Pick a knot.

Five that earn their keep — a fixed loop, a hitch, a purchase, a stopper, and a join. Each with a self-drawing diagram.

The king of knots. A fixed loop that won't slip, won't jam, and unties even after a heavy load.

Two half hitches around a post. Fast to tie, fast to adjust, the workhorse of lashing.

A pulley made of rope. Crank a load down so tight it hums.

The stopper that keeps a rope from running out of its gear.

The reef knot. Joins two ends of the same rope — and unties with one pull.

Five knots, four jobs

The library starts here.

loop

A fixed loop that unties after any load.

fig. 101

hitch

Fast to tie, faster to adjust.

fig. 121

purchase

A pulley made of rope.

fig. 314

stopper

The knot climbers trust their lives to.

fig. 812