How to Tie a Basic Figure Eight Knot & the Follow Through

A figure eight with a bight is a famous knot in the rock climbing world. When climbing, you would use a figure eight with a bight (a bite is a loop) to tie yourself onto your harness to prevent you from falling. You achieve tying a figure eight with a bight simply by following the leading end of your rope through the basic figure eight. Before you move on to the figure eight on a bight you must first know how to tie a basic figure eight.

Like with any other knot, the first step to tying a figure eight knot is to identify your leading end of your rope, and your standing end of your rope. The leading end is the end part of the rope; the part that will be leading the tying of the knot. The standing end is the part of the rope that stays stationary; the part that the leading end will tie around.

The second step is to put your leading end over the standing end, creating a loop at the end.

Now take the leading end, and put it underneath the standing end, creating an "8."

Remember that hole you made in step two? Well all step four is, is sticking the leading end through that hole.

Now all you have to do is pull the leading end and the standing end together to create the finalized basic figure eight.

Now is the part where we begin the follow through to make the bight (the loop). We begin by identifying the leading end, which we will be following through.

Take the leading end and put it next to the line coming out of the knot.

Now, put it under the line that forms a bridge above the line the leading end is next to.

Pull it through.

Continue bending the leading end around the standing line.

Bring the leading end under the 'bridge' formed by the line on top. Then, begin to bend the leading end for the next step.

Continue bending the leading end around the standing line

Bring through the last 'bridge'

Pull all ends.