A field guide to Knots
Twelve knots for boat, crag and everyday
Twelve useful knots for boat, mountain and everyday life, from bowline and figure-eight to clove hitch, sheet bend and the monkey's fist, drawn like a blueprint with what each one is for.
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- Bowline Fixed loop that will not slip Sailing · rescue
- Figure-Eight Knot Stopper at the end of a line Sailing · climbing
- Reef Knot Binds two ends around a bundle Reefing · parcels · bandages
- Clove Hitch Quick hitch to a post Fenders · mooring · climbing
- Sheet Bend Joins ropes of unequal size Sailing · nets · camping
- Round Turn & Two Half Hitches Secure hitch to a ring Mooring · towing · tarps
- Rolling Hitch Grips along a spar or line Relieving a jammed sheet
- Cleat Hitch Belays a line to a cleat Mooring lines · halyards
- Prusik Friction hitch, slides when unloaded Climbing · ascending · backup
- Fisherman's Knot Joins two thin lines Fishing · cord · bracelets
- Sheepshank Shortens a line, holds only under tension Sailing · loads · makeshift fixes
- Monkey's Fist Weighted end for throwing Heaving lines · decoration
Gold marks the working end and the direction of load.
Dress and set every knot before loading it; for climbing, learn from a qualified instructor.