Square Lashing

How to tie Square Lashing. Square Lashing is a knot used to bind two poles together, usually but not necessarily, at right angles. This lashing can be used in load bearing situations and thus can be used to build anything from chairs, an emergency stretcher, a bed, a ladder, even a bridge!  

 

Scroll down below the knot tying tutorial for the animated Square Lashing.

 

Square Lashing Knot Tying Instructions

1. Tie a Clove Hitch around the vertical pole and pull the knot very tight.
2. Begin the lashing of the two poles together by twisting the short end from the clove hitch around long end of the rope.
3. Then wrap the rope over the front of the horizontal pole then around the back side of the vertical pole and over the front of the horizontal piece.
4. Continue around the back side of the vertical pole, the front of the horizontal and back side of the vertical and front of the horizontal.
5. Continue with this wrapping, alternately going over and under each pole for three turns.
6. Tighten your wraps down by making two or more "frapping turns" around the ropes.
7. Finish the knot by making two or more half hitches next to the original wraps.