What is the clove hitch knot used for?

A clove hitch is best used to attach a line (rope or cordage) to hand rail, stanchion, piling or to another piece of line.

It can be tied two ways, one is to take the line and form an "x" over a bar and bring the bitter end back through again or to form two half hitches in the hand and then slide them over an object such as a stanchion.

The clove hitch while one of the most useful and common "knot" known does have a tendency to slip in small types of cord. In wet line in can also become jammed. It is still a very useful knot.

Very commonly used by mariners to hang fenders, extra line and even tie off to a piling, it has a multitude of uses. Cowboys used a variation to tie their horse off to the "hitching" post.

Lastly the clove hitch should not be tied to square objects. Be sure you practice many times before using in a critical areas.