Square Knot

Categories: Xi Useful Knots And How To Tie Them

This is probably what you would at first call a hard knot, and so it is

a hard knot to come untied of itself or to slip, but it is easy to untie

when necessary. The hard knot most people tie is not quite the same as

the square knot, though it does resemble it.



The ordinary hard knot is what is known as the _granny_ knot, a slurring

name which means a failure. The granny knot will not always stay tied,

it ften slips and it cannot be trusted when absolute security is

needed.



Begin the _square knot_ with the single first tie (Fig. 49). You see the

end _X_ turns up _over_ the other rope while the end _O_ laps _under_

the rope. Now bring the two ends together, lapping _X over O_ (Fig. 50).

Then pass _X_ back under _O_, making the single tie once more. Now

compare what you have done with Fig. 51. Notice in the drawing that the

ends of rope _X_ are _both over_ the right-hand bight, and the ends of

rope _O_ are _both under_ the left-hand bight. Draw the square knot

tight and it looks like Fig. 52.



You cannot make a mistake in tying the square knot if you remember to

notice which end is on top, or laps _over_ the other rope when the first

single tie is made (Fig. 49), and then be sure to lap this _same end

over_ the other end in making the second tie which finishes the knot.