This article is about type of knot. For other uses, see Slipknot (disambiguation).

A slip knot (or running knot) is one of two different classes of knot

Knot

A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load"...

. The most common are knots which attach a line to an object and tighten when tension is applied to the free end of the line. The other is a type of knot

Knot

A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load"...

 designed to bind one end of a rope to the middle of another, while allowing the knot to slide along the rope.

The former kind is generally created by attaching a rope

Rope

A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...

 to itself, creating a loop which can be tightened later. Any knot which is used to secure a line to either a post or ring (starting with the simple half hitch

Half hitch

The half hitch is a simple overhand knot, where the working end of a line is brought over and under the standing part. Insecure on its own, it is a valuable component of a wide variety of useful and reliable hitches, bends, and knots....

, and including such knots as the bowline

Bowline

The bowline is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie. The bowline is sometimes referred as King of the knots because of its importance...

 and clove hitch

Clove hitch

A clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most essential knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot. It can be used as a binding knot, but is not...

) can be turned into this sort of slip knot by tying it around the standing part of the line.

The most common example of the second kind of slip knot is the rolling hitch

Rolling hitch

The rolling hitch is a knot used to attach a rope to a rod, pole, or other rope. A simple friction hitch, it is used for lengthwise pull along an object rather than at right angles...

.

The slip knot is not the knot used for gallows

Gallows

A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...

to hang condemned criminals. However, it is the knot used to hang people in the American West by ranchers and in the Middle Ages (mostly in Europe origins).

Standard creation for a slip knot

This is a starting point used for crochet and knitting.
Take a length of yarn and create a loop in the shape of a "p". Place hand or hook through hole and grab thread on top and draw through bottom of loop. Draw until a small loop is created.