Macrame & Knots

A whipping knot is any knot that keeps a rope from unraveling and the common whipping is the simplest knot of this type. It should not be used on rope ends that will be handled frequently because...

A cross-Prusik knot is a variation on the standard Prusik knot. Use it to attach a belay line to an anchor line. It is a simple but secure hitch, first used by climbers, but now becoming popular...

A crossing knot may be a generic term that refers to any knot formed by the intersection of two ropes at right angles where the ends of both ropes are under a load. The term "crossing knot" also...

Use a dogshank knot to shorten the length of a rope. It is similar to a sheepshank but is much less likely to slip. While you can tie a sheepshank in the middle of a rope, the following method of...

Use chain stitch lashing primarily to store a long length of rope on a timber. The primary advantage of this type of lashing is that you can easily unzip it. You can also use the chain stitch by...

A bowline on the bight is a double loop variation of the bowline. It is described in Ashley’s Book of Knots as knot No. 1,080. It is a fairly secure knot and is easy to untie even after it has...

A boom hitch is used to attach a line to a fixed object such as a boom, hence its name. It is a secure hitch that is relatively simple to tie and was first described in the first edition of...

The term "braid knot" may be used generically for any plait knot and refers specifically to the most common knot of this type. It is used primarily to make decorative braiding, although it also...

A bull hitch is so-named for its use in tying a rope to a bull’s nose ring and is also known as the Piwich knot. It is similar to the cow hitch that many people already know but adds an attachment...

A slipknot can be any knot that comes undone when the working end is pulled. They are used for non-weight-bearing applications and should not be considered a secure knot. The slippery hitch is an...

The trucker's hitch is so-named because it is commonly used to secure loads on trucks. There are several variations but they all are easily released and use a loop as a pulley that allows the rope...

Jug slings are used to tie a rope to a bottle that has a long narrow neck with a lip. They are secure knots that do not require the end of a rope and can easily be untied. The double jug sling is...

A Constrictor Hitch Knot is used to tie a rope around an object, especially as temporary whipping or permanent binding when more than one in a row is needed. However, a strangle knot should be...

The Gallows Knot is based on the multi-fold overhand knot. This type of noose is opened by pulling on the knot and generally does not become stronger after the second turn around the noose. The...

Tying a hitch knot to a piling is one of the easiest knots to learn. It is a convenient knot to use when one end of the post or piling is available. You can hitch a piling either vertically or...