Not the parent comment, but you'll get a long way with a figure-8 (both on a working end and on a bight), a clove hitch, and an alpine butterfly. I'm sure other

Not the parent comment, but you'll get a long way with a figure-8 (both on a working end and on a bight), a clove hitch, and an alpine butterfly. I'm sure others have a couple more favorites. (this is omitting a few "foundation" knots like the overhand)