Midshipman's hitch

The midshipman's hitch creates an adjustable loop at the end of a rope. Use it when you need to adjust the tension on a rope after it is tied.

This useful knot has many names and many variations. The version shown here is Ashley #1855, which is a more secure version of this knot.

If the rope is thick or slippery, you may have difficulty keeping the knot from sliding unintentionally. You can usually prevent this by tightening the knot carefully before putting tension on the loop. If necessary, adding another loop or two to the first part of the knot may also help.