Page 144 - Randy Penn - The Everything Knots Book Step-By-Step Instructions for Tying Any Knot

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7

Making Hitches

WHEN YOU NEED TO ATTACH A ROPE TO AN OBJECT, the knot for
this job is called a “hitch.” This is a common use for rope and you
will find a variety of hitches in this chapter that will do a good job.

Attaching Rope to an Object

Hitches allow you to secure a rope to rings, rails, posts, hooks,
other ropes, and other objects. Sometimes they are tied by forming
the knot directly around the object, and sometimes by bringing the
rope around the object and tying the running end to the standing
part. If the shape of the object allows it, you can tie the hitch (or
a loop) first, and then place it around the object. Some hitches,
like the Rolling Hitch or Icicle Hitch, provide a friction grip to pre-
vent them from sliding when strain is along the direction of the
pole, rail, or rope.
You may want tension to remain in the rope after the hitch is
tied. If you are frustrated by a little slack going into the rope as
the hitch is tightened, you will find that making an extra wrap
around the object, called “making a round turn,” will help hold ten-
sion as the knot is tied. An example of this is the Round Turn and
Two Half Hitches. Another option is to tie a hitch that allows you
to take out slack repeatedly without untying the hitch itself, as with
the Guy Line Hitch. Tying ropes without slack in them is useful for
many applications, like when you need to secure cargo.

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