It's simple and fast to tie (with a little practice for muscle memory), and with an extra turn has exceptional friction preventing loop collapse in some situations where even a bowline would have an issue. However, by relieving tension on one side of the knot, like a taut-line hitch it can slide.
I use it for its common application of tensioning, but I also find it useful for cinching. It can go anywhere a cord lock might have been useful in but a few seconds.
I like Knots3D, but there are some alternatives that made it easier for me:
1. The Klutz Book of Knots (it's a book with holes around the pages so you can practice the knots next to their instructions). I think it's supposed to be a kid's book, but I bought for myself few years ago and was probably the resource I used the most.
2. I find it _much_ easier to learn how to tie a knot by watching someone's hands while they explain what they're doing. KnottingKnots on Youtube is incredible at that:
https://www.youtube.com/c/KnottingKnots/
I think the knots I use the most, both in everyday life as well as for hiking are (from most used to least used):
- Trucker Hitch
- Bowline knot
- Clove hitch
- Figure of Eight knot (bend too but less often)
- Sheet Bend
- Prusik knot
- Square knot
- Taut line hitch
This pandemic I started learning about knots as well but IMHO one end up using a very few selection that works for most cases. I admit sharing small selections may not be that useful because people have different life styles but there are some that are almost always useful.
I'd like to add a few 'quick releases' to your selection like the Painter's Hitch and the Highwayman's Hitch. I personally use the Painter's hitch and the taut line hitch to secure my motorcycle's cover on windy days, pretty fun to use!
Great list. I would invite you to try a stevedore instead of the figure 8. It's really the same knot with an extra wrap, and it cinches into something the size of a double-overhand but won't jam. It's an outstanding stopper know- the only one I use on sailboats now (and I'm converting many people to it).
Yes! the zeppelin bend is also my favorite knot. I probably don't use it as much as a bowline, but it comes in handy joining two lengths of rope, looks cool, and is always easy to untie no matter how much the knot has been loaded.
Besides the bowline my most used knot is probably the trucker hitch.
Carrick bend is another favorite of mine, but I prefer the zeppelin bend for real world usage.
The ABoK was something I always wanted to see, but never bothered to buy... until I found that PDF. Scrolling through it finally convinced me to buy a hardcopy. It's one of my favorite books to just flip through. There's more than just the knots: the history and the anecdotes are a fascinating window into the past.
The ABK is a wonderful artifact, but a very poor guide for learning to tie the knots in its pages. I highly recommend any of the clearly illustrated books from International Knot Tiers' Guild[1] members like Geoffery Budworth, Des Pawson and John Shaw.
I've also bought this app on Playstore, a couple of years ago, but for me it's sort of useless.
Yes, you can try to follow the picture, but that's usually not how you tie the knot.
I wish this app would show how to tie the knots efficiently with your hands, like in this video [1]
I just installed the app and I can switch the view horizontally and vertically, rotate the view 360 degrees and change the speed. I can also incrementally step forward and backward through every step of the knot tying process by swiping my finger up and down. I could not ask for a more thorough example of how to tie a knot.
I know not everyone has (or supports) instagram, but this account is nothing but hands tying knots in different ways, and I love it: https://www.instagram.com/knotsandcues/
I purchased this app almost 10 years ago. The app is still being updated and the author has kept it straightforward and has never tried to upsell or do a version change. It's one of the best values I've gotten out of an app over time and have recommended it to many people over the years. I wish more apps were developed and maintained like this. I wish there was a donate option for the developer as I feel I've gotten more value than the $10 I've paid.
I love running across the occasional person who pays just enough attention to me using the Ian Knot to realize that it was way too fast, and getting that delayed "... wait WHAT" reaction.
I'm going fishing soon for the first time this year, and was reminding myself of the one knot I learned while I was a fishing guide one summer.
I found it on this page - apparently it's called the "palomar knot". I'm very fond of it because you can easily tie it with cold, wet hands in the rain and it won't lose fish. Works with braided and monofilament.
I am using a half blood knot but seeing the palomar knot makes me want to try this because it seems a lot easier than threading the line through the loop five times (or did I thread it five times already?).
This site makes the Trucker's Hitch look very simple. You just start with an Alpine Butterfly, pull a loose end through a ring and then the butterfly loop, then secure the loose end around the rope.
The trucker's hitch is one ofy favorites. I use it (with some Paracord) to tie stuff done to my bike. A piece of cord is just so much more durable and more compact than those elastic bands with hooks. I prefer taking the extra 30 seconds rather than risking a rubber cord snapping somewhere near my face.
Got it for free 5+ years ago, used it less than a dozen times. It's still one of the first apps I install on each device, the different knots are just so cool
A small paracord on my desk is a great way to keep my hands busy during long meetings where I would otherwise start to fidget and lose focus. It takes a while to get good enough to do it without thinking, but once you get there it's a great way to focus if you need to.
Many years ago, I learned about Ian's secure knot (https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm), a shoelace knot, which I have used since then. It just never accidently opens but still is simple to tie and also simple to open on intention.
Regularly (and dependably!), posts about knots make their way to the front page, often to the top … it's nearly in the same mold as "articles warning about lending/housing behavior".
If one has a hacker mindset that extends outside of startups and technology, knots are pretty dang useful. I use them all the time in DIY projects, camping, etc.
Knots take a nearly 1-dimensional object and generate a 3d structure that is both durable and potentially useful, sometimes bordering on life-changing. That's super cool.
I think a lot of us also have a bit of a primitivist streak, and knots are a low technology that can replace a lot of higher tech and still get a lot done (compare to HN's enduring fascination with Forth).
It seems like in my daily life I use only three knots and then very rarely I use a couple more. My guess is most people spend all their life on <5 knots. It's a pretty fascinating topic and I like this resource. I use one knot that my life depends on (double 8 for climbing, weekly), the "normal" (double) knot for shoe laces (often) and the small knot for ties (thankfully, not so often). every now and then I go fishing and have to look up some extra knots :P
I'd be interested in recommendations for better shoe-binding knots (other than the old TED talk advice of doing it in reverse).
As an aside...my brain is really bad at doing knots. I have an old book and it's almost impossible for me to work from graphics+text only.
Does anyone have any suggestions for any good knots that can be used to tie coiled tubing together? I want to be able to easily tie the hose tightly and at the same time have a knot that can be easy to untie.
My problem is that when tightening the cord around the coiled hose, once I try to tie then the cord gets looser around the coiled hose and the coil gets "sloppy".
I saw a person do a good knot for this once, but unfortunately I didn't see how he did exactly because he did it so fast. When he first tightened it around the coiled hose, it stayed tightened and then he could easily finish the knot so it became permanent and it was easy to untie.
Any suggestions on any knot name I can look at that could be suitable? Thanks
Any of the variations on the trucker's hitch or taut-line/midshipman's hitch mentioned in this thread can probably be made to work. Or maybe even just a clove hitch secured with a shoe knot or whatever else you're using now might hold together long enough to stay tight. I've used a constrictor knot for similar jobs before, but it's honestly not great; having space between the poles/cords under the knot turns it from extremely difficult to untie into somewhat insecure.
I have this app but I'm still looking for the right knot to tie a boat to a float where another line has been strung between two cleats (to allow more small boats to tie up than would at two cleats).
As I type this my boat is tied with what looked like a child's shoelace.
[+] [-] fdr|3 years ago|reply
It's simple and fast to tie (with a little practice for muscle memory), and with an extra turn has exceptional friction preventing loop collapse in some situations where even a bowline would have an issue. However, by relieving tension on one side of the knot, like a taut-line hitch it can slide.
I use it for its common application of tensioning, but I also find it useful for cinching. It can go anywhere a cord lock might have been useful in but a few seconds.
[+] [-] almog|3 years ago|reply
1. The Klutz Book of Knots (it's a book with holes around the pages so you can practice the knots next to their instructions). I think it's supposed to be a kid's book, but I bought for myself few years ago and was probably the resource I used the most.
2. I find it _much_ easier to learn how to tie a knot by watching someone's hands while they explain what they're doing. KnottingKnots on Youtube is incredible at that: https://www.youtube.com/c/KnottingKnots/
I think the knots I use the most, both in everyday life as well as for hiking are (from most used to least used):
[+] [-] etra0|3 years ago|reply
This pandemic I started learning about knots as well but IMHO one end up using a very few selection that works for most cases. I admit sharing small selections may not be that useful because people have different life styles but there are some that are almost always useful.
I'd like to add a few 'quick releases' to your selection like the Painter's Hitch and the Highwayman's Hitch. I personally use the Painter's hitch and the taut line hitch to secure my motorcycle's cover on windy days, pretty fun to use!
[+] [-] dhimes|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pmoriarty|3 years ago|reply
It's used to tie the ends of two ropes together.
It's super easy to tie, super easy to untie (when you want to), and will not untie accidentally.
[1] - https://www.animatedknots.com/zeppelin-bend-knot
[+] [-] jesterpm|3 years ago|reply
[1]: https://www.animatedknots.com/sheet-bend-knot
[+] [-] obloid|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] failTide|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] karaterobot|3 years ago|reply
https://www.animatedknots.com/
Someday I'll buy the Ashley Book of Knots, and on that day I'll truly begin my journey into middle age.
[+] [-] jesterpm|3 years ago|reply
The ABoK was something I always wanted to see, but never bothered to buy... until I found that PDF. Scrolling through it finally convinced me to buy a hardcopy. It's one of my favorite books to just flip through. There's more than just the knots: the history and the anecdotes are a fascinating window into the past.
[+] [-] blacksmith_tb|3 years ago|reply
1: https://igkt.net/
[+] [-] pmoriarty|3 years ago|reply
You could probably find it at your local library.
[+] [-] LgWoodenBadger|3 years ago|reply
Most of the knots in it are either decorative, useless, or just a renamed version of a different knot.
[+] [-] throwxxxaway|3 years ago|reply
I wish this app would show how to tie the knots efficiently with your hands, like in this video [1]
1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2aRj8dQPRQ
[+] [-] kernal|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] astockwell|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] masukomi|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bjt|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] windexh8er|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] johnmaguire|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Groxx|3 years ago|reply
That's how you know you've caught a new convert.
[+] [-] jqgatsby|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mewse-hn|3 years ago|reply
I found it on this page - apparently it's called the "palomar knot". I'm very fond of it because you can easily tie it with cold, wet hands in the rain and it won't lose fish. Works with braided and monofilament.
[+] [-] ofrzeta|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] warmwaffles|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hathawsh|3 years ago|reply
https://knots3d.com/knots/en_us/63/truckers-hitch
Note for the author: the "Note" section on that page has the same text pasted 3 times. Still a great tutorial!
[+] [-] krasin|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cseleborg|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bitexploder|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] genericone|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] m3adow|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Karawebnetwork|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lkxijlewlf|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] albertzeyer|3 years ago|reply
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10200917 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26867300
Many years ago, I learned about Ian's secure knot (https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm), a shoelace knot, which I have used since then. It just never accidently opens but still is simple to tie and also simple to open on intention.
[+] [-] gffrd|3 years ago|reply
Regularly (and dependably!), posts about knots make their way to the front page, often to the top … it's nearly in the same mold as "articles warning about lending/housing behavior".
[+] [-] macksd|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gilleain|3 years ago|reply
- Topology
- Combinatorics?
- Practical stuff like tying up boats?
I like knots because of the relationship to protein folds, but hey ymmv.
[+] [-] tomc1985|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] andrewflnr|3 years ago|reply
I think a lot of us also have a bit of a primitivist streak, and knots are a low technology that can replace a lot of higher tech and still get a lot done (compare to HN's enduring fascination with Forth).
[+] [-] lkxijlewlf|3 years ago|reply
Question is, why don't we see as many about saws?
[+] [-] Lich|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kriro|3 years ago|reply
I'd be interested in recommendations for better shoe-binding knots (other than the old TED talk advice of doing it in reverse).
As an aside...my brain is really bad at doing knots. I have an old book and it's almost impossible for me to work from graphics+text only.
[+] [-] Emptysister|3 years ago|reply
https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm
https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm
[+] [-] MasterYoda|3 years ago|reply
My problem is that when tightening the cord around the coiled hose, once I try to tie then the cord gets looser around the coiled hose and the coil gets "sloppy".
I saw a person do a good knot for this once, but unfortunately I didn't see how he did exactly because he did it so fast. When he first tightened it around the coiled hose, it stayed tightened and then he could easily finish the knot so it became permanent and it was easy to untie.
Any suggestions on any knot name I can look at that could be suitable? Thanks
[+] [-] andrewflnr|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] subpixel|3 years ago|reply
As I type this my boat is tied with what looked like a child's shoelace.
[+] [-] unknown|3 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] bluefirebrand|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bitlax|3 years ago|reply