Ever wondered how sailors keep their sails secured or how climbers ensure their safety on steep ascents?
It all comes down to knots!
Knots have been around for centuries and are used in everything from camping and climbing to boating and fishing.
Today, let’s learn this essential skill by exploring key knot and rope terminology and learning some simple, practical knots.
Glossary of Rope & Knots
Here’s a handy glossary to help you get familiar with must-know knot terms:
End: The loose or working end of the rope which is used to form simple knots.
Bight: The slack portion in the middle of the rope which is formed when you double the rope back on itself.
Standing End: The inactive section of the rope that includes the longer end.
Bitter End: Another term for the standing end.
Working End: The end of a rope that is used to tie the knot. It is also called Running end. Angler calls this the Tag end.
Cross: When one part of the rope lies above the other, it is called a cross.
Elbows: If another cross is added, it creates an elbow.
Loop: When two adjacent parts of the rope cross, it forms a loop.
Overhand loop: The end is carried over or above the standing part.
Underhand loop: The end goes underneath or below the standing part.
Turn: It is one wrap of rope around a spar.
Round Turn: It is the wrap of the rope around a spar so the working end comes back along the standing part of the rope.
Eye: Often mistaken for loop, an eye provides a means to form a fixed connection and doesn’t slip. The slipped version is known as a Noose.
Open loop: It is a curve in the rope with separated ends, narrower than a bight.
Closed loop: It is a curve where the ends come together but don’t cross.
Capsizing: This occurs when a knot deformed into a different structure.
Dressing: The process of arranging a knot to improve its performance and reliability.
Tending the Knot: The process of dressing or setting knots correctly before they are put under load to prevent them from capsizing.
Setting: It is the process of tightening a knot.
Whipping: Whippings are wraps around rope ends to prevent fraying or wrapping handles for better grip on tools like knives.
Lashings: It is an arrangement of rope used to secure two or more items together, often used in construction or camping.
Jamming: When a knot becomes very difficult to untie after use.
Seizing: A knot that binds two pieces of rope together side by side to create a loop.
Types of knots
Now that we are familiar with some knots terminology, let’s explore some fundamental knot types and see how they’re used!
Hitch Knot
A hitch makes a rope fast to an object like a post or a ring. Hitch knots are essential in securing loads or lines on boats, tents or other gears.
Popular hitches:
- Clove Hitch: Ideal for securing a rope to a pole.
- Bowline Hitch: Forms a fixed loop at the end of a rope.
Bend Knot
Bend knots join two ropes together. It can come in handy when you require a longer line or want to attach a rope to another object.
Common bends:
- Square knot: Perfect for joining two ropes of the same diameter.
- Sheet bend: Best for joining two ropes of different thicknesses.
Loop Knot
Loop knots are similar to hitches but are tied in the hands. It creates a fixed loop in the rope.
Unlike Hitches, their shape doesn’t depend on the object they’re tied to. It may be removed at any time and still its shape is retained.
Popular loops:
- Overhand Loop knot: Creates a secure loop in rope ideal for fishing tasks.
- Bowline: Creates a non-slip loop.
Stopper knots
Stopper knots prevent the end of a rope from slipping through a device or other knots. They are critical for safety in many situations.
Common stopper knots:
- Figure Eight knot: Creates a secure loop at the end of a rope.
- Double Overhand knot: Provides additional safety for heavy loads.
Binding knots
Binding knots are used to secure or bundle multiple items together, especially handy for transit or storing items.
Common Binding knots:
- Reef knot (Square knot): Ideal for tying two ends of materials together.
- Constrictor Knot: Great for tying up loose materials or the ends of bags.
Special Purpose Knots
These types of knots serve specific needs in various activities.
- Trucker’s Hitch: Used for securing loads in transport.
- Prusik Knot: Essential for climbers who need to ascend or descend a rope securely.
Other Knot Terms
Noose knots: Knot in which the loop tightens under the load.
Slip Knot: A stopper knot that can be undone easily by pulling the end to withdraw a loop.
Flakes: A flake is a number of turns in a coiled rope.
Fraps: It is a set of loops coiled perpendicularly around the wraps of a lashing as a means of tightening.
Splice: A method of joining two ropes by untwisting and then re-weaving the strands.
Got a favorite knot? Share it with us in the comment section below or tag us in your knot-tying photos on social media!
We love seeing our community in action.
