Square knot vs granny knot: how to tell them apart
The square knot (reef knot) and the granny knot are both two overhand knots on top of each other. The only difference is the direction of the second one, but the result is very different: a square knot lies flat, a granny twists, and it either slips or jams.
The difference in tying
Hold one end in each hand.
| First | Second | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square knot | Right end over | Left end over | Flat and symmetrical |
| Granny knot | Right end over | Right end over | Twists and slips |
The classic memory aid: "right over left, left over right."
Tell them apart by shape
In a square knot, each rope's two parts come out side by side on the same side of the loop: two U-shapes locked together. In a granny, the ends stand at an angle and one rope's two parts leave on opposite sides of the loop.
- Do both ends lie flat in the same plane as the knot?
- Do the two parts of each rope come out together through the same loop?
- Does the knot stay still, not rotate, when you pull both sides?
When not to use a square knot
The square knot is for tying something round an object: bandages, parcels, reefing a sail. It's weak for joining two ropes under load, because pulling one end can capsize it and let it slip out. To join ropes, use a sheet bend.
Check it in Knotlet
Knotlet's square knot animation draws the two ends in different colours, so at the second crossing you can see exactly which end goes over.
FAQ
- Is a shoelace bow a square knot?
- A normal bow is a square knot with loops. If your laces keep sitting crooked and coming undone, you're probably tying a granny.
- Are the square knot and reef knot the same?
- Yes. Americans usually say square knot; sailors and the British say reef knot.
- How do I fix a granny into a square knot?
- Undo the second overhand and tie it again in the opposite direction.
See the square knot's second crossing in Knotlet
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