ROPE KNOT TERMS

There are specific terms or nomenclature to describe the parts of a knot while it is
being tied. The common knot parts are illustrated and described below.

Rope Knot Terminology

● Bight: Any part of a rope between the ends. Bight also is used to refer to a
curved section of a rope within a knot being tied.
● Crossing Point: The place where ropes cross in the making of a loop.
● Elbow: Two or more loops in close proximity to each other.
● Loop: A bight becomes a loop when the two ropes cross. If the working end is
crossed over the standing line, it is an overhand loop. It is an underhand loop if
the working end runs under the standing part.
● Working End: The active end being used to tie the knot.
● Standing End: The end not being use in the tying of the knot. The rope part that
is not being used is called the Standing Part.

There are four primary knot categories: Loops (make a loop in the
rope), Bends (rope to rope knots), Hitches (rope to object knots)
and Binding Knots to secure items.
BOWLINE
How to tie the Bowline Knot. One of the most useful knots you can know. The Bowline
forms a secure loop that will not jam and is easy to tie and untie. The Bowline is most
commonly used for forming a fixed loop, large or small at the end of a line. Tried and tested
over centuries, this knot is reliable, strong and stable. Even after severe tension is applied it is
easy to untie. However, because it does untie so easily it should not be trusted in a life or
death situation such as mountain climbing. It is said to retain 60% of the strength of the line in
which it is tied.

Bowline Knot Tying Instructions

● Lay the rope across your left hand with the free end hanging down. Form a small loop in the
line in your hand.
● Bring the free end up to and pass through the eye from the under side (the rabbit comes out
of the hole).
● Wrap the line around the standing line and back down through the loop (around the tree and
back down the hole).
● Tighten the knot by pulling on free end while holding standing line

CLOVE HITCH
How to tie the Clove Hitch. A simple all-purpose hitch. Easy to tie and untie. A useful and
easy to tie knot, the Clove Hitch is a good binding knot. However, as a hitch it should be used
with caution because it can slip or come undone if the object it is tied to rotates or if constant
pressure is not maintained on the line.

Clove Hitch Knot Tying Instructions

1. Wrap the free end of a rope around a post.
2. Crossover itself and around the post again.
3. Slip working end under last wrap.
4. Pull tight.

TRUCKER’S HITCH
How to tie the Trucker's Hitch Knot. Use the Trucker’s Hitch to cinch down a load. This
combination of knots allows a line to be pulled very tight. Probably the most useful hitch there
is, the Trucker’s Hitch allows a line to be pulled tight as a guitar string and secured. It is used
by truckers to secure heavy loads in place and works equally well tying canoes and other
objects to the tops of cars. Once the line is pull to the desired tension using the pulley effect of
the loop in the middle of the line, the knot is secured with a couple half hitches around one or
both lines.

Trucker’s Hitch Knot Tying Instructions

1. Tie one end of rope to fixed object such as car bumper. About mid-way on the rope tie a
slippery half hitch to form a loop in the middle of the line. Be sure the loop part is
formed with the slack part of the rope or it will tighten down on itself under pressure.
2. Make a wrap around another fixed point opposite the tie-in point and feed free end
through the loop.
3. Using the loop as a pulley, pull down with the free end as tight as you can and secure
the knot with two half hitches around one or both lines.

SHEET BEND
How to tie the Sheet Bend Knot. The Sheet Bend is a useful knot for tying two ropes
together, even when rope sizes and materials differ greatly. It is suitable for most non-critical
applications. It is important that the tag (free) ends of both ropes of the sheet bend be on the
same side of the finished knot. For more security use the doubled version (Becket Bend) which
is the same as the single version but with an extra coil around the standing loop. The Sheet
Bend also goes by the name of Weaver's Knot when employed in yarn or twine. It is commonly
used for joining threads that have parted in a loom or as a permanent knot tied in small
material

Sheet Bend aka Weaver's Knot Tying Instructions

● Form a loop in the end of one rope. Pass the free end of the rope to be joined under the
opening of the loop, around both parts of the first rope and back under itself.
● Pull all four ends to tighten.
● Two wraps around both parts of the first rope make a Doubled Sheet Bend.

ALPINE COIL
How to coil a rope with the Alpine Coil Knot - The Alpine Coil is a method used by
climbers for carrying a rope, such that the rope remains attached to harnesses and ready for
use. It is also known as a mountaineer's coil. Other good coil knots include: The Fireman's
Coil, The Quickie Coil and The Sailor's Coil.

Alpine Coil Knot Tying Instructions

● First, make a coil of the loose rope. Hold the rope approximately one meter from the end
with one hand and then grasp the rope with the other hand about as far as you can reach.
Bring your hands together forming a loop, which is transferred to the hand closest to the
end of the rope. Repeat this process, forming uniform loops, until the rope is completely
coiled.
● Bring both ends to the top of the newly made coil and form a bight in one of the ends.
● Wrap the working end of the other rope around the strands of the coil and the bight, working
forward as shown.
● Tuck the working end of the rope being wrapped around through the bight first formed.
● Pull the standing end of the bight to capture the working end tight.

DOUBLE FISHERMAN'S KNOT

How to tie the Double Fisherman's Knot.
This knot securely ties two ropes together or can be used to fasten the ends of a rope or cord
to make a closed loop or sling. Rarely used in fishing, the Double Fisherman’s Knot is
essentially two knots that slide together when tightened to form the finished knot. Mountain
climbers also use just one side of the knot to tie a backup knot with the working end of the
primary knot. When tied in short lengths of rope, this knot can secure rope “grab handles” to
kayaks and canoes.

Double Fisherman’s Knot Tying Instructions

● Lay the ends of two lines parallel to each other.
● Coil the free end of one rope twice around the second rope and pass it back through the
inside of the coils.
● Repeat with second rope in opposite direction . Pull free ends to tighten knots, then standing
lines to slide knots together.

PRUSIK HITCH
Use the Prusik Hitch to secure a loop to a tight line. It slides when not weighted along a tight
rope but jams solidly upon loading. Mountaineers use this knot to form footholds to help them
climb a vertical rope and also for belay systems. Many climbers believe that the Prusik Knot
has more "give" resulting in a reduced force applied to the system in the case of a shock load
(a fall), as opposed to a similar purpose knot such as the Klemheist. Because the knot is tied in
smaller diameter cordage a little give or slippage in the knot may be better than a knot that
holds tighter, which in the case of a belay system taking a shock load might increase your
chance of a catastrophic-system-failure. The loop needs to be made in rope or cord that is at
most half the diameter of the main line. It is often made by tying the ends of cord with
a Double Fisherman's Knot.

Prusik Hitch Knot Tying Instructions

1. Make a sling of cordage (no more than 1/2 the diameter of main rope).
2. Tie a Girth Hitch around the main rope.
3. Pass the loop of the sling back through the center of the Girth Hitch three or four more
times.
4. Load with weight to make sure it locks.