How to Tie a Taut Line Hitch

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

When you're out camping, or when you need to string that backyard hammock, before you break out the lemonade and the tunes, you need to know the knot you will use to attach that swinging beauty to your trees. Rest easy, Boy Scout, it's not that hard.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-1.jpg\/aid1504470-v4-728px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    tree) so that the long end (standing end) is on your right side and the short end (bitter end) is on your left.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-2.jpg\/aid1504470-v4-728px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-3.jpg\/aid1504470-v4-728px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Bring the bitter end to the right.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-4.jpg\/aid1504470-v4-728px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Bring the bitter end under the standing and up through the loop. Bring the bitter end to the left.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-5.jpg\/aid1504470-v4-728px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/47\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/47\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-6.jpg\/aid1504470-v4-728px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The purpose of this extra turn is to lock the knot when you need to make sure it holds.
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-7.jpg\/aid1504470-v4-728px-Tie-a-Taut-Line-Hitch-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can slide the knot up and down the standing end.
    • Loosen the tension on the standing end, and the knot will slide to adjust the size of the loop.
    8. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • The Bitter end, being free, is your working end. When told to bring the end, it means the short, or bitter, end.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Tie a Trucker's Hitch
      How to
      Tie a Quick Release Knot (Highwayman's Hitch)
      How to
      Tie a Clove Hitch Knot
      How to
      Tie a Stopper Knot
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 55,130 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement