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Comment by WilTimSon | Hacker News Reader

I'm somewhat fascinated by people's ability to tie knots that are more complicated than the basic shoelace one. I've watched hundreds of videos on knot-tying and, even with basic step-by-step instructions, can't manage one properly. Is it just the fact that this stuff is better taught practically or am I just somehow the worst knot-tier of all? Even that reef knot gif eludes me...

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> I'm somewhat fascinated by people's ability to tie knots that are more complicated than the basic shoelace one.

> Even that reef knot gif eludes me

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These statements are in contradiction. The reef knot IS your shoelace knot. If you can tie your shoelaces, you can tie a reef knot, by definition.

Specifically, a "shoelace tie" is the slipped reef knot. "Slipped" means that you leave little loops so that its easier to untie later. Get rid of the "loops" in your shoelace tie, and you'll make a fine (more permanent) reef knot.

I think many use the granny for their shoes.

Shame on them.

I prefer the granny knot because it rotates the shoelaces so they're less likely to get caught on things. I've never had any trouble with it coming untied. https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/grannyknot.htm discusses the difference in detail, but fails to acknowledge this benefit of granny knots.

Or wear slip-ons.

Yup, I do. Never was taught a different method and this one works well enough but I'd really prefer not to spend the rest of my life being so inept at a basic skill.

So instead of trying to repeat the steps of the knot, form a set of verbal directions in your mind. Then close your eyes and picture yourself doing them. Then grab some rope and try with actual rope, again with your eyes closed. Repeat the same knot 10 times a day for 10 days.

This method works really well for most because closing your eyes removes all extraneous info. You see the model of the knot and the instructions for tying it, not the messy tangled up physical rope that you aren’t even using yet.

I couldn’t remember them until I started needing them. Figure eight, clovehitch, barrel knot, overhand, and fisherman’s are my daily drivers for climbing. Prussiks are useful, but there are more efficient ways of doing progress capture.

Bowlines can be used instead of figure eights, but they can shake open if you aren’t careful, which is obviously bad.

You can add a stopper knot to the bowline I think.

It really takes practice. I can tie a bowline or a figure eight in my sleep, because I used those for climbing.

The taughtline hitch is an amazingly useful knot... but I flub it most of the time. Similarly, the square knot -- even if I take my time, it's a granny with about 45% probability. These aren't knots my life has depended on, and I don't have the muscle memory.

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