One knot to bind them all.

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Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,438
2,859
W.Sussex
Not that one.

It's the taut tarp hitch.

Looking at Paul Kirtleys video, I’ve been using that knot for years. All I do different is lock the slippery hitch with a half hitch using the bight. The Evenk is useful, but I always forget how to do it when setting up. There’s also a power cinch knot, but I prefer round the tree and back to a prussic loop.
 
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Stew

Bushcrafter through and through
Nov 29, 2003
6,446
1,284
Aylesbury
stewartjlight-knives.com
Taut-line Hitch. The Evenk is useful, but I always forget how to do it when setting up. There’s also a power cinch knot, but I prefer round the tree and back to a prussic loop.

Personally I don't think the evenk is all that but if it works for folk. It's a quick slippery knot for tying off. I'm old school and would go for a round turn and two half hitches or clove hitch in that situation. Would also likely go for a highway and hitch before he evenk - just old habits.

The most recent knot I learned that is in frequent use (10 years ago or more!) is a fast variant on the trucker hitch that Mors K demonstrated. Great for tensioning.
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
I tend to use 3 knots for 90% of what i do
Falconers hitch - for tying a loose line to something
truckers hitch - for tying a tight line (maybe the other end of the falconers line)
Taught line hitch (the guy line knot) - for adjustable tensioning
All are tied in a slippery way to be able to undo easily.
all can be tied in any thickness of line. I've tied them in fishing line up to 2.5 inch diameter poly rope.

i know a few others but they are for specific tasks

Same here although I recently changed out the Taught-line for a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrimond_friction_hitch

The farrimond is much easier to pull-clean. Great knot once you get used to it.
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,976
7,755
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
I use a number of knots (probably a dozen) but don't try to remember too many.

The one knot that I seem to use more frequently than others is the round turn and two half hitches on the bight.
 
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stevec

Full Member
Oct 30, 2003
547
142
Sheffield
Figure 8 for loops
Round turn and 2 half hitches
Zeplin bend, great for tying 2 lines together including bungy cord
 

MikeLA

Full Member
May 17, 2011
1,955
319
Northumberland
i swear i have a mental block when it comes to knots
no matter how much i see/practice a knot its almost INSTANTLY gone out of my mind.
i can remember how to tie my shoelaces but not really bushcrafty

i use evenk knot,prussic knot, timber hitch and clove hitch as theyre basically all i can remember

Me too, I think bungees are the greatest invention
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
I've been playing around with this, but I think it needs the collective knot heads to really make it work.

Y'know how the carvers have the Mors Trystick thing ? The stick where they make every kind of cut a bushcrafter is ever likely to use ?
We've all seen, or made, those paracord knotted bracelet things....how about we design one that uses multiple knots, like those mentioned in the thread.

Start with a bight, or maybe splice a really small ring ? and into that a couple of larks heads....there's four strands to work with right from the off or round turn and two half hitches for two strands....or well, what would you suggest ? Work along the length making the different knots that we know/use/forget like Sam does, and maybe finish it up with one of Tony's (Asmery) button knots to fit into the loop.

I'm making a knotted owl, sort of macrame style, not a big one, just a footery wee one, just now. Using sisal twine :rolleyes: which looks good but is proving to be a right royal pain to use. It's uneven, it's hairy, it's sort of camouflage coloured, it fankles, so my frustration's getting the better of me as I try to keep my knots neat and even.
It occured to me that home made cordage and a knotwork wristband would be a decent bushcraft practice piece too :D
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,976
7,755
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
When you get going though there are so many knots, bends and hitches. I'm just reading Hervey Garrett Smith's 'The Art of the Sailor' (I blame Wayland) - so, on top of knots there is splicing, whippings, seizings, netting, matting ….. not to mention the decorative knots :)
 
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Keith_Beef

Native
Sep 9, 2003
1,366
268
55
Yvelines, north-west of Paris, France.
There isn't one all-purpose knot that will do everything.

I need one that makes a loop that will tighten as the standing part is pulled, one that won't do that, and a couple of others for odds and sods.

Most of the time, I can get away with three:
Round turn and two half hitches, bowline and clove hitch, all three learnt from my grandmother.

For years, I thought that the last of these was the "clothes hitch", because she used it at one end of the clothes line.

After that, I think that a figure eight knot and a reef knot are most useful. Unless I need to weight a heaving line, then I'll want to tie a monkey's fist. I learnt that one from watching Jack Hargreaves on TV.
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
I have a copy of Ashley's.
It was a present :D
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ashley-Book-Knots-Clifford-W/dp/057109659X (mine's an older issue though)

I also have one by Des Pawson, and I've been on one of his courses and I can thoroughly recommend him and his work. Just excellent :) fun to listen to and learn from as well.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Handbook-K...ZR1KENWXET2&psc=1&refRID=5D33F06XBZR1KENWXET2

I've put this one on my Christmas list though :)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pawsons-Kn...N2WYTN2P8TR&psc=1&refRID=8D3K4T1DCN2WYTN2P8TR

Geoffrey Budworth is an other favourite,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-B...BKRPWXBEMA2&psc=1&refRID=MBAGGW1PXBKRPWXBEMA2

John Kemp made me tiny little earrings, the same way he makes the spliced stainless steel bangles. I make miniatures and I really admire fine work, but I wouldn't know where to start with these.
https://www.gloostonlogs.uk/ropework.html
M
 

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