Alternatively, you can tie a square knot using just one rope, too. Hold one end in your left hand (going forward, this’ll be your left-handed rope) and one end in your right hand ( this will be your right-handed rope).
Note that these first 3 steps for making a square knot are the same as you’d use for tying your shoes.
If you want to tie a stronger knot, opt for knots like bowlines, or a climbing knot like a figure eight follow-through knot.
This method will make a knot that’s identical to the one in the method above. As above, you can make a loop with the right-hand rope and reverse the directions to get the same knot.
Note that even “stacking” square knots in this way won’t make your knot safe for critical usage. Don’t use square knots (even stacked ones) for securing heavy loads or dangerous objects—they can (and do) fail. Instead, use a more secure knot like a Carrick bend or a Double Fisherman’s knot.
If you have long lengths of rope to use up (like, for instance, if your shoe laces are too long), you may want to try making a square knot with loops of rope (also called “bights”) rather than single lengths of rope.
