14 ms·
Knots 3D – Learn how to tie over 150 useful knots
- LinuxBender 4y agoVery nice! For completeness sake the Highwayman's knot is also referred to as the "Robbers Knot" [1] in some parts of the US. [1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxR5HBEa76w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxR5HBEa76w
- cudgy 4y agoI use an app called “WhatKnotToDo” (great name) from Columbia that appears to be no longer available. It is very useful and breaks down knots by function which helped me greatly.
- kriro 4y agoIt seems like in my daily life I use only three knots and then very rarely I use a couple more. My guess is most people spend all their life on <5 knots. It's a pretty fascinating topic and I like this resource. I use one knot that my life depends on (double 8 for climbing, weekly), the "normal" (double) knot for shoe laces (often) and the small knot for ties (thankfully, not so often). every now and then I go fishing and have to look up some extra knots :P I'd be interested in recommendations for better shoe-binding knots (other than the old TED talk advice of doing it in reverse). As an aside...my brain is really bad at doing knots. I have an old book and it's almost impossible for me to work from graphics+text only.
- Emptysister 4y agoIan`s knot or Ian`s secure knot: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm
- MasterYoda 4y agoDoes anyone have any suggestions for any good knots that can be used to tie coiled tubing together? I want to be able to easily tie the hose tightly and at the same time have a knot that can be easy to untie. My problem is that when tightening the cord around the coiled hose, once I try to tie then the cord gets looser around the coiled hose and the coil gets "sloppy". I saw a person do a good knot for this once, but unfortunately I didn't see how he did exactly because he did it so fast. When he first tightened it around the coiled hose, it stayed tightened and then he could easily finish the knot so it became permanent and it was easy to untie. Any suggestions on any knot name I can look at that could be suitable? Thanks
- andrewflnr 4y agoAny of the variations on the trucker's hitch or taut-line/midshipman's hitch mentioned in this thread can probably be made to work. Or maybe even just a clove hitch secured with a shoe knot or whatever else you're using now might hold together long enough to stay tight. I've used a constrictor knot for similar jobs before, but it's honestly not great; having space between the poles/cords under the knot turns it from extremely difficult to untie into somewhat insecure.
- MetroWind 4y agoI just look at Ashley
- genericone 4y agoBought it on playstore 8 years ago, havent opened it in 3 years, don't regret it one bit. Would purchase again.
- m3adow 4y agoGot it for free 5+ years ago, used it less than a dozen times. It's still one of the first apps I install on each device, the different knots are just so cool
- throwxxxaway 4y agoI've also bought this app on Playstore, a couple of years ago, but for me it's sort of useless. Yes, you can try to follow the picture, but that's usually not how you tie the knot. I wish this app would show how to tie the knots efficiently with your hands, like in this video [1] 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2aRj8dQPRQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2aRj8dQPRQ
- kernal 4y agoI just installed the app and I can switch the view horizontally and vertically, rotate the view 360 degrees and change the speed. I can also incrementally step forward and backward through every step of the knot tying process by swiping my finger up and down. I could not ask for a more thorough example of how to tie a knot.
- stouset 4y agoThe app doesn't actually show the knot tying process for many knots. Yes, any knot can be created by carefully weaving one open end through the entire process (what is shown). But that's not how many (most?) knots are actually tied in practice. And for many knots it would be impractically difficult to tie it this way.
- cityzen 4y agodo you have any examples of knot tying process? I am honestly not 100% sure what you mean but curious to learn more.
- blacksmith_tb 4y agoHere's an example[1] at random from YT. Many knots can be tied multiple ways (that still result in the same knot), and many knots can be tied with slight variations (for example lots of things can be slipped by finishing the knot with a doubled-over bight instead of just the single line, allowing you to pull the 'tail' and quickly untie them). 1: https://youtu.be/lvIRHvu2va8?t=162 https://youtu.be/lvIRHvu2va8?t=162
- tiahura 4y agoJust started sailing and this looks handy.
- jesterpm 4y agoThe book I learned knots from said that there are ~5 categories of knots and knowing one of each will cover you for most things. The categories were fixed loop, running loop, stopper knot, hitch (rope to object), and bend (joining two ropes). I have about 4-5 knots memorized for each of those category, but sailing I typically only use a cleat hitch, bowline, and clove hitch (in order of frequency).
- bluefirebrand 4y agoMissed opportunity for a "knots for fun" category.
- karaterobot 4y agoI use this website all the time: https://www.animatedknots.com/ https://www.animatedknots.com/ Someday I'll buy the Ashley Book of Knots, and on that day I'll truly begin my journey into middle age.
- pmoriarty 4y agoThe Ashley Book of Knots is fantastic. You could probably find it at your local library.
- blacksmith_tb 4y agoThe ABK is a wonderful artifact, but a very poor guide for learning to tie the knots in its pages. I highly recommend any of the clearly illustrated books from International Knot Tiers' Guild[1] members like Geoffery Budworth, Des Pawson and John Shaw. 1: https://igkt.net/ https://igkt.net/
- deltarholamda 4y ago>The ABK is a wonderful artifact, but a very poor guide for learning to tie the knots in its pages. I disagree. The Ashley Book does not give in-depth step-by-step details, but it gives enough. You may have to train your brain a bit, but it's not all that difficult. It seems like I reference my copy every week or so for one thing or another. If there is a complaint about the Ashley book, it's that it was written at a time before synthetic fibers. Some knots may require modifications, and all splices should be increased in length to account for the differences. For a single reference book, it covers so much quite well, and the index is a marvel. It deserves a place on your shelf.
- jesterpm 4y agoEbook: https://archive.org/details/TheAshleyBookOfKnots https://archive.org/details/TheAshleyBookOfKnots The ABoK was something I always wanted to see, but never bothered to buy... until I found that PDF. Scrolling through it finally convinced me to buy a hardcopy. It's one of my favorite books to just flip through. There's more than just the knots: the history and the anecdotes are a fascinating window into the past.
- bredren 4y agoThis seems like a great candidate for an AR app.
- scyzoryk_xyz 4y agoIt really is. Though thread/knot simulation is a very difficult problem. I’m involved in a VR project for surgery that simulates knots for surgical suturing. We have two full time physics phds on it and they’re delivering some promising results but it’s far from good enough to teach IRL knots.
- gilleain 4y agoDo different sutures require different knots?
- swader999 4y agoDifferent wounds and incisions require different sutures and different suturing techniques. So yes! Students practise on poultry, cadavers and the real thing. And yeah VR too perhaps.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- scyzoryk_xyz 4y agoYes, though the traditional surgical approach requires little more than rope and string to understand. Maybe training with some instruments and fruit/cadavers. The VR is overkill for this purpose imho. I was a sceptic initially about it, but from my time with the topic of simulation training, I’m finding that there is a shortage of people who want to be doctors. And many of those that do want to go down that path are good at all sorts of things but this whole knot tying can be very challenging. Some people just have a really hard time with it.
- scyzoryk_xyz 4y agoYes - we work with simulation of laparoscopic surgery, where several types of knots must be made on stiff inarticulate instruments in constrained spaces at difficult angles. It is quite an incredible skill.
- gffrd 4y agoI have to ask: what is HN's interest in knots? Regularly (and dependably!), posts about knots make their way to the front page, often to the top … it's nearly in the same mold as "articles warning about lending/housing behavior".
- andrewflnr 4y agoKnots take a nearly 1-dimensional object and generate a 3d structure that is both durable and potentially useful, sometimes bordering on life-changing. That's super cool. I think a lot of us also have a bit of a primitivist streak, and knots are a low technology that can replace a lot of higher tech and still get a lot done (compare to HN's enduring fascination with Forth).
- gilleain 4y agoPerhaps because it relates (vaguely) to - Topology - Combinatorics? - Practical stuff like tying up boats? I like knots because of the relationship to protein folds, but hey ymmv.
- macksd 4y agoIf one has a hacker mindset that extends outside of startups and technology, knots are pretty dang useful. I use them all the time in DIY projects, camping, etc.
- lkxijlewlf 4y agoKnots are generally a solution to a problem. I think that's why they fit. Question is, why don't we see as many about saws?
- gffrd 4y agoExactly! Or … I don't know, fans? I suspect it has to do with that knots are universal, transform something simple into an incredibly useful tool, and has limitless applications. I'm now trying to thing of other things that fit this description beyond raw materials.
- Gigachad 4y ago
- Karawebnetwork 4y agoA small paracord on my desk is a great way to keep my hands busy during long meetings where I would otherwise start to fidget and lose focus. It takes a while to get good enough to do it without thinking, but once you get there it's a great way to focus if you need to.
- lkxijlewlf 4y agoCame here to say I have about a 3 meter length next to me. I started doing this to help curb snacking, but it also helps me problem solve and focus.
- hathawsh 4y agoThis site makes the Trucker's Hitch look very simple. You just start with an Alpine Butterfly, pull a loose end through a ring and then the butterfly loop, then secure the loose end around the rope. https://knots3d.com/knots/en_us/63/truckers-hitch https://knots3d.com/knots/en_us/63/truckers-hitch Note for the author: the "Note" section on that page has the same text pasted 3 times. Still a great tutorial!
- cseleborg 4y agoThe trucker's hitch is one ofy favorites. I use it (with some Paracord) to tie stuff done to my bike. A piece of cord is just so much more durable and more compact than those elastic bands with hooks. I prefer taking the extra 30 seconds rather than risking a rubber cord snapping somewhere near my face.
- bitexploder 4y agoThe alpine butterfly is one of my favorite and most used knots in my workshop. Very easy to remember, very strong and useful.
- krasin 4y agoSpecifically for the Trucker's Hitch, this video is quite popular: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUHgGK-tImY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUHgGK-tImY
- Vladimof 4y agoI like these 4 knots: Bowline Knot Truckers hitch Knot Half Hitch Knot Uni-Knot (fishing)
- Vladimof 4y agooops didn't realize until it was too late to edit that the layout got messed up... Bowline Knot Truckers hitch Knot Half Hitch Knot Uni-Knot (fishing)
- bjt 4y agoThis is my brother-in-law's app. Wild to see it on the front page of HN. It's been a side project of his for a very long time.
- almog 4y agoI like Knots3D, but there are some alternatives that made it easier for me: 1. The Klutz Book of Knots (it's a book with holes around the pages so you can practice the knots next to their instructions). I think it's supposed to be a kid's book, but I bought for myself few years ago and was probably the resource I used the most. 2. I find it _much_ easier to learn how to tie a knot by watching someone's hands while they explain what they're doing. KnottingKnots on Youtube is incredible at that: https://www.youtube.com/c/KnottingKnots/ https://www.youtube.com/c/KnottingKnots/ I think the knots I use the most, both in everyday life as well as for hiking are (from most used to least used): - Trucker Hitch - Bowline knot - Clove hitch - Figure of Eight knot (bend too but less often) - Sheet Bend - Prusik knot - Square knot - Taut line hitch
- dhimes 4y agoGreat list. I would invite you to try a stevedore instead of the figure 8. It's really the same knot with an extra wrap, and it cinches into something the size of a double-overhand but won't jam. It's an outstanding stopper know- the only one I use on sailboats now (and I'm converting many people to it).
- almog 4y agoI just tried it and at first I thought it really was just a figure eight with extra wrap (a bit like the figure of nine bend), I noticed the difference was not just the extra wrap but also that the working end is finally fed back into the loop from the bottom rather than from the top (as in figure of eight). That last piece I think result in a different final shape.
- dhimes 4y agoI feed the working end through the bottom in the figure-eight as well.
- almog 4y agoI think in both cases, whether the working end should be fed from the bottom of the loop or from the top depends on whether we're crossing the working end under or above the bight the first time: working end that crosses above the bight leads to feeding into the loop from the top and vice versa. That's for figure of eight but for figure of eight above first leads to feeding from the bottom of the loop at the final step and vice versa.
- fdr 4y agoI took pandemic time to learn some knots, and then forget a bunch of them that didn't offer enough distinct utility to me. I highly recommend the Farrimond Friction Hitch: https://www.animatedknots.com/farrimond-friction-hitch-knot https://www.animatedknots.com/farrimond-friction-hitch-knot It's simple and fast to tie (with a little practice for muscle memory), and with an extra turn has exceptional friction preventing loop collapse in some situations where even a bowline would have an issue. However, by relieving tension on one side of the knot, like a taut-line hitch it can slide. I use it for its common application of tensioning, but I also find it useful for cinching. It can go anywhere a cord lock might have been useful in but a few seconds.
- dhimes 4y agoI'll give that a whirl. I usually use a tautline hitch for that function.
- gffrd 4y agoWant to add: the _about us_ of this site ("Grog Story") is excellent. I always seek out the "about" of sites to find out "why do you do this, and how well do you understand what you do?" This does not disappoint: https://www.animatedknots.com/grog-story https://www.animatedknots.com/grog-story
- cseleborg 4y agoI learned the taut-line hitch a while ago and find it great for exactly this purpose, and it looks a bit easier than the one you suggest. Do you have a particular reason to recommend this one?
- kqr 4y agoSeconding this question. I learned many knots from my father when I was small, but the taut-line hitch is one of few I have used on a weekly basis all these years. (If anyone is curious, the carrick bend is the other one I use very often.)
- bhelkey 4y agoI also learned the taut-line hitch. It looks like the Farrimond Friction Hitch trades off slightly harder tying with easier untying.
- baalimago 4y agoBusiness opportunity: Start selling small pieces of rope to use for practice on the same site
- radlad 4y agoFor shoelace knots specifically, this is a personal favorite, especially the "Ian Knot": https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/index.htm https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/index.htm
- jqgatsby 4y agowhat do you think of the Ian knot versus the Ian secure knot?
- GuB-42 4y agoBoth great. The secure knot is the best, secure but doesn't jam, looks good too, but Ian knot ties much faster. I usually go with Ian knot by default but switch to the secure one if it comes undone.
- Groxx 4y agoI love running across the occasional person who pays just enough attention to me using the Ian Knot to realize that it was way too fast, and getting that delayed "... wait WHAT" reaction. That's how you know you've caught a new convert.
- pmoriarty 4y agoMy favorite knot is the Zeppelin Bend: [1] It's used to tie the ends of two ropes together. It's super easy to tie, super easy to untie (when you want to), and will not untie accidentally. [1] - https://www.animatedknots.com/zeppelin-bend-knot https://www.animatedknots.com/zeppelin-bend-knot
- obloid 4y agoYes! the zeppelin bend is also my favorite knot. I probably don't use it as much as a bowline, but it comes in handy joining two lengths of rope, looks cool, and is always easy to untie no matter how much the knot has been loaded. Besides the bowline my most used knot is probably the trucker hitch. Carrick bend is another favorite of mine, but I prefer the zeppelin bend for real world usage.
- failTide 4y agoHah, same here. There's something really satisfying about it. Maybe it's the imagery of tying off a hydrogen airship.
- ZoomZoomZoom 4y ago> There's something really satisfying about it. You could even say there's something nice about it.
- jesterpm 4y agoHa, that is quite satisfying when it comes together. Maybe it's just from practice, but I think the sheet bend [1] is easier and faster to tie though. [1]: https://www.animatedknots.com/sheet-bend-knot https://www.animatedknots.com/sheet-bend-knot
- red_trumpet 4y agoMy favorite fact about the sheet bend is that it's essentially the same knot as the bowline knot [1]. [1] https://www.animatedknots.com/bowline-knot https://www.animatedknots.com/bowline-knot
- bitlax 4y agoDoesn't hurt to learn the one-handed bowline as well.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- mewse-hn 4y agoI'm going fishing soon for the first time this year, and was reminding myself of the one knot I learned while I was a fishing guide one summer. I found it on this page - apparently it's called the "palomar knot". I'm very fond of it because you can easily tie it with cold, wet hands in the rain and it won't lose fish. Works with braided and monofilament.
- ofrzeta 4y agoI am using a half blood knot but seeing the palomar knot makes me want to try this because it seems a lot easier than threading the line through the loop five times (or did I thread it five times already?).
- warmwaffles 4y agoI've forgotten all the knots I learned in Boy Scouts. This is a great time for me to spend some time relearning.
- aheze 4y agoIs it interactive 3D or just a video? The app size is 215mb too
- windexh8er 4y agoI purchased this app almost 10 years ago. The app is still being updated and the author has kept it straightforward and has never tried to upsell or do a version change. It's one of the best values I've gotten out of an app over time and have recommended it to many people over the years. I wish more apps were developed and maintained like this. I wish there was a donate option for the developer as I feel I've gotten more value than the $10 I've paid.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- sbf501 4y agoNo Sommerville Bowline? It's the go-to knot for rope tops. :)
- thrwaybdsm 4y agoSomerville Bowline¹, one 'm'. Named after the place Topologist was at when he discovered that very useful knot. 1: https://crash-restraint.com/ties/66 https://crash-restraint.com/ties/66
- albertzeyer 4y agoKnots are a fascinating topic, and a recurring one on HN, for example: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10200917 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10200917 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26867300 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26867300 Many years ago, I learned about Ian's secure knot (https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm), a shoelace knot, which I have used since then. It just never accidently opens but still is simple to tie and also simple to open on intention.
- silencedogood3 4y ago
- subpixel 4y agoI have this app but I'm still looking for the right knot to tie a boat to a float where another line has been strung between two cleats (to allow more small boats to tie up than would at two cleats). As I type this my boat is tied with what looked like a child's shoelace.
- cudgy 4y agoMaybe put several knots within the line leaving a loop for the boats to tie onto.
- tommywiseausmom 4y agoknot your average knot
- amelius 4y agoAre there any knots useful for electrical wiring?
- sgillen 4y agoUsually you don't want your electrical wires to be taking any serious mechanical load, so that disqualifies most knots who's entire purpose is to take some sort of load. That being said check out the underwriters knot, which is specifically designed for strain relief: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwriter%27s_knot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwriter%27s_knot
- amelius 4y agoInteresting. I was also thinking of: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_lacing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_lacing
- auxym 4y agoOld method for splicing telegram wires: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Union_splice https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Union_splice
- JJMcJ 4y agoWorth mentioning, some knots work well with hemp or other vegetable fiber ropes, but not nylon, because it is too smooth to hold them.
- laverix 4y agoI am missing the hang man's knot.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- mkoryak 4y agoThis app is not available for your device. Too bad so sad, and I was ready to give them 6 bucks.
- gdelfino01 4y agoWhat is the name of this knot in English? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5Iyg6c0zFk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5Iyg6c0zFk
- SPBS 4y agoThat's the Trucker's Hitch, using a simple overhand knot for the loops. You can use any knot to create a loop, my preferred one is the alpine butterfly because it can be tied in the middle of any rope without needing access to the running ends (like the overhand knot in the video does)
- loudthing 4y agoThis is a very valuable resource. My only constructive criticism would be maybe providing multiple point of views for each step because it's not always obvious what the step requires to the laymen when showing 2d images.
- askvictor 4y agoI keep this app on my phone for that occasion every year or two where I need a knot; it's the perfect type of approach for those skills where you aren't going to practice often enough for it to stay in your memory.
- shkkmo 4y agoOne thing I don't see mentioned in this all this discussion of neat knots is the impact of the different knots on the load capacity of the rope you are tying. For example while a bowline knot is easier to untie after having a heavy load placed on it, it weakens the rope more than a figure 8 knot.