I've followed every YouTube video and illustrated guide I can find but I can't seem to consistently tie bowline knots that don't turn themselves into a larks head causing the bight I'm trying to make to cinch.
I'm trying to tie them to the end of a length of paracord for a ridgeline, so I start by holding the leading end of the rope. Then:
- I make a bight a few inches beneath the leading end so that it overlaps the standing end.
- I bring the leading end behind the top of the bight and through it towards myself
- I push the leading end over the bottom of the bight
- I push the leading end behind the standing end of the cord
- I bring the leading end around the standing end and back through the first bight, beneath the length of my initial passing (the smaller loop)
- I try to tighten the knot by pulling on the standing end, which then cinches around the column I'm pulling against (my finger).
Is the knot not getting set properly, or rolling over itself, when I'm putting tension on the cord? I can't tell which step I'm doing incorrectly.
Apologies if I'm using any terminology incorrectly, I'm still getting into knots if my predicament wasn't a clear indicator of that.