Binding knots can be tied in two different ways. One is to circle the object one or more times with a single piece of cord, and then tie the ends together. A Reef Knot or Butcher's Knot would be done this way. The other option is to circle the object two or more times, and then tuck and trap the ends under these turns. The Constrictor Knot binds this way, as does the Turk's Head (shown in Chapter 10).

When learning binding knots, it is as important to practice using them as it is to practice making them. Lashings and package tying can also be thought of as a form of binding; they are covered in the next chapter.