Clove Hitch
The Clove Hitch is a constricting knot that works best in the middle of a line when both ends bear some tension. We often use it attach lines to trees (as in an ax yard or gateway) when we don't want to have to make adjustments later on. It is also the beginning (and ending) knot to many of the lashings used in Scouting (a lashing is a way to tie two sticks together, as when you are making a tower, bridge, or raft, for example). Note that if you pull hard on one end of the line then the Clove Hitch will slip or break, especially when using modern plastic-based ropes.
How To Tie The Clove Hitch:
1.) Loop the rope around the object you're tying to. Hold one end in each hand.
2.) Cross the end in your right hand over the end in your left hand, forming an X with your hands holding the pieces at the top of the X.
3.) Wrap the end in your right hand around behind the object again in the same direction as before, leaving the wrap loose. When you bring it back around to the front, poke the end under the piece of rope that you just wrapped around.
For an animation of tying the Clove Hitch click HERE.
The Clove Hitch On A Bight:
We often tie a Clove Hitch in the middle of a rope when we don't have access to either working end (this is especially useful for long pieces of rope or if we are able to loop the rope over the top of a pole). Climbers also use this as a quick means of tying their line to a carabiner in an emergency situation (such as a broken line) as it can be done while using only one hand to tie. We do this by making two overhand loops in opposite directions. We then place the right underhand loop on top of the left underhand loop and put them over the top of our pole and pull tight. Whenever we tie a knot in the middle of a rope without the working ends we call that in the bight or on the bight.
For an animation of tying the Clove Hitch In The Bight click HERE.
For a great document presentation of the varying forms of the Clove Hitch, click HERE (Adobe Acrobat .pdf).