Page 187 - Geoffrey Budworth, Jason Dalton "The Little Book of Incredibly Useful Knots"

Clove hitch II

The clove hitch (see page 150) is commonly used to suspend from, or attach to, a horizontal

metal rail or wooden spar items as varied as a boat’s fender or some working part of a weaving
loom. But it can also be used to brake or check the run of anything—boat, horse, or loaded
wheelbarrow—that might otherwise go out of control.

To utilize the knot in this dynamic way, first cast an underhand loop (that is, one in which the end

lies beneath the loaded part of the line) around a belaying post or other fixed anchorage point (1).
The friction this creates will render the weight manageable. Once no further movement is
necessary, add a second underhand loop to complete the knot (2, 3). Caution: the clove hitch is a
temporary hitch, so if the knot is likely to remain in place for a long time, exchange it for one of the
more secure hitches illustrated elsewhere in this section.