A pocket full of knots.

Step 9 The Constrictor

This knot is quick and easy to tie with a little practice, and incredibly useful - it is used to tie rope ladders with wooden rungs, and sees a lot of action in theatres and music arenas, being able to hold lighting rigs with ease.

Turn a loop in the line, then turn that into a figure-eight shape. Notice that the loop crosses at the middle of the figure-eight on the same side as it crosses the main line.

Turn the figure=eight round until the top loop is on the opposite side of the main line, and the crossing-point of the figure-eight is on top of the main line.

Put your thumb through one loop, your fingers through the other loop, make them meet on the other side and lift.

(If you are tying this in wire, as I am, then the two loops on either side need bent downwards, away from the camera's point of view.)

Pass your pole or beam though both of the loops as the hang, and pull tight.

You should see that the line on both sides of the knot passes under the line from the other side, all held in place by a diagonal loop. This is the constriction which provides the friction to lock the whole knot in place. If the crossing points do not lie on a curved surface, the friction is lost and the knot will "roll" along the line, so this knot is most effective on round poles, staves and branches.

Comments

[Cheezpaper]

Isn't this just a clove hitch formed outside of the anchoring object?

[AOGutierrez]

Its a clove hitch with an overhand knot under the crossing. Much more secure and it only becomes tighter as it is worked.

[Kiteman]

Not quite - look at the cross-overs of the finished knot.