Three Basic Knots
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What you will learn
- 1Name the parts of a rope: working end, standing part, and loop
- 2Tie a figure-eight knot, a slip knot, and a half hitch
- 3Check a knot and pull to test it
- 4Follow the rope safety rules
Mini Lesson
A good knot is a handy tool outdoors. It can stop a rope from slipping, tie a bundle of sticks, or hold a line to a branch. First, learn the parts of a rope. Then learn three easy knots, one at a time.
🌿 The Wild Way (three knots for your hands)
- WORKING END: the end of the rope you move to tie the knot.
- STANDING PART: the rest of the rope, which stays still.
- LOOP: a circle you make by crossing the rope over itself.
- FIGURE-EIGHT KNOT: a fat stopper at the end of a rope. Make a loop, wrap the working end around behind the standing part, then push it down through the loop. It looks like the number 8.
- SLIP KNOT: make a loop, pull a bend of the rope up through it, and pull it snug. The new loop slides smaller when you pull the rope. Good for tying a bundle of sticks. Never put it around anyone’s neck.
- HALF HITCH: pass the working end around a post or branch, wrap it around the standing part, tuck it through, and pull. It holds a rope for light jobs. Tie two for a firmer hold.
Tie it, check it, test it
- GO SLOW: practice with a thick cord or a shoelace. Thick rope is easier to see.
- CHECK IT: does your knot look like the picture?
- TEST IT: pull both ends firmly. A good knot holds its shape.
Never tie a rope or cord around anyone’s neck, even as a game. Never climb or swing on a knot you tied. A grown-up checks anything that has to hold weight.
Words to know
slip knot
A knot that makes a loop which slides smaller when you pull the rope.
e.g. I tied a slip knot around a bundle of sticks.
working end
The end of the rope you move to tie the knot.
e.g. I pushed the working end through the loop.
standing part
The rest of the rope, which stays still while you tie.
e.g. The standing part stays on the table.
loop
A circle you make by crossing the rope over itself.
e.g. First, make a loop.
stopper
A fat knot at the end of a rope that keeps it from slipping through.
e.g. A figure-eight is a good stopper.
hitch
A knot that ties a rope to a post or branch.
e.g. I tied a half hitch around the post.
🧠 Survivor’s Trick: say the steps out loud while you tie, like "loop, around, through, pull". Tie the same knot five times in a row, slowly. Soon your hands will remember it, even without looking.
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