This is the simplist knot of all. It is commonly use to temporarily "stop" the end of a fraying rope. 

The overhand knot is commonly tied in a bight formed at the end of a rope, forming the Overhand Loop. 

Tip. The Thumbknot jams easily so it is far better to use a Figure of Eight knot to stop the end of a fraying rope. 

A useful "Stop" knot to temporarily bulk out the end of a rope or cord, the finished knot looks like its name. It is superior to using a Thumb Knot, because it does not jam so easily. 

Tip: The Figure of Eight is useful to temporarily stop the ends of a rope fraying, before it is whipped. 

An excellent general purpose knot for tying two pieces of string or twine together, the reef knot is possibly the most commonly used knot for the job, and is easy to learn. However, it cannot be overly stressed that the Reef knot is not a long term or secure knot, and it should only be used to finish parcels or bindings. In other cases, use a more secure method of bending two ropes together, such as a Sheetbend, a Double Sheetbend, or a Fisherman's Knot. 

Unfortunately, the Reef knot can easily change into a slipping Lark's Head (see below), so it should never be used where life or limb are at risk. 

Holding one end of each rope in each hand, pass the left rope over the right, and tuck under. Then pass the same rope, now in the right hand, over the left rope, and tuck under. 

The Sheetbend is commonly used to tie two ropes of unequal thickness together. The thicker rope of the two is used to form a bight, and the thinner rope is passed up through the bight, around the back of the bight, and then tucked under itself. 

The knot should be tied with both ends coming off the same side of the bend, as illustrated here. However it can easily be accidentally tied with the ends coming off opposite sides of the bend, when it is known as the Left Handed Sheet Bend. The Left Handed Sheet Bend is to be avoided as it is less secure. 

Tip. If the ropes are of very unequal thickness, or placed under a lot of tension, use a Double Sheetbend. 

The Double Sheetbend is a more secure form of the Sheetbend. 

The thicker rope of the two is used to form a bight, and the thinner rope is passed up through the bight, around the back of the bight, around again before tucking under itself. 

Tip. It is particularly useful when the thickness of the two ropes varies considerably, or when a more secure Sheetbend is required. 

Use to attach a rope to a pole, this knot provide a quick and secure result. It rarely jams, and can in fact suffer from the hitch unrolling under tension if the pole can turn. Often used to start and finish lashings. 

With practice, this can be easily tied with one hand - especially useful for sailors! 

Tip. If you are in a situation where the clove hitch may unroll, add a couple of half hitches with the running end to the standing end of the knot, turning it into a "Clove Hitch and Two Half Hitches"! 

Tip. When pioneering, use the Round turn and two half hitches to start and finish your lashings instead of the Clove Hitch. It won't unroll, and is easier to finish tying off. It just does not look so neat! 

The Sheepshank is a shortening knot, which enables a rope to be shortened non-destructively. 

The knot is only really secure under tension, it will fall apart when slack. (See tip below.) 

Tip. Use up to five half hitches each end of the Sheepshank to make the knot more secure, and for fine tuning the shortening. 

Tip. Never cut ropes to shorten them! Always use a shortening knot such as the Sheepshank, or coil the excess. 

Used to attach a rope to a log, or where security is not an issue. This knot tightens under strain, but comes undone extremely easily when the rope is slack. 

Wrap the rope around the log, then pass the running end around the standing part of the rope. Finally twist the running end around itself three or four times. (Note: this is only shown twice in the animation.) 

Tip: Jolly useful for dragging logs back to the camp fire! 

Used to secure a rope to a pole, or to start or finish a lashing. Pass the running end of the rope over the pole twice. Then pass the running end over the standing part of rope, and tuck it back up and under itself, forming a half hitch. Repeat this for a second half hitch. 

This knot has a redeeming feature - it rarely jams! 

Tip. Superior to a Clove Hitch for starting and finishing a lashing as the half hitches prevent this knot from unrolling, as they have the effect of locking the knot. The Clove Hitch looks neater (!) but it has a tendancy to unroll, and can be difficult to tie tightly when tying off.