Bowline
The Bowline gets its name (as many knots do) from more nautical days, when it was often used to hold the square edges of a sail to the bow (front) of the ship. It is a wonderfully useful knot - in listing its uses I could go on for pages, but I will restrict myself to its utility primarily in Scout circumstances.
Uses of the Bowline
Creating an unmoving loop in the end of a rope (as in the doorway of a gateway or ax yard)
Joining two ropes of any size or texture (with two bowlines, one tied through the other)
Tying down small aircraft (the FAA recommends this)
Varying sailing uses (for example, tying the halyard to the head of a sail or tying a jib sheet to a clew of a jib)
Creating a "Handle" at the end of a rope (for example, for Cub Scouts to swing upon)
Creating a carabiner loop for a pocketknife or Nalgene bottle
Pulling a person out of a hole or chasm - for this reason the Bowline is sometimes called "The Rescue Knot"
Mooring a boat to a pole or peg sticking up out of a dock
How To Tie the Bowline
1.) Create a "hole" in the end of a rope by putting the standing end under the working end of the rope.
2.) Come up through the hole.
3.) Loop behind the standing end of the rope.
4.) Pull the working end back through the hole.
5.) Tighten from both the standing end and the working end.
We often teach children this knot by making a "rabbit hole" and a "tree". The rabbit comes up through the hole, walks around the tree, then sees the hunter and hides back inside of its hole.
For an animation of this knot being tied, click HERE.
To see a one-handed bowline, click HERE. This isn't just for show - if you need to tie a line around you under tension you can give yourself working room with your left arm while tying the line around you with your right arm. Take caution when using this method if a sudden strain is possible on the line as your wrist can become trapped while tying.