How to Tie a Slipknot and a Slippery Hitch

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 example of this type of knot and is commonly used to hold a group of items together. The following steps will show how to do this with a simple slipknot and a slippery hitch.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Make a slipknot with end A of rope. Form a loop of rope with the working end over the standing end. Form a bight of rope and pass it through the loop from below.

2. Dress the slipknot by adjusting the bight so that the working end of the rope is "below" the bight. Pull the standing end to snug up the knot.

3. Wrap end B of the rope around the items being tied together and use it to tie a slippery hitch to the slipknot in end A.

4. Pass the free working end B of the rope through the bight of the slipknot in end A from the front. Bring the working end B back over its standing end and insert a bight through the loop. Dress and snug up this hitch as in Step 2.

5. Observe that the two ends of rope are tied in exactly the same way. End A is called a knot because it is not attached to anything. End B is tied to the bight of the slipknot in end A and is therefore called a hitch.

Resources

• Learn more about knot-tying at Real Knots.