A refresh for basic guiding and scouting skills — two satisfying and simple, but not secure, knots: the reef knot, or square knot, and the clove hitch.

The reef knot was also known to the ancient Greeks as the Hercules knot. You can use it for non-safety critical things like belts, bandages, tying bundles and parcels but it doesn't hold weight well so don't use it when safety is important.

The clove hitch is a simple knot that can quickly, say, tie a rope to a post. But don't use it if you need something to really hold.

Again, don't use either for safety critical applications, but they're both nice knots to know.

Reef knot and clove hitch

Of course an animated gif would illustrate this better. I have been told that sheet bends are famous particular for linking two ropes of different sizes together.

Sketchplanations tagged with knots