Knots
Sachse CERT
August 11, 2014
Overhand knot
Basic knot
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Can be used as a Stopper
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Keep the end of rope from fraying
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First step of the square knot
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Can be hard to untie
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Figure Eight
A little bigger stopper knot
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Keep the end of a rope from fraying
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Easier to untie than the overhand
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Figure Eight Follow Through
Forms a non-slip loop that can be tied to a ring, carabiner, grommet, post…
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Start with a Figure Eight
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Thread the end of the rope back through the knot.
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Can also be tied using a bight to form a loop.
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Figure Eight Bend
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Used to join two ropes of about the same size
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Similar to figure eight follow through
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Tie a loose figure eight on one rope
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Pass the end of the other rope through the
knot, retracing the first rope
Dress the knot.
Square Knot
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Also known as the Reef Knot
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Used to tie two ropes of similar size
–Left
over right, then right over left
–Dress
the knot
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Granny knot
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Can ‘capsize’
Uses for Square Knots:
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First aid, to tie bandages
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Common knot used in surgery
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Tie boot or shoe laces
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Tie belts and sashes
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Tie plastic bags and trash bags
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When Not to Use A Square Knot:
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Two different rope thicknesses you wish to join.
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Square knots can slip when you tie them with nylon rope.
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A square knot can also slip if it is not under tension.
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Bowline
Fixed loop that does not slip under
load,
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Easy to untie when not under load.
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Rescue knot
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Non-tightening loop for animal control
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Tie two ropes together
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Tie off a boat
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Can be tied with one hand
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King of Knots
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Rabbit comes out of the hole
Runs around the tree
Goes back down the hole
Two half hitches
General knot to tie a rope to a post, tree limb,
ring…
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Needs to be snug against the post
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Round turns as needed
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Clove Hitch
Used for securing ropes to trees, posts
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Used to begin lashing
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Can slip, but can adjust length
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Other knots
Sheet bend
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Join two ropes of unequal size.
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Tie a rope to the corner of a tarp or sheet.
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Similar in structure to a bowline.
Tautline hitch
Used to adjust the tension on a line.
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Terminology
Knot
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Bight - folding a piece of rope so that the two
parts lie alongside each other
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Loop - Made when a rope forms a partial circle
with the ends crossing each other.
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Hitch - Attaches a rope to something, e.g., a
Hitching Post
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Terminology
Bend - Joins two ropes
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Dressing a knot - Arranging the components of
the knot to optimize security and/or strength
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Stopper - A knot in the end of a rope – used to
prevent fraying or to prevent the end passing
through a hole.
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References
CERT Rodeo - Knots (YouTube Video)
Animated Knots (Web Site)
International Guild of Knot Tyers (Web Site)
Firemen
Sailors
Climbers
Boy Scouts