Recent uses for the fisherman's knot have gravitated toward rock climbing enthusiasts for its tight hold. It may sound complicated, but it easy as easy as tying two knots and pulling.

Step 1:Hold two ropes. Hold one in your right hand and one in your left hand. Hold the ropes a foot and a half from the ends. Face your pointer finger and thumb toward each other as you hold the ropes.

Step 2:Tie a knot in the rope that is in your right hand. Make a loop around the rope in your left hand and cross the rope. Wrap one end back up and pull tightly. This is an overhand knot, but it is around the left rope.

Step 3:Repeat Step 2 for the second rope in your left hand. Make a loop with the left hand rope around the right hand rope, cross the ends of the left hand rope, and wrap one end of the left hand rope through the loop. Pull tight. You now have your second overhand loop in your second rope. The ropes should be joined with two knots - one created with the right rope and one created with the left rope.

Step 4:Hold onto each end of the ropes and pull. This will move the two knots toward each other and give you a secure hold.

How to Tie a Sheepshank Knot

A sheepshank knot is used to shorten a rope or to fix a rope that is damaged in one section. The knot has been eliminated from most scouting lessons due to its inability to hold. The knot does shorten a rope, but may not be able to hold a load adequately. The following are steps for tying a sheepshank knot.

Step 1:Make three loops in one section of the rope. The loops should go the same direction and look as if you are drawing three small cursive "e's." Make sure you leave at least a hand's length of rope on the shorter end.

Step 2:Put your right hand through the right loop and grab the center loop on its right side. Do not let go with your right hand.

Step 3:Put your left hand through the left loop and grab the left side of the center loop. Do not let go with your left hand.

Step 4:With both hands pull the center loop through the left and right loops at the same time. Make sure the sheepshank knot is tight by tugging with both hands on the center loop. You have just tied a sheepshank knot.

Step 5:Use your sheepshank knot carefully; it has been known to come undone easily.