Practical Rope Knots
An interactive step-by-step guide to tying five essential knots. Click through each stage and watch the rope animate smoothly between positions. Over/under crossings are drawn with depth indicators so you can follow the path of the rope.
About these knots
These five knots form a practical foundation for camping, sailing, climbing, and general use. The bowline creates a fixed loop that won’t slip — the “king of knots.” The clove hitch secures a rope to a post or pole. The figure-eight is a stopper knot that prevents the rope from running through a hole. The sheet bend joins two ropes of different thickness. The square knot (reef knot) ties two ends of the same rope together.
Reading the diagram
The rope is drawn with thickness to show its 3D form. At crossings, the rope passing underneath is drawn with a gap, making it clear which strand goes over and which goes under. The working end (the end you manipulate) is indicated by a slightly tapered tip.