How to Make a Knot for Climbing, Boating, Fishing & More

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Learn 13 handy, simple knots and what they’re useful for
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Whether you’re a rock climbing fiend, a boating fanatic, or just someone who would like to know how to attach a rope to something, knowing how to tie a sturdy knot is a must. We’ll walk you through how to tie the most basic, beginner-friendly knots step-by-step, with tips and tricks from outdoor enthusiasts and knot-tying experts. So, next time you need to tie a knot, you’ll have plenty of options at the ready!

Basic Knots Anyone Can Learn

Outdoor educator Britt Edelen explains that knots have different purposes; they’re not all intended for the same thing. “Some knots are stronger than others, and others are better for tying things together,” he says. Some of the basic types of knots you can learn are:

  • Overhand knot (good for simple but strong knots)
  • Bowline knot (for hauling, mooring, or tying 2 ropes together)
  • Square knot (holds 2 pieces of rope together temporarily)
  • Sheet bend knot (ties ropes of different thicknesses together)
Section 1 of 4:

Tying Basic Knots

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  1. Most people learn how to tie an overhand knot before anything else. It’s the easiest and simplest knot to learn, but it’s also very sturdy and strong. [1]
    • First, make a loop by crossing one end of the string over the other.
    • Insert one end of the string into the loop.
    • Pull both ends in opposite directions to tighten the knot.

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Britt Edelen is an outdoor educator and Boy Scout who uses his survival skills to educate youth as a camp counselor and mentor.

    Jordan Frazier is a knot-tying expert with over 8 years of knot-tying experience.

    Teddy Bayakhmetov is a professional climber who specializes in rope practice and rigging.

  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    Tying a bowline knot creates a fixed loop at the end of a rope or string. This knot is useful if you need to moor a boat, haul something up, or tie two pieces of rope together.
    • First, lay the rope down on a flat surface. Hold the right end of the rope in your hand and create a loop a little less than halfway down the string by placing the right end over the center. [2]
    • Pull the right end of the rope through the loop. The right-hand end should come towards you as it goes through the loop. Don’t pull the knot taut yet.
    • Bring the left end of the rope up and tuck the right end behind it. This will create a smaller top loop above the large loop you already made.
    • Pull the right end back through the top loop. Thread it through so that the rope is going away from you instead of towards you.
    • Pull the two ends of the rope away from each other to tighten the knot. This leaves you with a knot and a large loop at the end.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    Tying a square knot creates a simple, handy knot that’s great for holding two pieces of rope together with a temporary tie. As Edelen says, “Square knots are nice if you need to tie something really quickly.” [3] This knot is especially handy if you have a rope that’s too short and need to make it longer by adding more rope.
    • Hold an end of the rope in each hand. Cross the end in your left hand (end A) over the end in your right hand (end B) so that the rope forms an X. [4]
    • Wrap end A so that it goes under end B and comes up again. End A will then be in front of end B.
    • Bring the two ends up and place the top of end A over the top of end B.
    • Wrap end A back over end B to form an overhand knot.
    • Pull tightly on all four pieces of rope coming out of the knot. The result will be a knot that looks like a loop stuck in another loop.
    • Knot tying expert Jordan Frazier notes that “you’ve done it correctly if the knot looks the same on both sides.” [5]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    Sheet bend knots are used to tie two ropes together. Therefore, you’ll need 2 different pieces of rope to tie this knot. It’s especially useful if the two pieces of rope are different sizes and have different thicknesses.
    • Take one rope (rope A) and fold it back on itself to form a bend (also called a “bight”). This makes your rope look like a U turned on its side. [6]
    • Take one end of the other rope (rope B) and slip it through the loop from behind.
    • Pull the end of rope B up and wrap it behind both straight segments of the U.
    • Bring rope B up to the front and pass it between itself and the shorter end of rope A.
    • Tighten the knot by pulling on both ends of rope B.
    EXPERT TIP

    Britt Edelen

    BA in English Literature, Brown University
    Britt Edelen comes to wikiHow after graduating in 2019 from Brown University, where he studied English and German literature and philosophy. While at Brown he contributed frequently to campus publications and worked in the university’s Writing Center. More recently, he has had several articles published in various journals devoted to literary criticism. During his time at wikiHow, Britt supervised and collaborated with writers and editors to continue producing high-quality content and promote wikiHow’s mission of enabling everyone to learn anything.
    Britt Edelen
    BA in English Literature, Brown University

    Not all knots work the same. It’s a common misconception to assume that all knots work the same way. Some knots are stronger than others, and others are better for tying things together. Learn which type of knot will be best for the job.

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Section 2 of 4:

Climbing Knots

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    Tie a re-threaded figure-of-eight knot to tie yourself into your climbing harness. This knot is also commonly used in creating climbing anchors with dyneema or cordelette.
    • Make a loop in the rope by crossing the right end of the rope (end A) over the left end (end B). Make it so that the loop is just about less than halfway down the rope from end A, and leave end A a bit long. [7]
    • Pinch the top of the loop and twist it once to the left.
    • Pull end A through the top of the loop from behind.
    • Pull on both ends of the rope to loosely tighten the knot and form a figure eight.
    • Take end A and thread it back through the knot so that it retraces itself. Follow the path of the existing figure eight and leave a loop at the bottom of the knot. Tighten the knot by pulling on both ends.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    This is one of the most basic knots used by climbers when tying themselves into their harnesses, though it is less common than the rethreaded figure 8. As professional climber Teddy Bayakhmetov says, “The bowline is strong and easy to untie, even after being under a heavy load.” [8] The knot will support your body weight if you happen to fall.
    • Starting towards the middle of your rope, make two loops of equal size stacked on top of each other. When making the loops, twist the rope so that the right end is in front of the left end. [9]
    • Take the right end of the rope (end A) and pass it up through the loops towards you.
    • Wrap end A behind the other end (end B) and bring it back towards the front.
    • Thread end A back through the two loops away from you.
    • Tighten the knot by pulling on both ends in opposite directions.
  3. Make a prusik knot when you need a “third hand” for rappelling or when you need to tie a loop around a rope so that a rope can be ascended. This is a classic ascending knot that’s often used for self-rescue. For this friction hitch, you will use a thinner piece of rope (rope A) around a thicker piece of rope (rope B).
    • Start by tying a double fisherman’s knot in rope A. Hold one end of the rope (end 1) in your right hand and the other end (end 2) in your left hand. Cross end 1 over end 2, then wrap end 1 around both itself and end 2 twice. [10]
    • Feed end 1 through the two loops you just made and pull it through to tighten the knot.
    • Make another double fisherman’s knot by wrapping end 2 around itself and the rest of the rope twice. Feed end 2 through the two loops and pull it through to finish your second knot.
    • Make a “bight” in rope A by folding the rope in half so that it makes a U shape. Make the bight on the opposite side of the rope from where the double fisherman’s knots are. [11]
    • Wrap the bight around rope B.
    • Pull the end of rope A that has the double fisherman’s knot through the loop of the bight. Thread the rope through the bight front to back.
    • Lift up the bight and wrap it around rope B again.
    • Repeat threading rope A through the bight and wrapping the bight around rope B two more times to make your friction hitch strong and secure.
    EXPERT TIP

    Teddy Bayakhmetov

    Professional Climber
    Teddy Bayakhmetov is a professional climber and owner of Ninja Tide based in Stockholm, Sweden. Teddy specializes in rope practice, rigging, and rescue services. He also does industrial climbing work all over Europe and Scandinavia. Teddy has become widely known as a hero for his rescue work and has put his skills to use by saving over 240 cats, 4 birds, and 3 people from high places.
    Teddy Bayakhmetov
    Professional Climber

    The key to tying strong knots is to practice regularly. The more you practice tying knots, the easier they’ll be to make, and the stronger they’ll be in return.

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Section 3 of 4:

Boating Knots

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    Clove hitch knots are fairly simple knots that are useful for securing ropes to trees, posts, or other things that stand upright or horizontally. For example, if you need to temporarily secure your dog’s leash to a post, this is a good option. Tying a clove hitch knot is also your best choice when you have to tie a strong knot quickly. [12]
    • Loop the running end of the rope counterclockwise around the pole or object that you are tying the rope to. The running end of the rope is the end that will be loose after you tie the knot. [13]
    • Cross the running end over the part of the remaining length of rope to form an X, instructs Frazier. [14]
    • Slide the running end underneath the X and pull on both ends of the rope to tighten the knot.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    Tie a trucker’s hitch when you need to lift heavy loads or tie them down to your truck or trailer. On a boat, the trucker’s hitch is used to lash things to the deck or secure them down below. Use it in combination with a bowline and half hitch for a very secure knot.
    • Secure one end of your rope onto your load or whatever it is you’re tying down with a bowline knot. [15]
    • Make a slip knot towards the middle of your rope. Start by making a loop in the rope.
    • Then, fold a piece of the rope that’s on top of the loop in on itself to make a bight. Push the bight up through the loop and pull the slip knot tight.
    • Wrap the free end of the rope around a post, tree, or whatever it is you’re using to anchor your load.
    • Feed the free end through the slip knot and pull it taught.
    • Tie off the line by using your non-dominant hand to pinch all three strands of rope where the slip knot is. Use your free hand to make a loop in the rope you just pulled through the slip knot. Leave a bit of slack between the loop and the slip knot.
    • Cross the loop over the two strands of rope below the slip knot, then wrap it under and back up through the slack. Pull it tight to secure the knot.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    Anchor bends are used to tie a rope to something like a ring. As the name suggests, this knot is primarily used for tying boats to large rings or other anchors. [16]
    • Loop the end of the rope through the ring twice. Thread the rope through the ring from the back so that it’s coming towards you. [17]
    • Take the end of the rope and wrap it behind the remaining rope that’s tied to your boat (the “standing” end).
    • Pass the end of the rope through the loop you made and pull the knot tight.
    • Wrap the end of the rope once more behind the standing end and pull it through the loop that forms. Pull everything nice and tight to secure your knot.

    For more boating knots , check out our guide on tying boating knots !

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Section 4 of 4:

Knots for Specific Uses

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    You usually tie a Palomar knot to secure a fishing line to a hook. This is one of the strongest knots used for fishing, and it’s also one of the easier knots to learn. [18]
    • Make a loop in your cord or fishing line by folding the cord in on itself. [19]
    • Feed the loop through the hole at the top of the hook. Pull the loop through so that you have a good amount of line on both sides.
    • Do an overhand knot by crossing the loop over the two strands of cord on the other side of the hook (the “main line”). Pull the loop out through the hole you created after crossing the two pieces of cord. Pull the loop through so that it’s big enough to fit the hook through it.
    • Feed the hook through the loop and then pull the main line to tighten the knot.
    • Use a pair of scissors to cut off the excess cord that isn’t attached to your hook or fishing pole.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    If you’re feeling crafty, use a Chinese sliding knot to make some adjustable necklaces and bracelets. This knot allows you to adjust the tightness of your jewelry simply by sliding the knot up and down the string.
    • Get a length of string that’s 24 inches (60 cm) long. [20]
    • Lay the string on a flat surface. Take one end (end A) and fold it back along the string to create a 6-inch (15 cm) loop.
    • Take the other end (end B) and wrap it around the outer edge of the loop so that end A and end B are lying parallel to one another. [21]
    • Pinch the top of the loop between your fingers with your right hand, then use your left hand to wrap end A around the string below the loop twice.
    • Feed end A through the loop from the back and pull it through to the front.
    • Pull on the piece of string that’s on the other side of the knot to tighten it.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie a Knot
    Quick-release knots (also called a Highwayman’s hitch) are used to tie a horse up in such a way that the knot can be easily undone by pulling the loose end of the rope. If you don’t have a horse, tying a quick-release knot can still be useful if you have something you need to secure temporarily and release quickly later on.
    • Hold your rope in one hand. The part of the rope connected to your horse (or whatever it is you’re fastening) is the “lead” rope. The part of the rope that hangs loose is the “tail.” [22]
    • Fold the tail in half to create a loop.
    • Wrap the loop under the fence, beam, or rail you’re anchoring the other object to, and drape it over so that it’s hanging down. The tail will be on one side of the loop, and the lead rope will be on the other side.
    • Cross the tail over the loop and under the lead rope.
    • Fold the tail in half and push it down through the original loop.
    • Pull the lead rope to securely tighten the knot.
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  • Question
    How do I tie a hard knot?
    Community Answer
    You can use a double knot, which means to follow the steps of tying a knot twice. Or you can look up more difficult, but sturdier, knots.
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  • Question
    What knot is good to use when I play an escape challenge game?
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    Generally, I use a double knot, as it holds everything and is really quick and easy.
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    How do I tie a holding knot to use with salami?
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    Follow the directions listed in the article above.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.animatedknots.com/overhand-knot
      2. ↑ https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/collections/10-essential-knots-every-sailor-should-know
      3. ↑ Britt Edelen. Outdoor Educator. Expert Interview
      4. ↑ https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/collections/10-essential-knots-every-sailor-should-know
      5. ↑ Jordan Frazier. Knot Tying Expert. Expert Interview
      6. ↑ https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/collections/10-essential-knots-every-sailor-should-know
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/G1GzrRYcrM8?t=20
      8. ↑ Teddy Bayakhmetov. Professional Climber. Expert Interview
      9. ↑ https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/collections/10-essential-knots-every-sailor-should-know
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/kTCXJylfHbc?t=109
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/6mwmlprswFI?t=10
      3. ↑ https://www.animatedknots.com/clove-hitch-knot-using-loops
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/aewgmUeHpuE?t=25
      5. ↑ Jordan Frazier. Knot Tying Expert. Expert Interview
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/W86XNUmElP4?t=8
      7. ↑ https://www.animatedknots.com/anchor-hitch-knot
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/pEWcxx8998U?t=52
      9. ↑ https://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-tie-fishing-knots/how-to-tie-a-palomar-knot/
      10. ↑ https://youtu.be/bWUuBD0QqOo?t=102
      11. ↑ https://youtu.be/qmmsaNFfOoA?t=26
      12. ↑ https://youtu.be/qmmsaNFfOoA?t=43
      13. ↑ https://youtu.be/MG831W7EHIo?t=18
      14. ↑ Britt Edelen. Outdoor Educator. Expert Interview

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Whether you’re going boating, doing arts and crafts, or just trying to fasten something down securely, being able to tie knots is an important skill. One of the easiest kinds of knots is the overhand knot. To make one, create a loop in the middle of a line, such as a length of rope or string. Then, pull one of the ends of the line through the loop to make a pretzel shape. Pull on both ends of the line to tighten the knot. To make a knot at the end of a line—for example, if you want to attach something to a hitch or tow-rope—a bowline knot is a good option. To start, make a loop close to the end of the line. Then, pull the free end of the line through the loop from behind to create a second, larger loop. Next, pass the end of the line under the main length of the line and bring it back around again so that it passes down through the original loop a second time. Pull both ends of the line to tighten the knot. For a quick and simple knot that’s easy to untie, try a square knot. Grab an end of your line in each hand, then pass the right end over the left to create an X. Take the end that is now in your left hand and wrap it under and around the end in your right hand to make a half-knot, just like when you’re tying your shoe. Next, cross the ends of the rope over each other again to make another X above the first one, and then wrap one end around the other to make a second half-knot. Pull on all 4 lines coming out of the knot to tighten it. If you need to tie 2 lines together, opt for a sheet bend knot. To do this, fold over the end of one line to create a loop, and hold the loop in place with your hand. Pull the end of a second line through the loop you just made, then wrap the end of the line around behind the bottom of the loop. Pass the end of the second line back through the loop in the first rope, then pull the end under the part of the second rope where it originally entered the loop. Pull both ropes in opposite directions to tighten the knot. Keep reading the article if you want to learn how to tie special knots for climbing or boating!

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