Essential Rope Knots

Sheep Shank

  1. Make a loop in the rope, with one end longer than the other.
  2. Make a second loop next to the first, but in the opposite direction.
  3. Take the long end of the rope and thread it through the second loop.
  4. Bring the long end of the rope around the standing end and tuck it under the first loop.
  5. Tighten the knot by pulling on the standing end and the long end of the rope.

Note: The sheep shank is a binding knot that can be used to shorten a rope, or to take up slack in a rope. It is not recommended to use in life-safety or critical load bearing applications as it can slip or weaken under high loads or tensions.