So you want to string up a clothesline six feet long, but all you’ve got is four feet of rope and three feet of shoelace? No problem.

Step 1: Form bend

Fold one end of the thicker rope back on itself to form a bend (or “bight”) that looks like an “U” shaped, tipped on its left side.

Step 2: Slip thin rope through bight

Slip one end of the thinner rope through the bight from behind.

Step 3: Wrap thin rope around arms

Now wrap the end of the thinner rope around both arms of the bight, crossing over the short arm first (and staying below the trailing end of thin rope).

Step 4: Pass thin rope

Bringing the end of the thinner rope around to the front, pass it between itself and the short arm.

Step 5: Tighten knot

Tighten the knot by pulling both ends of the thinner rope.