Fig. 1. The over-hand knot is the simplest of all knots to make. It is
made by passing the lose end of the rope over the standing part and
back through the loop.
Fig. 2. The Double knot is made by passing the free end of the rope
through the loop twice instead of but once as in making an over-hand
knot. This is used for shortening or for a stop on a rope, and is more
easily untied than the over-hand knot. It is also known as a blood
knot, from its use on whip lashes by slave drivers, etc.
[Illustration: _Fig. 1; Fig. 2; Fig. 3; Fig. 4_]
Fig. 3. The Figure Eight knot is similar to the over-hand knot except
that the loose end of the rope is passed through the loop from the
opposite side. It is commonly used to prevent a rope running through
an eye or ring or tackle block. It is also used as the basis for
ornamental knots, etc.
Fig. 4. The Double Figure Eight knot is made by forming a regular
figure eight and then following around with the end of the other rope
as shown.
Fig. 5. The Square knot is probably the commonest and most useful of
all knots. It is strong and does not become jammed when being strained.
Take the ends of the two ropes and pass the left end over and under the
right end, then the right end over and under the left. Beware of the
granny knot which is often mistaken for the square knot but is sure to
slip under strain.
Fig. 6. The Reef knot is a slight modification of the square knot. It
consists merely of using the bight of the left or right end instead of
the end itself, and is tied exactly as is the square knot. This makes
the knot easy to untie by pulling the free end of the bight or loop.
[Illustration: _Fig. 5; Fig. 6_]
[Illustration: _Fig. 7; Fig. 8; Fig. 9; Fig. 10_]
Fig. 7. If the Square or reef knot is used to join two ropes of unequal
diameter, the knot is apt to slip unless the ends of the rope are
whipped as shown.
Fig. 8. A Square knot joining two ropes of unequal size is apt to slip
with a result similar to that shown.
Fig. 9. The Open-hand knot is made by tying an over-hand knot with two
rope ends lying parallel. It is better than a square knot for joining
two ropes of unequal diameter. Grain binders use this knot.
Fig. 10. The Granny knot is often mistaken for a square knot and its
use should by all means be avoided as it is almost sure to slip when
a strain is applied, unless the ends are whipped. For large rope, a
granny knot with ends whipped will hold securely and is easy to untie.
[Illustration: _Fig. 11; Fig. 12; Fig. 13_]
Fig. 11. The Fisherman’s knot is a simple type of knot formed by two
simple over-hand knots slipped over the standing parts of the two
ropes, and drawn tight. It is valuable for anglers as the two lines may
be drawn apart by merely pulling on the loose ends of the rope.
Fig. 12. The Ordinary knot is used for fastening two heavy ropes
together and is made by forming a simple knot with the end of one rope
and then interlacing the other rope around it, as shown.
Fig. 13. Whipping the two ends of an Ordinary knot makes it more secure.
Fig. 14. The Weaver’s knot is used to join small lines or
threads and is made by forming a bight in one rope, passing the end
of the second rope around the bight, back over itself and through the
bight. Weavers use this knot in tying broken threads. When pulled
tight, both ends point backward, and do not catch when pulled
thru the loom.
[Illustration: _Fig. 14; Fig. 15; Fig. 16; Fig. 17_]
Fig. 15. The Hawser knot or sheet bend is used for joining stiff or
heavy ropes and is not to be confused with the weaver’s knot. It
resembles the bowline, and is easily untied.
Fig. 16. The Double Sheet Bend is similar to the Hawser knot and is
useful for the same purposes.
Fig. 17. The Garrick bend is commonly used for joining two heavy
hawsers which are too stiff to bend easily.
Fig. 18. Another method of joining stiff hawsers is to use the
Half-hitch and whipping. This is a satisfactory method of making a
joint to be used for a considerable time.
Fig. 19. The Slip knot as shown is a knot with many uses.
Fig. 20. The Bowline knot is useful for forming a loop on the end of a
rope. It is used frequently by stockmen to tie a horse or cow so that
they will not choke themselves. It is always secure and easily untied.
Use this knot in tying a tow rope to a car.
[Illustration: _Fig. 18; Fig. 19_]
Fig. 21. The Running Bowline is used for the same purposes as the slip
knot in Fig. 19, but is much more secure. It will always run freely on
the standing part of the rope, and is easily untied.
[Illustration: _Fig. 20; Fig. 21_]
Fig. 22. A Loop knot is useful for making fast to the middle of a rope
where the ends are not free. It will pull tight under strain, and is
not easily untied.
Fig. 23. The Tom-fool knot is formed in the middle of a rope and may be
used for the same purpose as the loop knot, except in this case either
standing part of the rope may be strained without the knot failing, or
slipping. It can be used for holding hogs. Place one loop over the
hog’s snout and hold onto one rope. Release by pulling other rope. Can
also be used from the ground for releasing hoisting tackle which has
been used on a flag pole or other tall object.
[Illustration: _Fig. 22_]
Fig. 24. The Boat knot is formed by the aid of a toggle on a rope whose
ends are not free, and is used for shortening or for stopping a ring on
a taut line.
[Illustration: _Fig. 23; Fig. 24; Fig. 25_]
Fig. 25. The Surgeon’s knot is a modified form of the square knot, and
if used with smooth cord, as in tying bundles, it holds very securely.
The object of the double twist is to make the knot easy to tie without
holding with the end of the finger.
[Illustration: _Fig. 26_]
Fig. 26. Bowline on the bight is easily made on the looped part of a
rope which is double. It is used where a loop is desired which will
not pull tight or choke and is easily untied. May be used for casting
harness for horses.
[Illustration: _Fig. 27_]
Fig. 27. The Spanish Bowline is a knot which may be made in the middle
of a long rope or in a bight at the end, and gives two single loops
that may be thrown over two separate posts or both thrown over one.
Either loop will hold without slipping and is easily untied.
Fig. 28. The Flemish loop is similar to the Fisherman’s knot, Fig. 11,
except that it is used for forming a loop on the end of a rope instead
of joining two ropes. The loop or eye will not close up when strained.
[Illustration: _Fig. 28_]
[Illustration: _Fig. 29_]
Fig. 29. The Hawser knot with toggle is formed exactly the same as the
regular Hawser knot except that the toggle is inserted for the purpose
of making it easy to loosen the knot after a strain has been applied.