The Knots ClipArt gallery offers 132 illustrations of different types of knots, showing detailed steps on how to handle the rope or thread and tie the knot. Although many of the knots included in this gallery have nautical applications, they are also used in many other fields.

"Blackwall -- Form a bight at the end of a rope, put the good of a tackle through the bight so that the end of the rope may be jammed between the standing part and the back of the hook." -Britannica, 1910

Blackwall Hitch

"Blackwall -- Form a bight at the end of a rope, put the good of a tackle through the bight so that…

To tie a blackwall hitch, form a bight at the end of a rope, and put the hook of a tackle through the bight, so that the end of the rope may be jammed between the standing part and the back of the hook.

Blackwall Hitch

To tie a blackwall hitch, form a bight at the end of a rope, and put the hook of a tackle through the…

"Double backwall hitch -- Pass the end a twice round the hook and under standing part b at the last cross." -Britannica, 1910

Double Blackwall Hitch

"Double backwall hitch -- Pass the end a twice round the hook and under standing part b at the last…

An illustration of a bow.

Bow

An illustration of a bow.

"Plait the ribbon a distance from the end to allow for a streamer or bow end. Hold the plaits with the thumb and first finger of the right hand; with the left hand measure the length of the first loop; plait, and hold all plaits by twisting the second end of ribbon around them, drawing it through this twist or loop you have just made, from the direction it was taking when it formed the last loop. If you put this end through the twist from the opposite direction, no knot will be made and your bow will tumble." —Kinne, 1920

Cravat bow

"Plait the ribbon a distance from the end to allow for a streamer or bow end. Hold the plaits with the…

"For the uneven bow, measure a long loop, plait, and hold with right hand. Opposite this, measure, plait, and hold a much shorter loop. Parallel with the first loop measure, plait, and hold a loop a little shorter than the first one Opposite, measure another loop a little shorter than loop No. 2. Parallel with loop No. 1 make a fifth loop. Continue until you have as full a bow as you wish." —Kinne, 1920

Uneven bow

"For the uneven bow, measure a long loop, plait, and hold with right hand. Opposite this, measure, plait,…

"Bowline -- lay the end of a of a rope over the standing part b. Form with the b a bight c over a. Take a round behind b and down through the bight c. This is a most useful knot employed to form a loop which will no slip." -Britannica, 1910

Bowline

"Bowline -- lay the end of a of a rope over the standing part b. Form with the b a bight c over a. Take…

"Bowline on a bight -- The first part is made similar to the [bowline knot] with the double part of the rope; then the bight a is pulled though sufficiently to allow it to be bent over past d and come in the position shown...It makes it more comfortable sling for a man with a single bight." -Britannica, 1910

Bowline on a Bight

"Bowline on a bight -- The first part is made similar to the [bowline knot] with the double part of…

An illustration of butt slings.

Butt Slings

An illustration of butt slings.

An illustration of a carrick bend knot.

Carrick Bend

An illustration of a carrick bend knot.

To tie a carrick bend, lay the end of one rope over its own standing part so as to form a bight. Put the end of the other rope through this bight under the standing part, over the end beyond the bight, under the standing part beyond the bight, and down through the bight over its own standing part.

Carrick Bend

To tie a carrick bend, lay the end of one rope over its own standing part so as to form a bight. Put…

"Cat's-paw - Twist up two parts of a lanyard in opposite directions and hook the tackle in the eyes...A piece of wood should be placed between the parts at g. A large lanyard should be clove-hitched round a large toggle and strap passed round it below the toggle." -Britannica, 1910

Cat's-paw

"Cat's-paw - Twist up two parts of a lanyard in opposite directions and hook the tackle in the eyes...A…

A type of knot used to fasten large ropes.

Inside Clench

A type of knot used to fasten large ropes.

A type of knot used to fasten large ropes.

Outside Clench

A type of knot used to fasten large ropes.

"Clove Hitch -- Pass the end a round a spar and cross it over b. Pass it round the spar and and put the end a through the second bight." -Britannica, 1910

Clove Hitch

"Clove Hitch -- Pass the end a round a spar and cross it over b. Pass it round the spar and and put…

To tie a clove hitch, first pass the end 'a' around a spar, and cross it over 'b'. Pass it around the spar again, and put it through the second bight (Fig. 1). This is a knot that is very useful and safe. For making a line fast to a bollard, the whole process can be quickly done by an expert by merely throwing two loops, placed rightly, over the top of the bollard, and pulling taut (Fig. 2).

Clove Hitch

To tie a clove hitch, first pass the end 'a' around a spar, and cross it over 'b'. Pass it around the…

A ring or circle or rope used on ships.

Cringle

A ring or circle or rope used on ships.

"Diamond Knot -- The rope must be unlaid as far as the centre if the knot is required there, and the strands handled with great care to keep the lay in them. Three bights are turned up as in [the illustration], and the end of a is taken over b and up the bight of c. The end of b is taken over c and up through a. The end c is taken over a and through b. When hauled taut the strands are laid up again it will appear as in [the right illustration]." -Britannica, 1910

Diamond Knot

"Diamond Knot -- The rope must be unlaid as far as the centre if the knot is required there, and the…

"Any knot, however complex, can be fully represented by three closed plane curves, none of which has doubled points and no two of which intersect." -Britannica, 1910

Double Strand Knot

"Any knot, however complex, can be fully represented by three closed plane curves, none of which has…

"Double Strop -- Made with one piece of rope, the splice being brought as usual to the crown of the block t, the bights fitting into scores with some inches apart, converging to the upper part, above which the thimble receives the bights, a,a; and the four parts of the strop are secured at s, s, by a round seizing double crossed." -Britanncia, 1910

Double Strop

"Double Strop -- Made with one piece of rope, the splice being brought as usual to the crown of the…

"Double Wall and Double Crown -- Form a single wall crowned; let the ends follow their own parts round until all the parts appear double. Put the ends down through the knot." -Britannica, 1910

Double Wall and Double Crown

"Double Wall and Double Crown -- Form a single wall crowned; let the ends follow their own parts round…

"Measure all loops so they are of even lengths. Have the same number of loops on each side of the knot. Ten or twelve loops will make a good looking rosette bow." —Kinne, 1920

Rosette of even loops

"Measure all loops so they are of even lengths. Have the same number of loops on each side of the knot.…

"For making an eye splice, the end of the rope is unlaid and the strands are bent upon the body of the rope so as to form an 'eye' of the size desired."—Finley, 1917

Eye-splice

"For making an eye splice, the end of the rope is unlaid and the strands are bent upon the body of the…

An illustration of a figure-of-eight knot.

Figure-of-Eight Knit

An illustration of a figure-of-eight knot.

"Fisherman's bend -- Take two turn round a spar, then a half-hitch round the standing part and between the spar and the turns, lastly a half-hitch round the standing part." -Britannica, 1910

Fisherman's Bend

"Fisherman's bend -- Take two turn round a spar, then a half-hitch round the standing part and between…

To tie a fisherman's bend, take two turns round a spar, then a half hitch round the standing part, and between the spar and the turns, and lastly, make a half hitch round the standing part.

Fisherman's Bend

To tie a fisherman's bend, take two turns round a spar, then a half hitch round the standing part, and…

An illustration of a Flemish eye knot.

Flemish Eye

An illustration of a Flemish eye knot.

"Grommet. Naut., a ring of rope used for various purposes, made from a strand laid three times round its own central part formed into a loop of the desired size." -Whitney, 1911

Grommet

"Grommet. Naut., a ring of rope used for various purposes, made from a strand laid three times round…

"Grummet-Stop -- Made by unlaying a piece of rope of the desired size about a foot more that three times the length required for the strop. Place the centre of the open round the block and thimble; mark with chalk where the parts cross; take one strand out of the rope; bring the two chalk marks together; and cross the strand in the lay on both sides, continuing round and round till the two ends meet the third time; they are then halved, and the upper halves half-knotted and passed over and under the next strands, exactly as one part of a long splice." -Britannica, 1910

Grummet-Strop

"Grummet-Stop -- Made by unlaying a piece of rope of the desired size about a foot more that three times…

"Half-Hitch -- Pass the end a of the rope round the standing part b and through the bight." -Britannica, 1910

Half-Hitch

"Half-Hitch -- Pass the end a of the rope round the standing part b and through the bight." -Britannica,…

"Inside Clinch -- The end is bent close round the standing part till it forms a circle and a half, when it is securely seized at a, b, and c, thus making a running eye; when taut round anything it jams the end. It is used for securing hemp cables to anchors, the standing parts of topsail sheets, and for many other purposes. If the eye were formed outside the bight an outside clinch would be made, depending entirely on the seizings, but more ready for slipping." -Britannica, 1910

Inside Clinch

"Inside Clinch -- The end is bent close round the standing part till it forms a circle and a half, when…

A complication of threads, cords, or ropes, formed by tying, knitting, or entangling, which resists separation or loosening.

Knot

A complication of threads, cords, or ropes, formed by tying, knitting, or entangling, which resists…

An illustration of a knot.

Knot

An illustration of a knot.

An illustration of a knot.

Knot

An illustration of a knot.

"Any knot, however complex, can be fully represented by three closed plane curves, none of which has doubled points and no two of which intersect." -Britannica, 1910

Knot

"Any knot, however complex, can be fully represented by three closed plane curves, none of which has…

Also known as granny knot. A binding knot used to secure a rope or line around an object.

Bourchier Knot

Also known as granny knot. A binding knot used to secure a rope or line around an object.

A knot used in heraldic designs.

Bowen Knot

A knot used in heraldic designs.

4 easy steps to tying a bowline

Bowline Knot

4 easy steps to tying a bowline

To tie a bowline knot, lay the end of the rope 'a' over 'b' so as to form a bight 'c'; pass the end 'a' round behind and under 'b', and through the bight; continue with 'a' to pass it under the standing part 'b', and through the bight 'c' in the opposite direction. This knot forms the best loop that will not slip.

Bowline Knot

To tie a bowline knot, lay the end of the rope 'a' over 'b' so as to form a bight 'c'; pass the end…

First form of a bridle.

Bridle Knot

First form of a bridle.

Second form of a bridle.

Bridle Knot

Second form of a bridle.

A useful as well as ornamental knot. Also called a delay knot.

Capstan Knot

A useful as well as ornamental knot. Also called a delay knot.

A three stranded crown knot.

Crown Knot

A three stranded crown knot.

A loop made in a rope by crossing the two parts and seizing them together.

Cuckold Knot

A loop made in a rope by crossing the two parts and seizing them together.

A decorative knot used in heraldry.

Dacre Knot

A decorative knot used in heraldry.

How to tie a figure eight knot.

Figure Eight Knot

How to tie a figure eight knot.

A granny knot.

Granny Knot

A granny knot.

To form a half-hitch, pass the end 'a' of the rope around the standing part 'b', and through the bight.

Half-Hitch Knot

To form a half-hitch, pass the end 'a' of the rope around the standing part 'b', and through the bight.

The Harrington knot used in heraldry.

Harrington Knot

The Harrington knot used in heraldry.

The heneage knot, used in heraldry.

Heneage Knot

The heneage knot, used in heraldry.

The Hungerford knot is commonly seen in heraldry.

Hungerford Knot

The Hungerford knot is commonly seen in heraldry.

An elegant interlaced cord used in heraldry.

Lacy Knot

An elegant interlaced cord used in heraldry.

The most common type of knot, the overhand is made by passing one end of a line over the line and around it, then passing it through the loop.

Overhand Knot

The most common type of knot, the overhand is made by passing one end of a line over the line and around…

An illustration of one of the simplest forms of the reduced knot.

Reduced Knot

An illustration of one of the simplest forms of the reduced knot.

An illustration of one of the simplest forms of the reduced knot.

Reduced Knot

An illustration of one of the simplest forms of the reduced knot.

A reef knot is formed by taking an overhand knot and repeating the overhand knot process (pass one end of the line over the line, pass the line around, then feed the line through the loop) with the opposite end of the line (Fig. 1): if two overhand knots are made the same way, the result will be a 'granny' (Fig. 2).

Reef Knot

A reef knot is formed by taking an overhand knot and repeating the overhand knot process (pass one end…

4 easy steps for tying a square knot.

Square Knot

4 easy steps for tying a square knot.

"Showing how a square knot may be tied with a handkerchief." — Blaisedell, 1904

Square Knot

"Showing how a square knot may be tied with a handkerchief." — Blaisedell, 1904

"Showing how a square knot may be tied with a cord." — Blaisedell, 1904

Square Knot

"Showing how a square knot may be tied with a cord." — Blaisedell, 1904

"This is much better than the granny knot, because it is easily untied, but will not loosen of itself." —Davison, 1910

Square Knot

"This is much better than the granny knot, because it is easily untied, but will not loosen of itself."…