How Do I Make Knots in Rope?

From the earliest civilizations to modern times, the ability to tie knots in ropes is a skill mastered by humans, as important as discovering fire or inventing the wheel. What started when some prehistoric person figured out how to connect two vines together, or how to lash a rock to a stick to make a hammer, is still an important skill, used by homeowners, campers, fishermen, rock climbers, boaters, sailors and others. What's important is not only knowing how to make knots in ropes but also what knots to make, depending on their function.

  1. Connecting Ropes

    • A rope that is too short may be completely unusable, and obtaining a rope of the right length may be impossible. So tie two ropes together. The square knot is one of the first knots taught to Tenderfoot Boy Scouts and is a very good knot in some instances. However, there are other knots used to connect one rope to another that may be better, stronger or more appropriate for the types of ropes you are using or the use to which you are putting the longer rope.

    Lashing

    • Few things are as handy as a good rope, well positioned and tied with good knots to tie one object to another. Packs are tied to pack horses. Cargo is tied and secured to trucks. Tents are fastened to the earth with ropes and tent pegs. The list is endless. Again, the type of rope being used, the item being secured and other factors all dictate the specific knot appropriate for the task.

    Weaving

    • We've all seen cargo being hoisted aboard ships in large rope nets. There are rope ladders used for emergency escapes and even suspension bridges made of rope, which are used by hikers to cross streams or gorges. These are all examples of how ropes can be knotted into intricate and useful items using specialized knots. Macrame craft projects rely on knotting rope and cords into decorative and functional designs. One could argue that knitting and crocheting yarn into blankets and garments is simply tying intricate knots into small rope.

    Know Your Knots

    • Good knots hold and don't substantially weaken the rope being tied. There are hundreds of knots to choose from, but few that can be explained textually. Fortunately, there are numerous reference resources available that detail graphically how to tie specific knots (see Resource). They list the knots that best serve particular needs and detail knots to use or avoid when knotting ropes of various materials or designs.