Why Knots
You know that feeling you get when starting a fire on purpose? That raw and primal, genetically-enhanced (enhanced by your genes) satisfaction is what deploying a purposeful knot feels like, every time. Ancient technology just has way more personality and pizzazz.
Learning to wield simple rope or string as a material for creating structure is really exciting. To me it feels like engineering on the spot, independently of how fancy or easy the knot is. But knots is also creativity and experimentation to a surprising extent. In a very real sense, really learning a knot means experimenting with it, seeing it perform real tasks.
In summary - It’s hard to describe the sort of satisfaction one gets from getting to know a knot with hands and mind. But it’s harder not to try.
Okay I’m In Where to Start
Definitely Canadian Jam Knot, because of its vast scope of usability. It’s an infinitely reusable, tension-retaining, easy-release knot, reusable in terms of tightening and loosening. I’ve thought of it as an advanced zip-tie, those hard plastic-band tighten-only things. Advanced because this has a handle for easy loosening, is completely DIY and reusable and has a pleasantly organic user experience to boot.
Then probably Anchor Knot, used for (professionally) securing a line to something round. Easy and obvious-feeling method of tying, secure and doesn’t bind after heavy load, number one in “how to fasten rope to round anchor point”. Just repeat the last step for extra security peace of mind.
Five Favourite Fixed Loops
Bowline the king of knots, apparently, and often the first knot one learns says YouTube. A host of fun tying methods, a pleasure to visually inspect, quite secure.
Butterfly Loop, also known as the queen of knots, is a very useful inline loop.
Perfection Loop is nice-looking, easy to tie, works inline and is slippable*. It puts a nice right angle in the line.
Zeppelin Loop is my favourite fixed loop, a joy to behold, ease of inspection, very secure, doesn’t bind. The trade-off is not the fastest loop to tie. (mickey mouse ears method)
Double Dragon is a useful, very easy to tie and remember, secure fixed loop which works perfectly inline and also sports a nice name. Quickly becoming my go-to fixed loop.
One handy use of fixed inline loops is to isolate, taking the load off, a damaged setion of rope. My favourite application of fixed inline loops though is to fasten a rope to a high, out-of-reach branch without risking a climb to get it loose.
Tie a fixed inline loop a couple of meters from the end, throw the end up and around the branch while holding onto the loop, put the end coming down from the branch through the loop, then pull all the way through to fasten the rope to the branch. Very secure under tension, very easy to release, simply pull on the other end coming down.
So I Hear You Like Knots
The Adjustable Loops I think of as tent-string knots as they allow for adjustable-sized loops, e.g. around a tent stake. Taut-Line Hitch was my first knot, awww. It looks like a little reliable fist and is very useful for variable-length applications (e.g. hanging something at an adjustable height). Fixed loop under tension, adjustable when slack. (See also the Midshipman’s Hitch variation).
Towing From Two Anchor Points? The Portugese Bowline is perfectly suited for the task. The knot can be repositioned when slack and locks under tension, allowing varying degrees of angle of force. Satisfying knot mechanics.
Quick-Release Fastening My favourite quick-release hitch is the Siberian Hitch. Easy to remember and fast to tie, takes load well. Quick-release in general is a just a life-quality feature as well as the great ambassador of knots.
Bends (joining two rope ends) Zeppelin Bend all the way personally, if your application allows for the ortogonal ends sticking out. Takes load very well, very secure, memorable 69 tying method, easy and satisfying to visually inspect. But probably Sheet Bend generally. Just so easy to tie, satisfying interlocking mechanism, and it slips well, too. Great for (and named from) tying into corners of fabrics, tarps etc.
One-Way Tight The Constrictor is a strong contender for personal favourite of mine. This knot can only get tighter, one-way. It retains any tension put into it. Perfect if you want to securely close a bag or bundle items. Since this knot actually does bind (as a feature) the slipped version is often advantagous.
Really Tight you say. Well, then (and I can’t believe we got this far without mentioning the great) Trucker’s Hitch! Maybe still my favourite knot mechanics. The knot version of ratcheting straps used to strap down trailer loads. Utilizes and may even make you aware of the awesome concept of mechanical advantage, an everyday magic application of physics that makes your pulling load multiple times lighter when lifting objects, using rope, pulleys and a stationary object like a tree (with the trade-off of pulling equally slower).
For interesting knot mechanics, check out Voodoo Hitch, a fascinating tension-holding system using two carabiners. And also the buckle application of the Portugese Bowline, just the most gentle and charming of locking systems that is.
*) Slipped means feeding a bite** through in the last step instead of just the rope end as usual, making the knot quick-release or quick-to-dismantle.
**) Bite means bending the rope end around and into your rope-holding hand to create a U-shaped double-rope end instead.