When to Use Knots and Lashings

A good knot must pass three tests: 1) It is easy to tie, A clove hitch is a knot that holds a line
2) it stays tied, and 3) it is easy to untie. to a post when being pulled in two
directions, like a bridge’s rope handrail.
Below are 12 knots that fall into five categories. Also
Clove means “two” just like a deer’s
below are methods to prevent rope ends from fraying.
hooves are cloven – in two parts.
The five categories for these knots are bindings,
Use a hitch knot anywhere an attachment
bends, loops, hitches and lashings.
of a line is needed such as posts, eye ring grommets, or
stakes. The clove hitch pulls from two directions like
BINDI NG K NOTS securing lines along a series of posts, or as starting or
A binding knot restricts an object(s) with a single line. ending of a lashing (see below).
Tying your shoe and tying up package are examples of A timber hitch ties a rope to a piece of
binding knots. wood; it is intentionally difficult to undo.
A square knot tied with a single rope line is a Use a timber hitch to secure a line to a
binding knot. tree, a log or to drag a log along the
Use a binding knot to tie bandages, packages or ground. The timber hitch is used to start
most any type of object. a diagonal lashing (see below).

BEND KNOTS LASHI NG KNOTS

A bend knot joins two separate rope lines together. A lashing knot holds two poles together; think of the
log wall forts of the American frontier.
• A square knot, also called a reef knot or joining
knot, can be used to join two lines of the same A diagonal lashing begins with a
diameter (thickness). timber hitch and ends with a clove
hitch. This lashing binds poles that
A sheet bend joins two lines of different cross each other at a 45° to 90° angle.
diameters. Cross bracing at 90° is only used if a
Use a bend knot to lengthen a rope by tying gap exists between poles.
two lines together. A square lashing begins and ends with
a clove hitch and binds poles at a 90°
angle. It is stronger than the diagonal
LOOP K NOTS
lashing, but the square lashing cannot
A loop knot creates a closed circle at the end of a line. be used if a gap exists between poles.
A bowline ties a loop that will not adjust in size A shear lashing begins and ends with a
once tied. It is referred to as a rescue knot clove hitch and binds poles at a 0° to 45°
because it can be tied around oneself one- angle. Use this when poles must flexibly
handed, and is used to lift people out of swing apart in a scissors motion such as
dangerous situations. the shear legs of an A-frame.
A taut-line hitch is actually a loop knot that A tripod lashing begins and ends with a
easily adjusts its loop size under tension, but clove hitch and binds poles to be
remains secure once the knot is taut (pulled arranged to form a pyramid. Use this to
tight). hang a pot above a fire or hold a water-
Use a loop knot for tying down cargo, hold dispensing device over the ground.
down a automobile’s trunk lid or hold just Use lashings to build without nails useful simple
about anything in place. structures like a tripod, a chair, a hang-drying rack or a
flagpole. Pioneering is the use of spars and lashings to
HITCH K NOTS build complex structures with trestle triangles like a
tower, a shelter or a bridge.
A hitch ties a rope to an object like a post or ring. Think
of hitching a horse to a “hitching post.” There are times to not use lashings. Do not build
structures without permission while camping – never
Two half-hitches is knot that holds a
build lashing structures in backcountry. If lashing is
line when being pulled from a post in
permitted, only use approved materials, then untie all
one direction.
structures and practice principles of leave no trace.
WHIPPING
Whipping intends to stop a rope end from unraveling.
• Tie a rope end with a simple overhand knot and
wrap it with duct tape for a temporary fix.
A whipping knot uses twine to bind
natural-fiber rope.

Heat fusing with a candle or match melts

the end of artificial-fiber ropes made of
plastic or nylon.

References:
• http://www.ropeworks.biz
• The Boy Scout Handbook
Stop a Rope Line from Unraveling
Natural-fiber rope. Artificial-fiber rope.
Common Whipping Knot Heat Fusing

1. 1.

2.

3.

4. 2.

5.

6.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_whipping See: The Boy Scout Handbook, pg. 34

Bind an Object
Using a single line.
Square Knot
Knot detail view

1.

2.

Right over left…

3.

4.

5.

…left over right.

6.
Join Two Lines Tie a Loop at the End of a Line
Lines of same diameter. Lines of different A fixed size loop. An adjustable size loop.
diameters.
Bowline Taut-line Hitch
Square Knot Sheet Bend

1. 1. 1.

1.

Form
the
loop

2. 2.
2.
2.

twist
away 3.
3. 3.

3.

4.
4. 4.

4.
5.

5. 5.

Underneath
same line,
but on top of
second line. 6.
slide
5.
pu
ll
6. 6.

See: http://www.ropeworks.biz/archive/sheben.html
Tie a Line to a Post or Ring
Holds a line in one direction. Holds a line in two directions.
Two Half Hitches Clove Hitch
Knot does not adjust Option 1: Option 2: Option 3:
Bottom-up, left to right - Bottom-up, right to left - Looping line over the
terminating line. terminating line. end of a post.

1. 1. 1. 1.

2.
Form loop
2. over
2. 2.

3.

3.
3. 3.
4.
Form
loop
under

4. 5.

4. 4.

6.

5.

5. 5.
terminal
end

6.

6. 6.

See: http://www.paddling.net/sameboat/archives/sameboat219.html
Tie a Line to Lash Two Poles Lash Two Poles
a Piece of Wood at a 45° to 90° Angle at a 90° Angle
Knot is intentionally Use at 90° only if gap Stronger than
difficult to undo. exists between poles. diagonal lashing.
Timber Hitch Diagonal Lashing Square Lashing

1. 5. 1.
1.

3 tight
timber wraps
hitch clove
hitch

2.
2.

2. 6.

pull
change
tight
wrappin
3. g
direction 3 tight
3. wraps

3. 7.

3 tight
wraps 2 tight ready for
wraps
wrapping
4. change

4. 8.

clove 2 tight
hitch 5. wraps

ready for
wrapping
change
direction
clove
6. hitch

See: http://www.ropeworks.biz/archive/daglas1.html
Lash Two Poles Lash Three
at a 0° to 45° Angle Poles Together
Form a flexible joint to allow Form a flexible joint to allow
a scissors-leg motion. a pyramid-leg bending.
Shear Lashing Tripod Lashing

1. 1. 6.

3 tight
wraps
between
clove clove pole 1
hitch hitch and
pole 2

2. 2. 7.

3. 6. 3. 8.

3 tight
3 tight wraps
wraps between
between pole 2
poles and
pole 3

4. 7. 4. 9.

4 winding 4 winding
wraps wraps
around around
poles poles

5. 8. 5. 10.

clove clove
change change
hitch hitch
wrapping wrapping
direction direction

See: http://www.ropeworks.biz/archive/tripod.html