Clove Hitch

Jade wanted to show us how to tie a clove hitch. 

'This is a really usefull knot .... er... I mean hitch,' said Jade, 'It's essential to know how to tie a clove hitch when you're pioneering - making stuff with wood poles and rope.'

'it's a very simple knot, but it binds on itself and can be very difficult to undo so it forms a good starting point for making things that you want to hold themselves together'.

 'We'll use the garlic pot as a piece of wood again. Take the end of the rope'

'and pass it right round the post to make a loop, make sure that you pass it under the standing part of the rope as you pass.'

 

'Bring the rope round the post again to make a second loop,'  

 'and when you get back to the standing part pass the end over it.'

 

 'then pass the end under the second loop'.

 'and pull it all tight.'

 

'If you've got a post with an open end you can make a Clove Hitch much more easily.

Start by making 2 overhand loops'.

 

 'This is easy to remember because the 2 loops look like Micky Mouse's ears! Now move the top part of the top loop under the bottom part of the bottom loop.'

 

'line the loops up and put them over the end of the pole. Then pull the rope tight.' 

  

 'There it is. If the rope jams when you try to loosen it, you have to cut it.'

  'And that's how you lock one end of a rope to a pole ready to start pioneering.'