How to Make a Clew Knot

Last Updated: May 20, 2021

A clew knot is a useful knot frequently used for hammock making. It is simple to do but can get a bit tricky depending on how many lengths you're handling at once, so a good numbering system can be helpful there. This article presents a clew knot using twelve half cords; you will need to adjust the measurements according to the number of cords your project requires you to work with.

Part 1

Part 1 of 12:

Getting started

1
Fold six lengths of cord in half. Attach to a ring, rod, or other form of holder to keep in place.
- Secure with a larks head knot.
2
Number the cords in your head. Use numbers 1 to 12 and keep the numbering system steady in your mind as you work with the cords.
- If you can't remember the cord numbers very well, use markers such as small plastic bread tabs with the numbers written on them - slip these over the cords, then shift and remove these as needed,
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3
Pull the cords apart evenly. Pull them taut to straighten. As cords are done with, you'll be tucking them off to the side when they are no longer needed.
4
Get ready to weave. Weaving goes left-to-right, then right-to-left and each set of left-to-right/right-to-left must alternate between under/over and over/under. The instructions will make this clear.

Part 2

Part 2 of 12:

First weave

1
Weave cord #1 from the left to right. Take it under cord #2, then over cord #3, etc. Continue this weaving motion to the other side.

Part 3

Part 3 of 12:

Second weave

1
Take cord #12, the first cord on the right this time. Pass it under cord #11, then over cord #10. Continue this weaving motion back to the left side, to meet back with cord #2.^{[1]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 12:

Third weave

1
Pick up cord #2 and pass it over cord #3. Weave to the right, going under cord #4 this time, etc. This is an over-under sequence, the opposite of the first and second weave rows.^{[2]
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Part 5

Part 5 of 12:

Fourth weave

1
Return the weaving to the left with cord #11. Take it over #10, then under #9, and so forth, until you get back to cord #3.

Part 6

Part 6 of 12:

Fifth weave

1
Weave cord #3 under cord #4 and over cord #5. Keep weaving back to the right using this sequence.

Part 7

Part 7 of 12:

Sixth weave

1
Weave cord #10 under cord #9 and over cord #8. Keep weaving back to the left using this sequence.

Part 8

Part 8 of 12:

Seventh weave

1
Weave cord #4 over cord #5 and under cord #6. Keep weaving back to the right using this sequence.

Part 9

Part 9 of 12:

Eighth weave

1
Weave cord #9 over cord #8 and under cord #7. Keep weaving back to the left using this sequence.

Part 10

Part 10 of 12:

Ninth weave

1
Weave cord #5 under cord #6 and over cord #7, then under cord #8.

Part 11

Part 11 of 12:

Tenth weave

1
Weave cord #8 under cord #7 and over cord #6.

Part 12

Part 12 of 12:

Finishing up

1
Do not weave cords #6 and #7. Pull the ends of both cords #6 and #7 to tighten the clew knot.
2
If attaching this knot as part of a hammock, the loose ends of the cords are attached in the opposite order to that in which they were woven.^{[3]
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- This means that cords #6 and #7 will be attached at the center of the hammock rod or ring.
- Attach cords #8 and #5, then cords #9 and #4.
- Attach cords #10 and #3, then cords #11 and #2.
- This leaves cords #12 and #1 to be attached last.

Community Q&A

Question

How much rope is needed?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

Rope quantity varies with the tension of the weaving. More will be used if tension is loose, less if tight. Start with a 2-yard (2-meter) length of rope to get an approximate range of where you end up after weaving the clew knot. Always add more than you think you need, as nothing is worse than having to start over when there is not enough rope to make a knot. Depending on the rope thickness, about 5x the width of the rope is used up to make a single knot for tying off.