As a general term, 'knot' includes all configurations made in a cord or line (or other material). However, when naming knots, the term knot is used in a more specific way. The knotting 'family' is best explained by the following diagrams made by IGKT Member Tim Field:
KNOTS
The rope is tied to itself
STOPPER KNOTS | BINDING KNOTS | LOOP KNOTS | |
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FIXED LOOPS | SLIP LOOPS | ||
Making a bulky part in a rope to stop it passing through an object or to stop the strands unlaying | Joining the ends of a single rope around an object or objects. The knot 'bears upon' the objectWhippings, lashings and seizing are special types of binding knot. | A single loop or more than one loop that does not close under strain. | Knots that slide, closing the loop under strain or allowing it to be opened. |
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BENDS… join ends | HITCHES… tie to something else | SHORTENINGS | SPLICES | |
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MIDDLE HITCHES | END HITCHES | |||
Joining the ends of two ropes. The knot must hold, even when jerked in mid-air. Unlike a binding knot, a bend does not have to bear upon an object. | Attaching the middle of a rope to an object when there is strain on both sides of the knot. | Attaching the end of a rope to an object - a ring, a post, a bollard, a peg or even another rope. | Taking up the slack in a rope. | Working with the constituent parts of the rope - disturbing the structure and intertwining the strands. |
For different thicknesses:
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Various other hitches are adapted as 'crossing hitches' Blackwall from other knots:
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