The Step-by-Step Visual Guide to 80+ Knots You’ll Actually Use.
Ultimate Book of Everyday Knots
Everyone Knows One Knot. It's Usually the Wrong One.
More than 80 knots in large, full-colour, step-by-step diagrams, from the co-founder of the International Guild of Knot Tyers.
Most of us tie the same tangled overhand for everything and hope it holds. Then the load shifts, the tarp flaps loose, or the line slips at exactly the wrong moment.
This book fixes that for good: over 80 genuinely useful knots for boating, fishing, climbing, camping, crafts and around the house - each shown in big, clear, two-colour diagrams you can actually follow, with the lore and the right use for every one.
-
80+ knots that earn their place
boating, fishing, climbing, camping, crafts and household -
Large two-colour diagrams
the over/under is easy to track, step by step -
The right knot for the job
each one's uses and history, so you know what to reach for -
From a world authority
co-founder of the International Guild of Knot Tyers
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Loved by 2,748 readers
Real readers, real rope
4.6
★★★★★
Best knot book ever
The illustrations are clear, step-by-step, and easy to follow without overcomplicating things. It doesn't waste space on fluff — just practical knots that work.
Daniel M.✓ Verified
★★★★★
Great illustrations, easy to follow
The illustrations are very clear and easy to follow, and the uses of each knot are included on the page. I'll be using it in my class this fall to teach kids knots!
Darren✓ Verified
★★★★★
Awesome book
The size of the diagrams helps me see the over/under instructions more clearly, and I like the two colours of rope to help keep track. Some functional, some decorative.
Alicia✓ Verified
★★★★★
Great tool for nautical lovers
It's been a great asset in building a knot board. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable, but I've learned so much more with all the information within these pages.
Jack✓ Verified
80+ knots inside
The knot everyone ties
You know one knot. And it slips.
Half a dozen loops, pulled tight, hoped for the best. Then the load shifts on the roof rack, the tarp works loose overnight, the line gives at the worst possible moment — or the knot seizes so hard you end up cutting good rope. It isn't a lack of strength or patience. Nobody ever showed you the right knot for the job, in a way you could actually follow.
↓ That's exactly what this book fixes
Big, two-colour, step-by-step
Why this one actually works
Diagrams you can genuinely follow
Most knot guides fail at the same point: the picture is too small to see what goes over and what goes under. This is an oversize 8 × 10 book built the opposite way:
- ✦Large full-colour diagrams — room to show each stage clearly
- ✦Two rope colours — so you can track exactly which strand goes where
- ✦Step-by-step sequences — many knots shown more than once, from different stages
- ✦The use for every knot — plus the lore behind it, so it sticks in your memory
Written by a world authority
From the man they call the father of forensic knotting
Geoffrey Budworth co-founded the International Guild of Knot Tyers in 1982 and has given evidence in court as an expert witness on knots found at crime scenes. That depth shows on every page — not padding, just knots that work, chosen and explained by someone who has spent a lifetime studying them. Whether you're rigging on a boat, securing a load, fishing, climbing, or making something beautiful like a Chinese Cloverleaf, the right knot is in here.
“I've picked up a lot of knot books over the years, but this is the most useful one I've found… It doesn't waste space on fluff — just practical knots that work.”
— Verified Amazon reviewerOver 15,000 copies sold
4.6★From over 15,000 readers
80+Knots, fully illustrated
2 ColorsEasy-to-see pages
30-DayMoney-back guarantee
What's covered
Every knot you'll actually need
Over 80 knots, organised into clear families so you can find the right one fast — and understand why it works.
⚓
Overhand Knots
The foundations everything else builds on — done properly, so they hold and release when you want them to.
🎿
Figure-of-Eight Knots
The climber's family — strong, inspectable, and the reason climbers trust their rope.
🛣
Bowlines & Sheet Bends
The loop that won't slip and the joins that hold two ropes together reliably.
📦
Crossing Knots
For lashing, securing loads and tying things down so they stay put.
🪝
Other Useful Knots
Fishing, household and decorative work — including the elaborate Chinese Cloverleaf.
📚
Knot Lore Throughout
The history and purpose behind each knot — what makes it memorable rather than just copied.
Inside the book
160 pages, no filler
✓
More than 80 knots
Chosen for genuine usefulness across boating, fishing, climbing, camping, crafts and the house.
✓
Clear photographs and diagrams
Full colour throughout, with many knots illustrated at more than one stage of tying.
✓
Two-colour rope illustrations
So you can follow which strand goes over and which goes under, without guessing.
✓
The use for every knot
What each one is for and where it shines — so you reach for the right one.
✓
Fascinating knot lore
History and background that make the knots stick in your memory, not just your hands.
✓
Decorative knotting too
Including the beautiful Chinese Cloverleaf for crafts, home decorating and display.
Who this book is for
Readers come to it from very different directions — and stay for the same reason.
The outdoors hand
Sailing, fishing, climbing, camping, hauling loads. You need knots that hold under real tension — and the judgement to pick the right one.
The curious beginner
Never tied anything beyond a shoelace. Big diagrams, plain instructions and a bit of lore make it genuinely enjoyable to learn.
The gift-giver & teacher
Bought again and again for partners, dads, scouts and classes — and it covers the knots scouting programmes ask for.
About the author
A lifetime spent studying knots
Geoffrey Budworth co-founded the International Guild of Knot Tyers in 1982 and contributes regularly to its quarterly journal, Knotting Matters.
Described as “the father of forensic knotting,” he has given evidence in court as an expert witness on knots found at crime scenes — an authority on the subject few authors can match, and it shows in how carefully each knot here is chosen and explained.
Co-founderInternational Guild of Knot Tyers
Expert witnessForensic knotting
15,000+Copies sold
Reader reviews
4.6
★★★★★
Best knot book ever
I've picked up a lot of knot books over the years, but this is the most useful one I've found. The illustrations are clear, step-by-step, and easy to follow without overcomplicating things. Whether you're tying down gear, rigging something on the boat, or just want to master the basics, this book has you covered. It doesn't waste space on fluff — just practical knots that work.
Daniel M. Verified Purchase
★★★★★
Great illustrations and easy to follow
A great book for learning knots. The illustrations are very clear and easy to follow, and the name and uses of the knots are included on each page. I'll be using it in my class this fall to teach kids knots!
Darren Verified Purchase
★★★★★
Awesome book
There are definitely knots for everyday use. The size of the diagrams helps me see the over/under instructions more clearly, and I like the two colours of rope to help keep track. Some are functional, some decorative — a good book to just play with. I'll be getting a copy for my brother-in-law.
Alicia Verified Purchase
★★★★★
Love knots and lore!
This book is full of knot lore, uses and a good chunk of useful knots for all occasions. If you're looking for a good starter book to get into tying knots — and that thrill of completing knots like a puzzle — you can master them with this book.
Jamie Verified Purchase
★★★★★
Great tool for nautical lovers
This book reminded me of the knots my father taught me when I was young. It's been a great asset in building a knot board. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable, but I've learned so much more with all the information within these pages.
Jack Verified Purchase
★★★★
Something to get tangled up in
Being somewhat unfamiliar with knots I found this book interesting to read. Each knot has a little history behind it and many are illustrated more than once. A few illustrations take a little study to follow — more care could have been taken with colour. Overall the selection is good and for the average person you'll have all you need. Still a book I'd recommend.
James Shannon Verified Purchase
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our product shipping, returns, and more.
Is this book suitable for complete beginners?
+
Yes. The knots are grouped by shape so the simple ones lead into the more complex ones, and every step is shown with photographs and diagrams. You don’t need any experience to start.
How many knots does it cover?
+
More than 80, organized into five groups: overhand knots, figure of eight knots, bowlines and sheet bends, crossing knots, and other useful knots.
What can I use these knots for?
+
Boating, fishing, camping, climbing, crafts, kite flying, and everyday jobs around the house and garden. The book is a reference for learning knots. For climbing or any other use where safety depends on the knot, practice with a qualified instructor as well.
Who wrote it?
+
Geoffrey Budworth, a co-founder of the International Guild of Knot Tyers and the author of many books on knots.
What format is the book?
+
It is a 160-page, large-format paperback, illustrated in full color throughout, so the photos and diagrams are big enough to follow with a rope in your hands.
How long will shipping take?
+
We ship all orders within 48 hours of your purchase during the week.
Weekend orders will be shipped first thing Monday morning.
Orders arrive within 7-14 business days of shipping with express shipping option.
What is your return policy?
+
We offer a 30-day return policy. If you're not satisfied with your purchase, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund or exchange.
Money-Back Guarantee
We're so confident in the quality of our product that we offer a satisfaction guarantee. If you're not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply return the item within 30 days for a full refund.
Get Your Copy Today
100% Satisfaction
Fast Shipping
Easy Returns
Money-Back Guarantee
We're so confident in the quality of our product that we offer a satisfaction guarantee. If you're not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply return the item within 30 days for a full refund.
Get Your Copy Today
100% Satisfaction
Fast Shipping
Easy Returns