Place the horizontal pole in front of the vertical one. They touch at a right angle.
Camping · 8 steps
Bind two touching poles at a right angle with wraps and frapping turns.
A square lashing binds two poles that meet at a right angle. The main wraps alternate around the crossed poles, creating a band at the joint. Frapping turns then pass between the poles and around that band to tighten it.
Keep the jobs of the two types of turn separate: wraps hold the poles together, while fraps draw those wraps inward. Starting and finishing clove hitches secure the rope ends. Neat, snug turns are more useful than a loose pile of extra wraps.
When to use it
Build simple camp structures from poles.
Keep in mind
Use for poles that meet at a right angle; keep wraps snug before frapping.
Check your knot
The poles touch at a right angle.
The main wraps remain beside one another.
The fraps surround the wrapping band between the poles.
How to tie Square Lashing
Position the poles
Place the horizontal pole in front of the vertical one. They touch at a right angle.
Tie the starting hitch
Tie a clove hitch below the crossing. Twist the short tail around the working part.
Make the first wrap
Pass in front of the horizontal pole and behind the vertical pole, around all four sides.
Make the second wrap
On the horizontal pole, lay the next turn farther out. Behind the vertical pole, lay it closer to the crossing.
Make the third wrap
Add a third turn beside the others. Keep the main wraps parallel.
Add two frapping turns
Pass between the poles and around the main wraps twice to draw them together.
Tie the finishing hitch
Finish with a clove hitch on the horizontal pole. Tuck the end under the diagonal strand.
Check the lashing
Three main wraps bind the poles. Two frapping turns surround the wraps; clove hitches secure both ends.
