Rope Knot Instructions

Learning how to tie knots can feel like a frustrating pursuit at first. When you first learn the craft, one missed twist or loop spells a jumbled mess on the rope line. If you take the knot learning process in steps and practice systematically, however, the art of tying becomes clear and automatic. The "family-of-eight" knots provides a logical base to start with for other knot learning. The family-of-eight knots are employed in search and rescue, climbing, boating and mountaineering. These basic knots can lay a solid foundation for all future knot learning.

Things You'll Need

  • Chunk of 8mm practice rope
  • Chunk of 5mm practice rope
  • Family-of-eights rope diagrams
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin basic rope knots with the figure eight knot, a very basic but useful knot. Take the working end of the rope --- the end of the rope --- and turn it over the main line and back again to form a figure eight over the rope. Pull the end up and through the loop closest to the "bight," which is the loop formed at the end of the rope. The result is a tight figure eight on the end of the rope. Use the 8mm rope for this knot.

    • 2

      Learn the double figure eight next. Untie the first knot. Bend the rope so it has two strands next to each other and a bight at the end. Tie the two strands into a basic figure eight knot, as you learned in Step 1, but with the bight sticking out the end instead of the single strand. The result is a loop enclosed by a two strand figure eight knot. This is handy to use for attaching to climbing harnesses or to secure cargo to the rope. Use the 8mm knot for these.

    • 3

      Learn to "follow the knot." Untie the rope. Tie a figure eight into the end of the 8mm rope. Take the 5mm rope and "follow the knot" on the end of the 8mm rope. Push the 5mm through the first loop of the figure eight on the 8mm rope. Thread it so it follows the knot around the loops until the working end of the 5mm rope is facing opposite the end of the 8mm rope at the figure eight. This is the Figure 8 Join and is useful for lashing two different rope sizes together.

    • 4

      Learn the clove-hitch, one of the most useful friction knots used. Make two loops in the middle of a rope. Push the loops so they overlap in a concentric fashion. Push the loops over a solid object like a pole, tree branch or rope anchor and pull the two ends of the rope to secure the knot via friction.

    • 5

      Add knots as you increase your skill with these basic and useful knots. Keep a piece of rope next to the sofa to practice while you watch TV or relax.