Simple way to join two ropes made up of two Half Knots.
Square Knot
Simple way to join two ropes made up of two Half Knots.
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Take two ropes and cross them (red over blue) to form a half knot. Cross them a second time (red over blue again) and pull the ends tight to form the Square Knot.
First Knot: The Square (Reef) Knot (ABOK # 1402, p 258) is usually learned when we tie the laces on our first pair of shoes. Admittedly it is usually a bow that we tie – but the underlying knot is a Square (Reef) Knot. We also learn just how unsatisfactory the knot is. It slips, it comes undone, it jams, and it is all too easy to tie a Granny instead which behaves even less well.
Purpose: It is intended to be a binding knot and, tied in the right material against a curved surface, the first Half Knot may bind – but it cannot be trusted. That is why surgeons use an extra turn in the first Half Knot – to achieve the binding required while they prepare the second Half Knot.
Warning: This picture demonstrates how even a “Stack” of Square Knots can capsize and pull undone. These photographs were created by pulling on the ends of the red rope. “There have probably been more lives lost as a result of using a Square Knot as a bend (to tie two ropes together) than from the failure of any other half dozen knots combined.” (ABOK page 258). Never use it for critical loads.
Uses: Nevertheless, the Square (Reef) knot has many uses but not where safety is critical, e.g., you can tie a sail cover over a sail; you can tie the string on a gift; and you can tie the laces on your shoes (if they still come with laces). It is also one of the many knots used in macrame. More importantly, the experience of tying a Square Knot teaches the fundamental process of tying a Half Knot or Half Hitch.
Variations: The final Frames of the Animation show several variations: the Granny Knot is shown because it is so commonly tied in error; the Double Throw Knot or Surgical Knot is very commonly used by Surgeons as the first part of a Ligature; and the Thief Knot is included for interest as the final frame, even though it is a useless knot. When the Square (Reef) Knot is used it is common to add additional Half Knots as security – a tribute to how unsatisfactory a knot it is. A better alternative may be to use two Surgeon’s Half Knots, which make better binding knots for each stage and a secure final knot. When the second Half Surgeon’s Knots is tied as a bow, it makes a Secure Shoelace Bow.
The Square (Reef) knot can also be tied using bights (loops). For example, to use up long shoelaces, the knot can be tied with loops from the start. This means the final “bow” cannot be untied by pulling the ends – but it makes a secure knot.
