Knots

A

Adjustable bend - can be easily lengthened or shortened
Adjustable hitch (taut-line hitch) - adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension
Adjustable loop (slip knot) - attach a line to an object and tighten when tension is applied to the free end of the line
Albright knot (Albright special) - used to tie two different diameters of line together, for instance to tie monofilament to braid
Alpine coil (mountaineer's coil) - method used by climbers for carrying a rope
Alternate ring hitching - covering a ring in hitching can prevent damage
Anchor bend - attaching a rope to a ring or similar termination
Angler's knot (fisherman's knot) - a knot for joining two lines with a symmetrical structure
Angler's loop - knot which forms a fixed loop. Useful for fine or slippery line, it is one of the few loop knots which holds well in bungee cord.
Arbor knot - attach fishing line to the arbor of a fishing reel
Artillery loop aka manharness knot - a knot with a loop on the bight for non-critical purposes
Ashley's bend - used to securely join the ends of two ropes together
Ashley's stopper knot - trefoil-faced stopper at the end of the rope
Axle hitch - used to tie a hitch in a hard-to-reach place

B

Bachmann knot - friction hitch useful when the knot needs to be reset quickly/often
Bag knot (miller's knot) - binding knot used to secure the opening of a sack or bag
Bait loop (bumper knot) - secures soft or loose bait in fishing
Bale sling hitch - continuous loop of strap to form a cow hitch around an object
Barrel hitch (barrel sling) - suspends an object
Barrel knot (blood knot) - joins sections of monofilament nylon line while maintaining much of the line's inherent strength
Barrel sling (barrel hitch) - suspends an object
Becket hitch - any hitch made on an eye loop
Beer knot - bend used in tubular webbing as in slings used in rock climbing
Bimini twist - fishing knot used for offshore trolling and sportsfishing
Blackwall hitch - temporary means of attaching a rope to a hook
Blake's hitch - friction hitch commonly used by arborists and tree climbers as an ascending knot
Blood knot (barrel knot) - joins sections of monofilament nylon line while maintaining much of the line's inherent strength
Blood loop knot (dropper loop) - forms a loop which is off to the side of the line
Boa knot - binding knot
Boom hitch - attach a line to a fixed object like a pipe
Bottle sling (jug sling) - used to create a handle for a container with a narrow tapering neck
Bowen knot (heraldic knot) - not a true knot (an unknot), a continuous loop of rope laid out as an upright square shape with loops at each of the four corners
Bowline - forms a fixed loop at the end of a rope
Bowline on a bight - makes a pair of fixed-size loops in the middle of a rope
Bumper knot - secures soft or loose bait in fishing
Buntline hitch - attach a rope to an object
Butterfly bend - connects two ends of rope
Butterfly loop (alpine butterfly) - forms a fixed loop in the middle of a rope

C

Carrick bend - joins two lines of heavy rope or cable
Carrick mat - flat woven decorative knot which can be used as a mat or pad
Cat's paw - connects a rope to an object
Catshank - variant of the sheepshank, clinched by two overhand knots with the bights passed through the twists
Chain sinnet - method of shortening a rope or other cable
Chain stitch - a sewing and embroidery technique in which a series of looped stitches form a chain-like pattern
Cleat "knot"
Clove hitch - two successive half-hitches around an object
Common whipping - series of knots intended to stop a rope from unraveling
Constrictor knot - series of knots intended to stop a rope from unraveling
Continuous ring hitching - series of identical hitches made around a ring
Corned beef knot - binding knot often used for binding the meat of the same name while it is being cooked
Cow hitch - hitch knot used to attach a rope to an object
Cow hitch and bowline (bale sling hitch or strap hitch) - uses a continuous loop of strap to form a cow hitch around an object in order to hoist or lower it
Cowboy bowline - variation of the bowline loop knot

D

Diagonal lashing - lashing to bind spars or poles together to prevent racking
Diamond knot - (knife lanyard knot) for forming a decorative loop on the end of a cord
Directional figure eight - (inline figure-eight loop) loop knot that can be made on the bight
Distel hitch - sercure friction hitch used for rope climbing
Dogshank - variant of the sheepshank where the eyes formed at each end have the ends of the rope passed through
Double anchorman knot - two or more pieces of rope joined together
Double bowline - (round turn bowline) loop knot that uses a round turn
Double carrick bend - join two lines together
Double constrictor knot - binding knot that can be difficult to untie once tightened
Double Englishman's knot - (grapevine knot) joins two lengths of rope
Double figure eight bend - joins two ropes of roughly similar size
Double figure-eight loop - forms two parallel loops
Double figure eight - (stevedore knot) bulky stopper knot often tied near the end of a rope that is secure-when-slack
Double fisherman knot - (grapevine knot) joins two lengths of rope
Double loop - for making loops at the end of lines similar to the Surgeon's knot, but with a double strand
Double overhand - extension of the regular overhand knot, made with one additional pass
Double overhand noose - hitch knot used to bind a rope to a carabiner
Double pile hitch - attaches a rope to a pole or other structure
Double sheet bend - doubles a sheet bend by making an additional round turn below the first and again bringing the working end back under itself
Double windsor (for use in neckties) - method of tying a necktie around one's neck and collar
Dropper loop - forms a loop which is off to the side of the line
Dutch marine bowline - (cowboy bowline) variation of the bowline loop knot

E

Egg loop aka bumper knot - secures soft or loose bait in fishing applications
Englishman's knot - (fisherman's knot) a bend consisting of two overhand knots, each tied around the standing part of the other
Eskimo bowline - places a loop in the end of a rope
European death knot - (overhand bend) joins two ropes together
Eye splice - creates a permanent loop in the end of multi stranded rope by means of rope splicing

F

Falconer's knot - used in falconry to tether a bird of prey to a perch
Farmer's loop - midline loop knot made with a bight
Farrimond friction hitch - quick release adjustable friction hitch for use on lines under tension
Fiador knot - decorative, symmetrical knot used in equine applications
Figure-of-eight follow through - type of knot created by a loop on the bight
Figure-of-eight knot aka savoy knot, Flemish knot - type of knot created by a loop on the bight
Figure-of-eight loop - type of knot created by a loop on the bight
Fireman's chair knot - knot tied in the bight forming two adjustable, lockable loops
Fisherman's bend - (anchor bend) used for attaching a rope to a ring or similar termination
Fisherman's knot - knot for joining two lines with a symmetrical structure consisting of two overhand knots, each tied around the standing part of the other
Flemish bend - knot for joining two ropes of roughly similar size
Flemish knot aka figure-of-eight knot, savoy knot - knot for joining two ropes of roughly similar size
French bowline - variant of the bowline with two loops

G

Garda hitch - (alpine clutch) climbing knot that lets the rope move in only one direction
Granny knot - secures a rope or line around an object
Grief knot - (what knot) combines features of granny knot and thief knot
Ground-line hitch - attaches a rope to an object

H

Hackamore - type of animal headgear which does not have a bit
Half blood knot - (clinch knot) for securing a fishing line to a fishing lure, snap or swivel
Half hitch - simple overhand knot, where the working end of a line is brought over and under the standing part
Half-Windsor knot - knot used for tying neckties
Halter hitch - connects a rope to an object
Handcuff knot - tied in the bight, having two adjustable loops in opposing directions
Hangman's noose - well-known knot most often associated with its use in hanging a person
Harness bend - used to join two ropes together
Harness hitch - knot with a loop on the bight for non-critical purposes
Heaving line bend - used to attach playing strings to the thick silk eyes of the anchorage knot
Highwayman's hitch - insecure, quick-release, draw loop hitch for trivial use
Hitching tie - simple knot used to tie off drawstring bags that allows quick access
Honda knot aka lariat loop - loop knot commonly used in a lasso
Hunter's bend aka rigger's bend - joins two lines

I

Icicle hitch - excellent for connecting to a post when weight is applied to an end running parallel to the post in a specific direction
Improved clinch knot - used for securing a fishing line to the fishing lure
In-line figure 8 loop - loop knot that can be made on the bight
Italian hitch - simple knot commonly used by climbers and cavers as part of a life-lining or belay system

J

Jack Ketch's knot - well-known knot most often associated with its use in hanging a person
Jug sling aka bottle sling - used to create a handle for a glass or ceramic container with a slippery, narrow, tapering neck
Jury mast knot - for jury rigging a temporary mast on a sailboat or ship

K

Killick hitch - hitch knot used to attach a rope to oddly shaped objects
Klemheist knot - friction hitch that grips a rope when weight is applied, and is free to move when the weight is released
Knot of isis - ancient Egyptian symbol of the goddess Isis; similar to a knot used to secure the garments that the Egyptian gods wore
Karash Double Loop - A recently invented knot used to form leg loops as a make-shift harness

L

Lariat loop aka honda knot - loop knot commonly used in a lasso
Lark's foot - (cow hitch) used to attach a rope to an object
Lark's head - (cow hitch) used to attach a rope to an object
Left-hand bowline - variation of the bowline loop knot
Ligature knot aka surgeon's knot - simple modification to the reef knot that adds an extra twist when tying the first throw
Lighterman's hitch - ideal for heavy towing, or making fast to a post, bollard, or winch
Lineman's loop - (butterfly loop) used to form a fixed loop in the middle of a rope
Lissajous knot - knot defined by parametric equations
Lobster buoy hitch - similar to the buntline hitch, but made with a cow hitch around the standing part rather than a clove hitch

M

Magnus hitch (rolling hitch) - used to attach a rope to a rod, pole, or other rope
Manharness knot (artillery loop) - knot with a loop on the bight for non-critical purposes
Matthew Walker's knot - decorative knot that is used to keep the end of a rope from fraying
Marlinespike hitch - temporary knot used to attach a rod to a rope in order to form a handle
Midshipman's hitch (taut-line hitch) - adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension
Miller's knot - binding knot used to secure the opening of a sack or bag
Monkey's fist - looks somewhat like a small bunched fist/paw, most often used as the weight in a heaving line
Mountaineer's coil - method used by climbers for carrying a rope
Munter hitch - simple knot commonly used by climbers and cavers as part of a life-lining or belay system

N

Nail knot - used in fly fishing to attach the leader to the fly line
Noose - loop at the end of a rope in which the knot slides to make the loop collapsible

O

One-sided overhand bend - used to join two ropes together
Ossel hitch - used to attach a rope or line to an object
Overhand bend - used to join two ropes together
Overhand knot with draw-loop - knot in which the weight of the load depresses the loop to keep it in place
Overhand knot aka thumb knot - fundamental knot that forms the basis of many others
Oysterman's stopper knot - common overhand noose, but with the end of the rope passing through the noose eye, which closes upon it

P

Packer's knot - binding knot which is easily pulled taut and quickly locked in position
Palomar knot - used for securing a fishing line to a fishing lure, snap or swivel
Pile hitch - used for attaching rope to a pole or other structure
Poldo tackle - an instant tension-applying and tension-releasing mechanism in rope
Pratt knot - a method of tying a tie around one's neck and collar
Pretzel link knot - in knot theory, a branch of mathematics, a pretzel link is a special kind of link
Prusik knot - friction hitch or knot used to put a loop of cord around a rope
Portuguese bowline aka French bowline - variant of the bowline with two loops that are adjustable in size
Portuguese whipping -
Power cinch - (trucker's hitch) commonly used for securing loads on trucks or trailers

R

Racking bend - knot for joining two ropes of different diameter
Reef knot - simple binding knot used to secure a rope or line around an object
Rigger's bend aka hunter's bend - used to join two lines
Rigid double splayed loop in the bight - knot that contains two parallel loops
Ring bend - for joining two ends of webbing together
Ring hitch - used to attach a rope to an object
Ring knot - for joining two ends of webbing together
Rolling hitch - knot used to attach a rope to a rod, pole, or other rope
Rosendahl bend - general purpose bend knot unique in the ease with which it is untied, even after heavy loading
Round turn and two half hitches - hitch used to secure the end of a rope to a fixed object
Round turn
Running knot - knots which attach a line to an object and tighten when tension is applied to the free end of the line

S

Sailor's hitch - a secure, jam-proof hitch
Sailors knot aka Carrick bend - used for joining two lines
Savoy knot aka Figure-of-eight knot, Flemish knot - decorative, heraldic knot
Sheepshank - used to store rope
Sheet bend - joins two ropes together
Siberian hitch - used to attach a rope to an object
Simple knot - (four-in-hand knot) a method of tying a necktie
Single carrick bend - refers to different knots similar to the Carrick bend
Single hitch - an overhand knot tied around or through an object
Slip knot - knots which attach a line to an object and tighten when tension is applied; a type of knot designed to bind one end of a rope to the middle of another
Slipped buntline hitch - used for attaching a rope to an object
Slippery eight loop - adjustable loop knot
Slippery hitch - used to attach a line to a rod or bar
Snell Knot
Snuggle hitch - a modification of the clove hitch
Span loop - non-jamming loop that can be tied in the middle of a rope
Spanish bowline - double loop knot
Splice - the forming of a semi-permanent joint between two ropes
Square knot - used to secure a rope or line around an object
Square lashing - used to bind poles together
Square turk's head - decorative knot with a variable number of interwoven strands, forming a closed loop
Stein knot - variation of the Figure 8 knot
Stevedore knot - a stopper knot often tied near the end of a rope
Strangle knot - a simple binding knot
Strap hitch - uses a continuous loop of strap to form a cow hitch around an object
Surgeon's knot aka ligature knot - modification to the reef knot
Surgeon's loop - similar to the Surgeon's knot but with a double strand
Schwabisch knot - friction hitch used for rope climbing

T

Tarbuck knot - used by climbers and was primarily used with stranded nylon rope
Taut-line hitch - adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension
Tent hitch - adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension
Thief knot - resembles the reef knot except that the free, or working, ends are on opposite sides
Thumb knot aka overhand knot - one of the most fundamental knots and forms the basis of many others
Tiggap knot
Timber hitch - used to attach a single length of rope to a cylindrical object
Tom fool's knot - good knot with which to commence a slightly fancy sheepshank
Trefoil knot - simplest example of a nontrivial knot in mathematics
Trident loop - fixed loop knot
Triple bowline - variation of the bowline knot that is used to create three loops on one knot simultaneously
Triple crown knot - double loop knot
Triple fisherman's knot - a bend knot used to join two ends of rope together
Trucker's hitch - used for securing loads on trucks or trailers
True lover's knot - a name which has been used for many distinct knots
Tug boat hitch - ideal for heavy towing, or making fast to a post, bollard, or winch
Turle knot - used while fishing for tying a hook or fly to a leader
Twined turk's head - decorative knot with a variable number of interwoven strands forming a closed loop
Two half hitches - an overhand knot tied around a post, followed by a half-hitch
Two strand overhand knot - used to join two ropes together

U

Underwriter's knot
Uni knot - fishing knot used to attach fishing line to the arbor of a reel

V

Valdotain tresse - easily adjustable friction hitch used for rope climbing
Versatackle knot - simulates a block and tackle without actual pulleys or deadeyes
Vibration-proof hitch - used for fastening a line or rope to a solid object

W

Wagoner's hitch - compound knot commonly used for securing loads on trucks or trailers
Water bowline - type of knot designed for use in wet conditions where other knots may slip or jam
Water knot - frequently used in climbing for joining two ends of webbing together
Waterman's knot - a bend with a symmetrical structure consisting of two overhand knots, each tied around the standing part of the other
West country whipping - uses twine to secure the end of a rope to prevent it fraying
Windsor knot - a method of tying a necktie around one's neck and collar

Y

Yosemite bowline - a medium security loop knot

Z

Zeppelin bend - a secure, easily tied, and jam-proof way to connect two ropes
Zeppelin loop - (Rosendahl Loop) a secure, jam resistant loop knot based on the zeppelin bend