Basic Scout Knots
These are the eight basic knots that all scouts should be able to tie without even thinking twice.
Click any image for an animation of the knot
| Square (or Reef) Knot |  | Sheet Bend Used to join two ropes together, which may be of unequal thickness. Click image for animation |  |
| Bowline Used to make a non-slipping loop Click image for animation |  | Clove Hitch used to start a lashing, or otherwise loosely attach a rope to a pole. Click image for animation |  |
| Sheep Shank Used to temporarily shorten a rope, or isolate a weak portion of rope. Click image for animation |  | Two Half Hitches Used to attach a rope to a pole or guy point. Must be securely tightened. NOTE: This is how scouts are taught the knot. An improved version includes an extra turn around the pole to add security, and is called a "Round Turn with Two Half-Hitches." Click image for animation |  |
| Taut-Line Hitch Used as a hitch, which may be drawn up away from what it is looped around to tighten a line. Click image for animation |  | Timber Hitch Used to attach a rope to a log for dragging. Click image for animation |  |