Skill No. 2: Knots

Everyday Bushcraft Skill No. 2: Knots – Mastering the Mess and the Method

Knots are one of the most underrated skills in bushcraft. Out in the bush, they hold your shelter together, secure your gear, and can literally be the difference between safety and disaster. But here’s the thing: knots aren’t just useful when you’re camping or hiking. They’re a powerful metaphor for how we live, grow, and handle the tangled chaos life sometimes throws our way.

Knots as a Skill

Let’s start with the basics. Knowing how to tie the right knot for the right job is a skill every bushcrafter should have in their kit. A square knot for joining, a bowline for strength, a taut-line hitch for adjustability. Each one has a purpose, a method, a reason.

No one learns knots by chance. You learn them step by step—under, over, around, through. You don’t rush it. You follow the process. And with practice, it becomes second nature.

Life works the same way.

Big, complicated challenges—starting a business, rebuilding after failure, healing from loss—can feel overwhelming. But if you break them down into manageable steps, and take them one loop at a time, you can make progress. Just like tying a knot, it’s all about the process.

Knots as a Metaphor for Mess

We’ve all had moments when life feels like a tangled mess. Emotions all over the place. Plans falling apart. Relationships strained. It’s like someone took a perfectly coiled rope and tied it in a dozen random knots while we weren’t looking.

The instinct is to pull harder. Force it. Fix it quickly. But what happens when you yank on a tangled rope? The knots just get tighter.

In bushcraft, when you come across a rope full of knots, you stop. You breathe. You look at it closely and start working gently—one loop, one twist, one tangle at a time. You learn to be patient. You learn that frustration doesn’t help. That slow progress is still progress.

And life’s the same. When things are messy, patience and presence matter more than panic and pressure. You take a breath. You find the starting point. And you begin to untangle.

Tying Life Together

The truth is, knots are everywhere. They represent connection. Structure. Strength. Mess. Challenge. Progress. Learning to tie them—and untie them—is a lesson in both skill and mindset.

So whether you’re setting up a tarp or sorting through a tough chapter in life, remember:

• Focus on the process, not just the result.

• Go step by step.

• Be patient with the tangles.

• Don’t give up.

Because just like in bushcraft, with the right mindset, even the most complicated knots can be handled.

Knots are more than rope and loops—they’re lessons in resilience.

Stick with us as we continue exploring the Everyday Bushcraft Five. There’s wisdom in the wild if you know where to look