Overhand Knot
Also called Thumb knot
The simplest knot there is, and the first move of many others. It makes a small lump in the rope that stops an end slipping through a hole or out of your grip.
- Difficulty
- ●○○ Easy
- Security
- Holds
- Untying
- Jams
Drag to turn the knot. Scroll or pinch to zoom.
- 1Hold the rope with the standing part on the left. The working end on the right is the part that moves.
- 2Bring the working end up and round to make a loop, crossing the standing part.
- 3Take the end behind the standing part and up through the loop.
- 4Pull both ends to draw the knot up. Work the slack out a little at a time so it sits neat.
Arrow keys step through. Tags show whether the moving end passes over or under.
Use it for
- A quick stopper in thread, string and cord.
- Stopping a cut end from unravelling for a short while.
- The starting move for the Square Knot, the Double Overhand and many fishing knots.
Watch out
- It jams hard once loaded and can be very difficult to untie in thin line.
- Any knot weakens a rope; a tight Overhand weakens it more than most.
- It is small, so it can pull through a hole that a Figure-Eight would block.
Untying
Bend the knot back and forth to loosen it, then push the loop open with a thumbnail or a spike.