Basics ยท 6 of 6
Tying technique
Dress, set, leave a tail, and test. Good habits that make any knot better.
A knot that is tied right but finished badly can still fail. These habits apply to every knot in this guide.
- Leave enough end. Start with more working end than you think you need. Running out halfway through is the most common reason knots end up tied wrong.
- Dress it. Before tightening, arrange every part so it lies where it should. Parallel strands stay parallel; nothing is twisted or crossed by accident.
- Work out the slack. Tighten a little at a time, pulling each part in turn and moving the slack toward the end. Yanking both ends at once can capsize a knot into a different shape.
- Set it. Give the finished knot a firm pull on every part it has. A knot that settles under its first load can loosen.
- Leave a tail. At least several rope-widths, more for slippery or stiff rope and for anything that holds people.
- Check it. Compare it to a picture. Look for the right number of crossings and parts in the right places. For life-safety knots, have someone else check too.
Rope ends
A cut end unravels quickly. Seal synthetic rope by melting the end with a flame or hot knife, tape it as a quick fix, or whip it with thin twine for a lasting finish. Natural rope cannot be melted, so tape or whip it.
Practising
Learn a knot with a short length of soft rope about as thick as your finger, at a table. Tie it until you can do it without looking, then tie it with the other hand, behind your back, and in the dark. Use Mirror on any knot page to see it the other way round.