Clove Hitch

The clove hitch is undeservedly popular, probably because it looks pretty and is easy to tie.

When to use it

The clove hitch is a good crossing knot. We’ve built rock-solid 6,000 square foot structures that relied heavily on it.

For any other purpose, however, it’s probably the wrong knot.

The Clove Hitch (ABOK # 1245, p 224) was, originally, included here with the intention of condemning it. It does have two giant faults: it slips and, paradoxically, can also bind. It should be deeply distrusted when used by itself.
- Animated Knots by Grog

Step by step

A one inch vertical gray pole crosses the image from top to bottom. A single strand of blue rope enters from the left and makes a full 360 spiral around the pole, going over, under, and over it. The spiral goes down the pole, with the bottom of the spiral about one inch lower than the top. The working end extends out to the right of the pole.

1Go over and around the pole, making a full 360° turn.

The working end has been pulled up and to the right, so it crosses over the standing part directly on top of the pole.

2Cross the working end over the rope on top of the pole.

The working end goes around the pole and crosses under itself, directly on top of the pole. The working end now extends out to the right. There are now two turns around the pole: the top one is formed by the working end and the bottom one is formed by the standing part. The two turns are connected by a diagonal line that goes up and to the right. The knot is rotationally symmetrical: if you rotated the image 180 degrees, the knot would look identical.

3Go under and around the pole, passing the working end under itself.

4Snug the knot.

Notes for nerds

References and naming

This knot is ABOK # 1245

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