Page 103 - Peter Randall "The Craft of the Knot.."

When tightened down, the face of this knot has a unique trefoil
appearance. This knot is wider than the overhand stopper knots. An
alternative way to tie this knot is to make a Bowline Loop (see Chapter
3), made so small that it is right up against the knot. It will be facing the

wrong way, but can be reversed if, while there is still a bit of slack, the
center is pulled through the middle by bracing the knot and pulling on
the running end. This reversal is called “capsizing.”

REEF KNOT

Also called the Square Knot, this knot has been in common use for

centuries for tying packages and bundles of all kinds (not to mention
shoe laces). It is also used to tie bandages because it lies flat, making the
dressing more effective and comfortable.

It should be said that the Reef Knot is notorious for easily coming
undone, to the point that it is used in magic tricks to give the
appearance of “magically” untying two ropes without effort. It is
especially unstable if the ropes used are of different sizes of materials.

STEP 1 Pass one end over and around the other, making a Half Knot,
just as if you were tying an Overhand Knot with two ends of the same
piece.