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| © Eugene Brennan |
4 Useful Knots Everyone Should Know How to Tie!
The ability to tie various knots is a useful skill to have in the home and garden or when fishing, camping or taking part in other outdoor activities. You may have learned how to tie knots in the Scouts, Girl Guides or at summer camp, but by this stage the steps involved in tying them may be a dim, distant memory!
There are probably 50 or more types of knots, but this guide concentrates on four useful knots and how to tie them.
Note: Ignore the pins in the photos which I used to hold the cords in position. I only had two hands to operate the camera and needed some assistance!
What Are the Most Useful Knots?
- Figure-of-eight knot for stopping a rope pulling through a hole
- Bowline for making a non-tightening loop at the end of a rope
- Reef knot for joining equal diameter ropes
- Sheet bend for joining ropes of different diameter
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| Overhand knot © Eugene Brennan |
Reasons Not to Use an Overhand Knot
If someone asks you to tie a knot, this is probably what you would tie. An overhand knot can slip though, especially if the cord/rope is made from low-friction slippery material. Therefore, it can become undone and is unsuitable and potentially dangerous in many applications.
1. Figure-of-Eight Knot
A figure-of-eight knot is much more secure than an overhand knot and less likely to become undone. It’s useful for stopping a rope pulling through a hole, e.g. the starter cord on the pull grip on a lawnmower.
Step 1: Make a loop with the rope
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| Make a loop © Eugene Brennan |
Step 2: Put a twist in the loop
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| Put a twist in the loop © Eugene Brennan |
Step 3: Take the end of the cord around the back
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| Take the end of the cord around the back © Eugene Brennan |
Step 4: Thread the end of the cord through the loop
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| Thread the end of the cord through the loop © Eugene Brennan |
2. Reef or Square Knot
A reef or square knot is useful for joining two ropes together. However, it is only reliable and safe if the two ropes are of similar diameter.
To tie the knot, remember “right over left and under, then left over right and under”, as described in the photos below.
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| Reef or square knot © Eugene Brennan |
Step 1: Place the right (blue) rope over the left
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| Right (blue) over left © Eugene Brennan |
Step 2: Then bring it under
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| ………and under © Eugene Brennan |
Step 3: Place the left (now blue) rope over the right
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| Left ( now blue) over right © Eugene Brennan |
Step 4: Then bring it under
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| ….and under © Eugene Brennan |
3. Sheet Bend Knot
A sheet bend knot is safer than a reef knot for joining together two ropes or cords of differing diameter.
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| Sheet bend knot © Eugene Brennan |
Step 1: Thread the smaller diameter cord through as shown
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| Thread the smaller diameter cord through as shown © Eugene Brennan |
Step 2: Take the smaller diameter cord around the back
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| Take the small diameter cord around the back © Eugene Brennan |
Step 3: … and then feed it back
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| …….and then feed it back © Eugene Brennan |
4. Bowline
A bowline knot can be used to create a loop at the end of the cable. The loop doesn’t pull tight when tension is put on the rope. A variation of this is the “bowline-on-a-bight” which is tied in the same way, but the rope is doubled over initially. This results in two loops and can be used for hauling up something from the ground.
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| Bowline knot © Eugene Brennan |
Step 1: Make a loop
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| Make a loop © Eugene Brennan |
Step 2: Feed the end of the cord through the loop
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| Feed the end of the cord through the loop © Eugene Brennan |
Step 3: … then around and back into the loop
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| …around and back into the loop © Eugene Brennan |
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| Learnabout Knots Photo © Eugene Brennan |
Books From Amazon
This is an excellent Ladybird Book from Amazon showing how to tie lots more knots than described in this article. It’s out of print now but still available new or secondhand. I bought this as a child almost 50 years ago, and it’s one of my favourite Ladybird titles in my collection, which I still occasionally reference.
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| From the Ladybird book Learnabout Knots Photo © Eugene Brennan |
Disclaimer
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualised advice from a qualified professional.
© 2012 Eugene Brennan
Comments
Vi on August 01, 2018:
Thank you for the useful information about knots and how to tie them! 🙂
saji on February 23, 2014:
it is nice
MomsTreasureChest on April 03, 2013:
Great hub with terrific how to instructions, thanks for sharing!
Eugene Brennan (author) from Ireland on April 04, 2013:
Thanks a lot for the comments. Glad you liked it!
The Logician from then to now on on March 03, 2013:
I’m knot getting it. Do you have more detailed instructions? 🙂
Voted Uop, useful, interesting and depending on your reply maybe Funny.
Eugene Brennan (author) from Ireland on March 04, 2013:
I can knot believe they were knot detailed enough!
Thank you for the comments!
Patsy Bell Hobson from zone 6a, Southeast Missouri, USA on March 03, 2013:
I really like this hub. I can use several of these knots in the garden. Your photos are very helpful. Voted up and useful. I like your style.
Eugene Brennan (author) from Ireland on March 03, 2013:
Hi Patsy. Thanks for the kind comments and glad you found it useful!
Angelo52 on March 03, 2013:
Nice articles on tying these knots. The photo step-by-step was very useful. Voted up and sharing.
Eugene Brennan (author) from Ireland on March 03, 2013:
Thanks Angelo! Glad it was of use!
moonlake from America on March 03, 2013:
Very good information. Your pictures are great they really help. Voted up and Shared.
Eugene Brennan (author) from Ireland on March 03, 2013:
Glad you liked this moonlake! Thanks for the comments!
Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on September 01, 2012:
I have always wondered how some of these knots were made, and what they were called! I wasn’t lucky enough to be in a scouting program, so this was very interesting to read. Thanks! Voted up!
Eugene Brennan (author) from Ireland on September 01, 2012:
Thanks Marcy and forall. I had sort of forgotten how to tie the sheet bend and had to look up my “Ladybird” book on knots which I got when I was 11. I knew it would come in handy someday!
forall on September 01, 2012:
Great hub. I like the tips you shared. Well explaining pictures. Voted up, interesting and useful.
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