Flying Fingers Knot Tying Challenge Site Scouting.org

Scouting Knots

Choose a knot below, or scroll down for more information:

Used to tension a rope, e.g., a tent ridge line or a guy line.

Secure loop in the middle of a length of rope.

Secures end of twisted rope: Crown knot & tuck the ends.

Secure method to lift barrels, buckets and other containers.

Reasonably secure loop in a rope's end - and easy to undo.

Attaches rope to cleat - used for halyards, clotheslines, etc.

Temporary hold, e.g., stage scenery or mooring buoy

Secure and neat rope storage, minimizes tangles and twists.

Classic, simple whipping, can be tied without a needle.

Tie the Constrictor knot using the twisting method.

Securely joins two ropes of similar size.

Makes a reliable, moderately large, stopper knot.

Secure loop in the end of 3 or 4-strand rope.

Quick method of rigging an adjustable tent ridge line.

Non-binding, quick and convenient stopper knot.

Used to tie rope around an object and back to itself.

Secures diagonal braces to hold a structure rigid.

Securely binds two poles together to make an end join.

Joins two poles with other ends apart as shear legs.

Binds two poles together at a 90-degree angle.

Joins three poles to one another for use as a tripod.

A stick or spike is used to make a knot in the rope .

An adjustable loop tied using a Rolling Hitch

Popular slide and grip knot, may fail with modern ropes.

Excellent way of securing a rope to a post or ring.

Secure method to prevent rope ends from fraying.

Unreliable knot used to shorten a length of rope.

Joins two ropes of unequal, or similar, size

Simple way to join two ropes made up of two Half Knots.

Simple knot commonly used for towing a log.

Valuable knot usually used for securing loads or tarpaulins.

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Welcome to Scouting Knots

Selection

These animated knots are described for scouts, but most of them have critical uses in other environments. The selection of knots is based on consultation with many scouting leaders and a review of the requirements by some national organizations.

Choices

Rather than show the Fisherman's Knot the Double Fisherman's is used because it is safer and more widely used. The Fisherman's can easily be created by substituting Overhand Knots for the Double Overhand Knots. The Sheepshank is included reluctantly for reasons explained on its page. I make no apology for also including the Constrictor and Alpine Butterfly. They are both useful and more valuable than the Sheepshank.

Optional Knots

Some additional knots which have been listed for teaching to scouts are described elsewhere on this website: the Water Knot, the Bowline on a Bight, the Carrick Bend, and the Sailmaker's Whipping. The Tautline Hitch is regarded as a variation of the Rolling Hitch. The Double Sheet Bend is pictured on the Sheet Bend Page. The Pipe Hitch is not described as several knots appear to share this name, one of which is the same as the Klemheist. The Masthead or Jury Knot is not described here as it appears to have limited use but you can find how to make it on the page about the Masthead Knot Mat in the decorative section. So far at least, the Cat's paw, Draw Hitch, and Honda are not included.

Which Knot Should I Use?

Scouting Requirements

Some national organizations specify detailed requirements for advancement and for various activities. These lists change with time and some are overdue for revision because they contain errors or knots of almost no value. Other countries describe projects and activities that involve using knots, but provide no specified lists. The lists below were compiled from data on websites in the US and UK:

Flying Fingers Knot Tying Challenge Site Scouting.org

Source: https://www.animatedknots.com/scouting-knots

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