Single-Loop Knots
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If you have never visited this website before then I would recommend that you begin at the Home Page. It explains that the type of rope you use, the age of the rope, the wear and tear on the rope, the types of knots you tie, whether you tied the knots properly or not, whether you "dressed" the knots properly or not, whether you "set" the knots properly or not, and so on, all have an impact on the Safe Working Load of your rope and the security of the knots you tie. Whatever risks are associated with the rope or string that you use and the knots that you tie, remember that the risks are entirely your own.
Here is a list of the articles in this series. Every link will open up in a new window to give you more control as you browse around in this website:
A single loop is useful when you need to throw a rope over something such as a post (to tie up a boat, for example), or when you need to attach something to a loop of rope (as in rock climbing), and so on. With some of these loop knots, the end of the rope can first be wrapped around an object (such as passing the rope around a person's waist or around a tree) before tying the knot.
If you don't tie knots in rope very often then it might be difficult to remember which knot to use, and how to tie it properly, when you need to tie a loop. Therefore, it's a good idea to learn one or two strong knots which you can remember easily. My preferences are the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline, for reasons which I'll describe throughout this article.
Be sure to practice tying your favorite knots periodically (from different angles) so that you'll know how to tie them when you need them.
Method #1
This is my method for tying the Alpine Butterfly. First give the rope two twists as in the first picture, which creates two loops. Put your hand through the upper loop (picture 2), then put your fingers through the other loop (picture 3). Bring the upper loop over to your fingers (picture 4), then grab the upper loop with your thumb and finger and pull your hand all the way out. In picture 5, the loop that you pulled through the knot is now hanging down at the bottom, and notice that the knot looks like two intertwined
Overhand Knots.
Dress and set the knot (picture 6). This looks a little complicated when it is captured in pictures, but it is actually quite simple and quick to do. If you pull the two ends in opposite directions then the knot will form itself into the configuration which is more familiar to many people (picture 7).
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Method #2
Here is another way to tie the Alpine Butterfly, which is now my favorite method. Start by wrapping the rope several times around your hand so that you have three strands of rope laying on the palm of your hand (picture 1 below). Grab the left-most strand (#1 in picture 1) and bring it all the way to the right over the other two strands (pictures 1 and 2). Once again grab the left-most strand (#2 in picture 3) and bring it all the way to the right over the other two strands (pictures 3 and 4). After bringing strand #2 over the other two strands, push it back to the left
under
the other two strands (picture 5). Now dress the knot so that strand #2 becomes the loop, keeping strands 3 and 1 in the same order as they are in picture 5. The dressed knot should look like picture 6 above. Since strand #2 will become the loop, you can resize it before you push it to the left under the other two strands. There are other ways to tie an Alpine Butterfly using a method similar to this, but I prefer my variation for two reasons. First, it is easier to remember because you always pick up the left-most strand and bring it all the way to the right over the other two strands. Second, it automatically results in a well-dressed knot because it puts strands 1 and 3 into the proper positions so that you end up with the knot in picture 6 above. This method of tying an Alpine Butterfly also has several advantages over the first method shown above. One advantage is that this method tends to eliminate most of the "twist" in the rope which can happen with the first method. This method is also less "awkward" than the first method. Plus, this same basic method can be used for tying the
Double Alpine Butterfly,
the
Triple Alpine Butterfly,
and the
Alpine Butterfly Bend,
which makes it easy to remember how to tie the Alpine Butterfly for different purposes.
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Method #3
For another way to tie the Alpine Butterfly, see
Animated Knots.
Method #4
To tie an Alpine Butterfly around an object, first tie an
Overhand Knot
(picture 1 below), then pass the end of the rope around the object and insert the end of the rope into the
Overhand Knot
to form a
Slip Knot
(picture 2). Bring the end of the rope over the main part of the rope and around the knot (picture 3), then behind the loop (picture 4), then insert it into the knot so that it follows the other end of the rope (picture 5). After you dress and set the knot (picture 6), it should look similar to picture 6 above.
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KnotMaker drawing of Method #4 (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
The Alpine Butterfly is fairly easy and quick to tie, and it is generally considered to be as strong and secure as the Double-Knotted Bowline and the Figure-Eight Loop. Dressing this knot is quick and easy, and it is fairly easy to untie after it has held a load (unlike the Figure-Eight Loop).![]()
Ashley says that "It has an excellent lead and is strong, secure, and easily tied; a better knot in every way than the Harness Loop." (The Ashley Book of Knots, p.190, #1053).
According to Budworth, the Alpine Butterfly "can be pulled in two (or even three) directions at once without distorting or capsizing. ... 'If the Bowline is "the King of Knots",' wrote John Sweet in his book Scout Pioneering (1974), 'this must surely be the "Queen".'" (The Complete Book of Knots, p.86-87).
Budworth also says that if your rope is damaged, you can isolate the damaged area by tying an Alpine Butterfly around it (The Complete Book of Knots, p.86).
The Alpine Butterfly is generally considered to be one of the strongest and most secure loop knots that can be tied in the middle of a rope or at the end of a rope. It can be pulled in two or three directions without distorting, and it can be used to strengthen a damaged rope by isolating the damaged area. The Alpine Butterfly can also be tied as a double-loop or a triple-loop knot (to use it as a rescue sling, for example), it can be used to tie a rope around an object, and it can be used as a bend (to tie two ends of rope together, even if they are different thicknesses). These things make the Alpine Butterfly a very versatile and valuable knot to know, and it is now my preferred loop knot along with some form of the Bowline.
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KnotMaker drawing (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
Method #2![]()
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Method #3
Here's another quick method of tying a Bowline. First form a loop, making sure that the end of the rope lies on top of the main part of the rope (picture 1 below). Grab the rope where it crosses itself, with your thumb underneath and your fingers on top (picture 2). Flip your hand over so that your fingers and the end of the rope go inside the main loop (picture 3). You should now have the same configuration as in the original picture 1 above.
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Method #4
Here's an interesting way to tie a Bowline. Pass the end of the rope around an object, then tie a loose
Slip Knot
in the main part of the rope. Make sure that the
Overhand Knot
is formed using the end of the rope (rather than the main part of the rope), as in picture 1 below. Pass the end of the rope through the
Slip Knot
in the direction shown in picture 2. Pull on the main part of the rope, and the knot will capsize into a Bowline!
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Some people feel that the Bowline weakens a rope too much, but other people say that they have been using the Bowline for years with no problems, even when towing heavy loads or when lifting (or lowering) injured people to safety. However, the Bowline can loosen up when there is no load on it (especially in some synthetic ropes), which increases the possibility of it coming undone or distorting. For a discussion of some ways to "lock" a Bowline to make it more secure, see the forum topic called Simple lock for the bowline at the International Guild of Knot Tyers. Also see the Water Bowline.
According to Ashley, "Properly tied in ordinary rope, there is little or no danger of a Bowline Knot's capsizing before the breaking point of the rope itself is reached. It is so good a knot that the sailor seldom uses any other Loop Knot aboard ship." (The Ashley Book of Knots, p.186, #1010).
Budworth says that "It is far from the strongest loop knot, reducing the breaking strength of any stuff in which it is tied by as much as 40%. Nor is it very secure, particularly when the rope is stiff or slippery, when it has been known to capsize (if excessively loaded) or alternatively to spring or shake itself apart (when unloaded). Nevertheless the bowline can be used for a wide range of jobs, from securing the string before tying a parcel, to outdoor pursuits such as climbing. When I was a Metropolitan Police frogman in the 1960's, my colleagues and I tied the line around our waists with a simple bowline. The working end (deliberately made long) was then tucked several times around the adjacent part of the loop to secure it. Climbers' manuals advise their readers to finish off such tucks with one or two half-hitches (made in the opposite direction to the twist) for even greater security and peace of mind." (The Complete Book of Knots, p.36).
The Bowline has a long history and a long track record of safe use when properly tied, and it is useful in a wide variety of situations (see for example the Axle Hitch, the Bale Sling Hitch, and the Barrel Hitch). The Bowline can also be tied as a double-loop or a triple-loop knot (to use it as a rescue sling, for example), it can be used to tie a rope around an object, and it can be used as a bend (to tie two ends of rope together, even if they are different thicknesses). These things make the Bowline a very versatile and valuable knot to know, and the Double-Knotted Bowline is considered to be one of the strongest and most secure forms of the Bowline.
For the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline.
The Alpine Butterfly is generally considered to be one of the strongest and most secure loop knots, and in Paul's experience and testing at his rigging shop, the Double Dragon seems to rival the Alpine Butterfly in strength, security, reliability, and so on. They use this knot quite frequently at his company (although not yet for hanging scaffolding, pending approval by an Engineering Review), and Paul has submitted it to the online forum of the International Guild of Knot Tyers for identification in order to determine if it is known by another name. The general consensus on that forum is that this knot has never been named before.
Method #1
To tie this knot, first create two
bights
as in picture 1, then wrap the end of the rope twice around the lower
bight
to create a big loop on the left and a small loop on the right (picture 2). Bring the big loop (on the left) over the knot and push it through the small loop on the right (picture 3), then dress and set the knot (picture 4).
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KnotMaker drawing (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
Method #2![]()
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One nice thing about tying the Double Dragon around an object is that it does not require tying any kind of knot before passing the end of the rope around the object (similar to the Bowline, but unlike the Alpine Butterfly and the Rethreaded Figure-Eight Loop).
Method #3
Here is my "quick" version of the Double Dragon, which can be used when tying a Double Dragon at the end of a rope or around an object. It's difficult to describe this in pictures, but with practice you'll get the hang of it. First make a loop, holding it with your right index and middle fingers and with your thumb on top of the point where the rope crosses itself (in picture 1 the right thumb is not directly over the spot where the rope crosses itself, but this is simply to make the picture a little clearer). The end of the rope should cross on top of the main part of the rope. Place your left index and middle fingers under the main part of the rope (picture 1). Now bring your left hand over to the right so that it crosses over on top of the loop (picture 2). Notice in picture 2 that your right index and middle fingers should be inside a small loop. Put your left index and middle fingers into the small loop where your right index and middle fingers are (picture 3). Now transfer the knot to your left hand (use your left thumb to hold it in place) and remove your right hand, and you should have the same configuration as in picture 5 above. Finish tying the knot as above. Again, it's difficult to describe this in a few pictures, but as you play with it you'll be able to do this smoothly and quickly, especially if your right hand takes more of an active role in transferring the knot to your left hand.
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The Double Dragon is fairly easy to remember how to tie, it is easy and quick to tie, and it seems to be as strong and secure as the Alpine Butterfly and the Double-Knotted Bowline and the Figure-Eight Loop (which are all generally considered to be equal in strength).
Paul Kruse also pointed out that if you tie a Double-Knotted Bowline and pass the end of the rope back through the top of the knot (so that it follows the path of the main part of the rope), then you have tied a reversed Double Dragon.
Budworth says that if your rope is damaged, you can isolate the damaged area by tying an Alpine Butterfly around it (The Complete Book of Knots, p.86), and the same might be true for the Double Dragon. However, there has been some discussion on the forum of the International Guild of Knot Tyers concerning the use of the Double Dragon as a mid-line loop because this might cause the knot to jam and be difficult to untie (for example, see the forum topic called Double Dragon vs. Double-tucked Angler).
The Alpine Butterfly is generally considered to be one of the strongest and most secure loop knots that can be tied in the middle of a rope or at the end of a rope, and the Double Dragon appears to rival the Alpine Butterfly in many respects. The Double Dragon can also be tied as a double-loop or a triple-loop knot (to use it as a rescue sling, for example), it can be used to tie a rope around an object, and it can be used as a bend (to tie two ends of rope together, even if they are different thicknesses).
However, for the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline.
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KnotMaker drawing (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
According to Budworth, "If the [bowline] will have to withstand rough treatment, tie the double bowline (figs 8-9). This has a breaking strength of 70-75% and is therefore stronger and far more secure than a basic bowline." (The Complete Book of Knots, p.37, brackets added).![]()
Also see the Water Bowline, which is similar to the Double-Knotted Bowline except that the upper small loop in picture 1 (above) is the lower small loop in the Water Bowline.
For a discussion of some ways to "lock" a Bowline to make it more secure, see the forum topic called Simple lock for the bowline at the International Guild of Knot Tyers.
Again, the Bowline is a valuable knot to know, and the Double-Knotted Bowline increases the Bowline's strength up to the level of the Alpine Butterfly and the Figure-Eight Loop.
For the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline.
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KnotMaker drawing (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
Method #2![]()
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The Rethreaded Figure-Eight Loop is not exactly difficult, but it's not a "quick" knot to tie. It has all of the strength and security of the Figure-Eight Loop, and it is used frequently by climbers. However, people have had serious accidents by not properly rethreading the Figure-Eight Knot (for example, see SILT HAPPENS #99-2 and do a Find on "Figure 8's vs. Bowlines").
Ashley says that this knot is "perhaps stronger than [the Overhand Loop]. Neither of these knots is used at sea, as they are hard to untie." (The Ashley Book of Knots, p.190, #1047, brackets added).
According to Budworth, "the figure eight knot layout is a versatile alternative to a bowline, a bowline in the bight or a triple bowline ... Remove any twists so that paired parts of the knot are parallel with one another. For maximum strength, climbers recommend that the standing bight [the first turn from the main part of the rope] ... should lie on the outside of the bend" (The Complete Book of Knots, p.88, brackets added).
This knot is easy to remember how to tie, it is easy to tie, and it is generally considered to be strong and secure. However, this knot has some disadvantages. For one thing, dressing the knot properly is not always a quick thing to do. If the knot is not properly dressed (in other words, if the rope crosses over itself unnecessarily) then it will weaken the rope more than you might realize (see the Home Page for more on "dressing" a knot). Another big disadvantage is that this knot is difficult to untie after it has held a load.
The Figure-Eight Loop can also be tied as a double-loop or a triple-loop knot (to use it as a rescue sling, for example), it can be used to tie a rope around an object, and it can be used as a bend (to tie two ends of rope together).
However, for the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline.
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KnotMaker drawing (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
The Inline Figure-Eight Loop can be tied in the middle of a rope when you don't have access to the ends of the rope, it is less bulky than the Figure-Eight Loop, and it passes more easily over a pulley or an obstruction. However, there isn't much data to indicate how strong or reliable this knot is.![]()
For the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline.
KnotMaker drawing (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
Ashley says that this is distinctly inferior to the basic Bowline (The Ashley Book of Knots, p.188, #1034.5).![]()
However, it has been said that the Dutch navy prefers this form of the Bowline, hence the name "Dutch Marine Bowline." I haven't been able to verify that the Dutch navy uses this knot, and I am waiting for a reply to an email which might answer this question. I also have not been able to determine where the "Cowboy Bowline" name comes from. It is possible that this knot is more secure in shock cord than the basic Bowline, as mentioned on the forum of the International Guild of Knot Tyers.
For the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some other form of the Bowline.
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KnotMaker drawing (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
Ashley says that the Alpine Butterfly is "a better knot in every way than the Harness Loop." (The Ashley Book of Knots, p.190, #1053).![]()
This knot is very similar to the Tugboat Bowline.
For the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline.
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KnotMaker drawing (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
Ashley says that the Figure-Eight Loop is "perhaps stronger than [the Overhand Loop]. Neither of these knots is used at sea, as they are hard to untie." (The Ashley Book of Knots, p.190, #1047, brackets added).![]()
For the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline.
These three knots are shown in the order of "worst" (Tugboat A) then "better" (Tugboat B) then "best" (Perfection Loop).
To tie these knots, start as in picture 1 and then wrap the end of the rope once around by bringing it down behind the rest of the rope and back up over the rope (picture 2). You now have a loop on the left and a bight on the right. Grab the loop and bring it to the right over the end of the rope, then tuck it through the bight on the right (picture 3) to become the main loop (picture 4).
Tugboat A (pictures 1, 2, and 3):
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Tugboat B (pictures 1, 2, and 3):
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Perfection Loop (pictures 1, 2, and 3):
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KnotMaker drawings
(Download the KnotMaker drawings):
Tugboat A: | Tugboat B: | Perfection Loop: |
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Tugboat A (front and back):
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Tugboat B (front and back):
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Perfection Loop (front and back):
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The Perfection Loop is said to be stable as shown above. However, it has a tendency to jam (i.e. it can become difficult to untie), which is necessary for fishermen but not always a good thing in rope. Tugboat A is prone to deforming and capsizing, so it needs to have the end of the rope wrapped a second time around in order to be stable (forming the Double Dragon, which is a strong and secure knot). Tugboat B benefits from a second wrap as well:
Tugboat A with a second wrap (i.e. the
Double Dragon):
Tugboat B with a second wrap:
The Tugboat Bowline is apparently referred to as the Speed Bowline in Knot Throwing by Bill Fry and Becky Rosada.
In picture 3 of Tugboat A (above), if you take the main loop and give it a twist then you'll have the Artillery Loop.
In picture 1 of Tugboat B (above), if you give the loop a twist then you'll have picture 1 for the Perfection Loop.
Notice that the Perfection Loop and the Tugboat Bowline(s) can be tied "in the bight," which means that they can be tied in the middle of the rope without using the ends of the rope.
For a discussion of these knots, as well as some instructions on a "flying" (i.e. quick) method of tying the Tugboat Bowline, see the forum topic called Tugboat Bowline(s) and Perfection Loop at the International Guild of Knot Tyers.
For the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline.
See the Perfection Loop.
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KnotMaker drawing (Download the KnotMaker drawing):
For a discussion of some other ways to "lock" a Bowline to make it more secure, see the forum topic called Simple lock for the bowline at the International Guild of Knot Tyers.![]()
Also see the Double-Knotted Bowline, which is similar to the Water Bowline except that the upper small loop in picture 1 (above) is the lower small loop in the Double-Knotted Bowline.
Again, the Bowline is a valuable knot to know, and the Water Bowline adds security and jam-resistance to a Bowline.
For the average person who only wants to learn one or two strong loop knots, my choices would be the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline.
The Inline Figure-Eight Loop (Directional Figure-Eight Knot) is used by some climbers, but there's not much data to indicate how strong and secure it is. The Left-Hand Bowline is often regarded as being less secure than the basic Bowline. The Manharness Loop (Harness Loop, Artillery Loop) is not as good as the Alpine Butterfly, according to Ashley. The Overhand Loop is sometimes used for quick and simple loops, but it is difficult to untie if it has held a heavy load.
The Perfection Loop (Angler's Loop) and the Tugboat Bowline (Flying Bowline) are very similar to each other, and there appear to be two main knots which are sometimes referred to as the Tugboat Bowline. The Perfection Loop is said to be stable. However, it has a tendency to jam (i.e. it can become difficult to untie), which is necessary for fishermen but not always a good thing in rope. Tugboat A is prone to deforming and capsizing, so it needs to have the end of the rope wrapped a second time around in order to be stable (forming the Double Dragon, which is a strong and secure knot). Tugboat B benefits from a second wrap as well.
The three single-loop knots which are mentioned the most often by climbers, cavers, rescue workers, etc., as having the highest strength ratings and usefulness are the Alpine Butterfly, the Bowline, and the Figure-Eight Loop. There are differences of opinion about the strength and security of the basic Bowline, but it seems to be generally agreed that the Double-Knotted Bowline has essentially the same strength as the Alpine Butterfly and the Figure-Eight Loop. Therefore, all three of these are valuable knots.
The Figure-Eight Loop (Figure-Eight on a Bight, Flemish Loop) is easy to tie, but it tends to require more time to dress properly than the other two popular loops. If you don't dress and set it properly then it can weaken the rope more than you might realize. It is also difficult to untie after it has held a load. One advantage with this knot is that it can be tied in the middle of a rope (when you don't have access to the ends of the rope), unlike the Double-Knotted Bowline. This is a popular knot among climbers, but it has some disadvantages which the Alpine Butterfly does not have.
The Double Dragon appears to be as strong and secure as the Alpine Butterfly. It is fairly quick and easy to tie and dress, and it doesn't require any kind of initial knot when it is tied around an object (similar to the Bowline, but unlike the Alpine Butterfly and the Figure-Eight Loop). However, it appears to jam (i.e. it can be difficult to untie) if both ends of the rope are under a strain. This makes the Double Dragon less useful as a mid-line loop or a bend than the Alpine Butterfly.
The Bowline (the "King of Knots") has a long track record, and it is used in some form throughout the world. However, it has a tendency to loosen up if it is not holding a load (especially in certain synthetic ropes), which can cause it to capsize or fall apart. There are many variations of the Bowline, and the Double-Knotted Bowline and the Water Bowline are two ways of increasing the strength and security of the basic Bowline. The Bowline is a useful knot to know.
The Alpine Butterfly (Butterfly Loop, Butterfly Knot, Lineman's Loop) is easy to remember, it is quick and easy to tie and dress, and it is fairly easy to untie after it has held a load. It can be tied in the middle of a rope when you don't have access to the ends of the rope, or it can be tied at the end of the rope. The Alpine Butterfly can handle a pull in any direction, according to Budworth, and it can be used to help strengthen a damaged rope. It is generally regarded as being one of the strongest and most secure loop knots.
Be sure to practice tying your favorite knots periodically (from different angles) so that you'll know how to tie them when you need them.
The purpose of this series of articles is to try to boil the thousands of knots down to just a few of the best rope and string knots that can safely be used for a wide variety of purposes. People such as climbers, sailors, search-and-rescue workers, etc., have their preferred knots, but for the average person it is probably "overkill" to try to learn and remember a variety of single-loop knots. For all of the above reasons, the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline are my choices for the best single-loop knots to learn. If you are an "average person" who doesn't need specialized knots (such as the kind that climbers, sailors, and so on, might need), then the Alpine Butterfly and Bowline families of knots (single-loop, double-loop, triple-loop, and bends) should serve you well in a variety of situations.
For other people's preferred knots, see the forum topic called "Best of breed" knots? at the International Guild of Knot Tyers.
Here is a list of the articles in this series. Every link will open up in a new window to give you more control as you browse around in this website:
Consider visiting some of my other websites!
You'll find a Christian ministry with dozens and dozens of articles and answers to many questions that I have received over the years (please feel free to send me your questions and prayer requests!); plus a collection of some of the best self-working card tricks around (no sleight-of-hand required!); plus a bunch of amazing/funny/fascinating/interesting videos from around the Web which are all clean and family-friendly; plus lots of reviews of numerous fun and educational (and free!) computer games that you can download; plus a huge collection of cool science tricks and other fun stuff to try (using things around the house), and more!
For a complete list, go to http://www.Layhands.com/DavesWebsites.htm.
Hope you like 'em!
Modification History
05/01/2009: | Added some drawings which were made using the KnotMaker program. |
11/17/2006: | Added a link to my new page called "Dave's Websites." |
03/27/2006: | Method #2 for the Double Dragon made a reference to a non-existent "picture 5 above." I simply made Method #2 and Method #3 swap places, and now the descriptions are correct. No other changes were made to the text or pictures. |
10/17/2005: | Added the ABOK # to the list of names for each knot (based on Clifford Ashley's The Ashley Book Of Knots). Added the ability to download this entire website (all 9 articles) in a single .ZIP file. |
07/02/2005: | Added a link to another method of tying an Alpine Butterfly. Added some comments about the "Dutch Marine Bowline." Added the Perfection Loop. Added a couple of candidates for the Tugboat Bowline. |
01/26/2005: | Added a better way to tie an Alpine Butterfly. Special thanks to my 10-year-old son Michael for lending a hand! |
01/13/2005: | Modified some of the wording throughout the article. Added pictures of how to tie the Alpine Butterfly, the Double Dragon, and the Figure-Eight Loop around an object. Added a couple of links to the forum of the International Guild of Knot Tyers concerning ways of "locking" a Bowline to make it more secure. Added some quick and interesting ways of tying a Bowline (special thanks to my 4-year-old daughter Stephanie for lending a hand!). Added a link to the forum of the International Guild of Knot Tyers concerning the possibility of the Double Dragon jamming when there is a strain on both ends of the rope. Added the Water Bowline. Changed my preferred loop knots to the Alpine Butterfly and some form of the Bowline, and added a link to the forum of the International Guild of Knot Tyers in which other people have described their preferred knots. |
06/13/2004: | Updated the section on the Double Dragon in order to point out an interesting similarity between the Double Dragon and the Double-Knotted Bowline. |
04/22/2004: | Added links to some alternate methods for tying the Alpine Butterfly, Double Dragon, and Figure-Eight Loop. |
04/15/2004: | Added a new knot called the Double Dragon. Special thanks to my 9-year-old son Michael for lending a hand or two! |
09/01/2003: | Added new pictures of the Alpine Butterfly (i.e. for the first method which is described). Special thanks to my 9-year-old son Michael for lending a hand! |
12/10/2002: | New article. |
Dave Root
Send e-mail to: dave@Layhands.com