With the help of hitches one attaches the line around some object, eg. to a spar.
This is the mother of all hitches. I don't recommend it at all, but it is an important starting point to many other hitches. The first two diagrams show, how to tie it. It may be also slipped, as in the 3rd diagram, for a quick release. It also quickly tied on the bight, as pictured in the last two diagrams. The only use I would use this is using as a crossing knot (eg. from spar to spar when making a fence). Though, in the marina, I've seen it used to attach rope coils to the handrails of a boat. Apparently it was considered safe enough as a temporary hitch. I wouldn't.
This is an excellent hitch. It is quickly tied, draws up well and is reliable. It was my favourite hitch for a long time. The last tuck may be also slipped for quicker untieing.
I don't know wether this hitch has it's own name. It is the same formation as the Bag knot. This resists continuous jerks better than the normal Ground line hitch, the reason I nowadays use this hitch for almost every purpose (slipped).
Another use for the versatile Bowline.
This is a convenient way to secure a boat to a post. The pile hitch is a thrustworthy hitch, which is suprising, considering its simplicity.
A quick and reliable hitch. It will hold as long as a pull is applied, after which it is quickly disassembled. I personaly don't like it because I consider it ugly, but its simplicity is intriguing.
Two half hitches is probably is the hitch, that a layman ties, due to the fact, that the Granny knot capsises into Two half hitches when force is applied. It is secure and quicly tied, but hard to untie after use. In the third diagram the Round turn and two half hitches is pictured. This is easier to untie and also reduces the wear on the rope.
An excellent hitch for eg. tree climbing. It draws up smoothly and is spilled with a single jerk. It tightens up against the object around which it is tied.
When the knot has to be away from the object around which the hitch is tied (unlike the previous hitch), this is your choice. While this is a good all around slip-hitch, do not use this for heavy duty work.
An improvement over the simple Clove hitch. Tied just as the Clove hitch, the second turn being doubled. Due to this, it doesn't slip along the spar when pulled lengthwise (2nd picture).