The clove hitch is an ancient type of knot, made of two successive single hitches tied around an object. It is most effectively used to secure a middle section of rope to an object it crosses over, When tied around a carabiner, the load should pull on the end closest to its spine. With smaller diameter cords, after being heavily weighted it may become difficult to untie. It is also unreliable when used on a square or rectangular post, rather than round.

The clove hitch is also commonly used in pioneering to start and finish a lashing such as the traditional square lashing, tripod lashing, round lashing and shear lashing.

Tying

The clove hitch is tied by first passing the running end of the rope around the spar and back over itself to form an X. The running end then passes around the spar again, under the intersection of the last two turns, and both ends are pulled tight. There are several methods of tying it using both hands or one hand.

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File:Elden sarkan ipe tek elle tam kazık bağı 1.jpg | 1. The rope hooked by the thumb is let to hang loosely either side.

File:Elden sarkan ipe tek elle tam kazık bağı 2.jpg | 2. The inner rope is pulled back and out using the ring finger.

File:Elden sarkan ipe tek elle tam kazık bağı 3.jpg | 3. The outer rope is pulled in and back using the middle finger.

File:Elden sarkan ipe tek elle tam kazık bağı 4.jpg | 4. The ring and the little finger join the middle finger.

File:Elden sarkan ipe tek elle tam kazık bağı 5.jpg | 5. The hand is rotated around the front rope, the index finger gets under then points up.

File:Elden sarkan ipe tek elle tam kazık bağı 6.jpg | 6. The index finger and the thumb are joined to gather the final knot.

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alt=Clove Family of Constrictor, Bag, Groundline, Strangle. Knot vs. Hitch. Purchase as rope taken from system and then can you hold it fast (old sailor terms)|thumb|Clove Family of [[Constrictor knot|ConstrictorABOK#1176, Miller's/BagABOK#1242, GroundlineABOK#1243, StrangleABOK#1239]]

When a turn around an object is made and a clove hitch is tied to the rope's own standing part, it produces either a buntline hitch or two half-hitches, depending on whether the turns of the clove hitch progress toward or away from the hitched object. Two-half hitches is also the capsized form of a granny knot.