How to Tie Knots

Knot tying videos with how-to instructions for all sorts of knots and rope splices

Tying "Loop" Knots

Summary: Photos and how-to videos of our favourite loop-forming knots showing step by step how to tie them. We'll show you how to tie the Bowline, Lineman's Loop, Portuguese Bowline, Three Part Crown, etc.

Loop knots do exactly as their name implies - they form one or more loops at the end of or in a bight of rope.

Books on Knots and Marlinspike we think are useful

Loop Knots Listed in Alphabetical Order:

Click the photos for a how-to video knot tying demonstration from the knot tyer's point of view, or to view a large-size photo.

Artillery Loop - Also commonly known as Artillery Hitch - Good for forming a loop in the bight of a rope. Secure and reasonably easy to untie.

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Bowline - Handy and strong for making a loop in a rope; easy to undo even after being under great strain.

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Bowline on the Bight - A way of forming a loop in the center of a rope. It remains easy to untie even after having had great strain exerted on it.

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Bowline with Seizings - A few ways of securing your bowline to make it less likely to come undone accidentally.

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Butterfly Knot - A way of making a loop in a bight of rope that is secure and generally easy to untie.

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Jury Knot - A masthead jury knot for an emergency mast rig. The three loops are used to attach the forward, port, and starboard stays. The two standing ends are run aft.

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Portuguese Bowline - Also known as a French Bowline. It is essentially a bowline with a second turn in the loop. I use it to reduce chafe in the loop portion of the rope when, for example, towing a dinghy.

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Portuguese Bowline on the Bight - An interesting combination of a Portuguese Bowline and a Bowline on the Bight creating 4 loops in the bight of a rope. I'm not sure if this is the formal name for it as I made this one up myself (I'm sure this isn't a new/unique knot though) while playing with tying bowlines. If you know the proper name for it, please let me know!

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Single and Double Lineman's Loop:

Single Lineman's Loop - A good way of making a loop in a bight of rope.

Double Lineman's Loop - From the single, Lineman's Loop, it is easy to form double loop in a bight of rope.

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Spanish Bowline - A bowline with two separate loops.

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Three Part Crown - A way of forming two independent loops in the end of a line. The knot is nicely symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing, but it does tend to become difficult to untie after tension has been applied.

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