Page 7 - Mario Bigon "The Morrow Guide to Knots"

One final word: it is not necessary to know agreat number
of knots; four or five-such as the bowline, the sheet bend, the
clove hitch, and the figure-eight knot-are sufficient to cope
confidently with any situation. The most important thing is to
know how to tie· them quickly and properly and with the
minimum number of movements. The only way to gain the
necessary confidence is to practice the knots over and over
again until the movements become completely automatic and
instinctive, for in certain circumstances hesitation or doubt
can make the knot an enemy or at least a dangerous
complication instead of a safety factor.

1. standing part 2. end 3. bight

R