How to Tie a General Knot

Overhand Knot

• 1

  Hold the rope parallel to the ground. Cross one end over the other to form a loop. For two lengths of rope, cross one length over the other.

• 2

  Wrap the right-hand end of the rope once around the loop, and pull to secure. For two lengths of rope, wrap the top length over the bottom length of rope once. Pull the wrapped length of rope around to form a loop, and repeat the crossing-over step to form a loop, then wrap and pull to secure.

• 3

  Add another loop on top of your overhand knot to create a double overhand knot. Cross the lengths of rope over one another, pull the ends to tighten and secure the double knot. Push the new knot as close as possible to the overhand knot to create a tight and secure knot.

Figure-Eight Knot

• 4

  Hold the length of rope parallel to the ground. Pull one end to form a loop as if you were making an overhand knot.

• 5

  Wrap the right-hand end of the rope around the top of the loop, instead of pulling it through the loop as you would with an overhand knot.

• 6

  Pull the end of the right-hand side of rope through the loop, and pull to tighten. The knot will resemble a small figure eight.

Windsor Knot for Ties

• 7

  Drape the tie around the neck of your shirt so that the wide end of the tie hangs about 12 inches below the narrow end. Cross the wide end of the tie over the narrow end.

• 8

  Pull the wide end of the tie up through the hole between your collar and tie, and pull it down over the knot you just created.

• 9

  Pull the wide end of the tie to your right, passing it once more through the loop so that it is turned inside out. Reverse the tie to its front and pull it again over the front of the knot, from right to left.

• 10

  Pull the wide end of the tie up through the knot at your collar one more time, then pull it down through the loop in front. Use both hands to tighten the knot, moving it towards the collar so that it lies neat and flat.