The taut-line hitch is an adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension. It is useful when the length of a line will need to be periodically adjusted in order to maintain tension. It is made by tying a rolling hitch around the standing part after passing around an anchor object. Tension is maintained by sliding the hitch to adjust the size of the loop, thus changing the effective length of the standing part without retying the knot.
Taut-line hitch
Top, left to right: ABOK "Rolling hitch(1)"(#1734), "rolling hitch(2)"(#1735), "Magnus Hitch"(#1736). Bottom, the corresponding adjustable loop made using the hitch above it, left to right: "adjustable hitch"(#1800, #1856), "midshipman's hitch"(#1855), "adjustable hitch" with the concluding hitch reversed.(#1857)
Image: Tautline Hitch ABOK 1799
Image: Tautline Hitch ABOK 1800
The rolling hitch is a knot used to attach a rope to a rod, pole, or another rope. A simple friction hitch, it is used for lengthwise pull along an object rather than at right angles. The rolling hitch is designed to resist lengthwise movement for only a single direction of pull.
Rolling hitch
Names and reference numbers from ABOK, left to right: "Rolling Hitch (1)" (#1734), "Rolling Hitch (2)" (#1735), "Magnus Hitch" (#1736)
Image: Rolling Hitch ABOK 1734
Image: Rolling Hitch ABOK 1735
