Page 85 - Peter Randall - The Craft of the Knot

As you tie the Reef Knot, it may help you to say to yourself, “Left over right, right
over left.” To loosen the knot quickly, jerk one of the ends over the knot away from its
own standing end, causing the knot to capsize. There are two common mistakes made

with this knot. One is to make both Half Knots the same, making a very poor Granny
Knot, and the other is to use this knot as a bend, which is not reliable.

RUNNING BOWLINE

You can tie a Running Bowline by tying a Bowline (see Chapter 3) around its own
standing part or by tying a Bowline the usual way, and then pulling a bight of the

standing part through the loop.

STEP 1 Tie the Running Bowline by tying a Bowline around the standing part.

STEP 2 The result: Running Bowline.

If you make a fixed-loop knot like the Bowline or any other fixed-loop knot, and

decide the loop part is not big enough, just turn it into a running loop knot and have the
loop as big as you need it. Because the fixed-loop part does not lock onto or grip the
standing part, the noose will slide open easily even if great tension is placed on the