Tie Out Knot

I always used to use a bowline knot for a loop at my tieouts. They’re also easy to untie even after loading which can be nice. Now I’m using spliced eyes, a lot more work but they look fancy and no knots to get caught on other gear meaning less tangles.

Bowline Knot

3′ and 6′ seem like a good length, but somewhat depends on the size and configuration of the tarp.

Bowline

The bowline is great, another choice that is super-simple is to fold the line in a loop and then tie the doubled line in a simple overhand knot, or overhand loop.

As JR says, the overhand loop is the simplest and strongest loop in the end of a rope you can create, so I would learn and use that. The bowline only for loops you will want to untie regularly.

A bowline is the knot of choice. An over hand knot forming a loop and then a lark's head hitch will allow you to remove/replace the lines easily if you like. I would do the bowline by reflex.

But attach it to your tarp with a larkshead, unless you are looking for a fixed length line to run to a statke.

I prusik a loop onto my guyline then prusik the loop onto my tie out. I then can slide my guyline to the length that I want. I also have a fixed eye loop at the end of my guyline. I got the idea from opie at hammock forums. Here's a clip showing it in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QcS0RFz-sE

-Loki

This may help you.

I second Loki's way of doing it. If you set up all guylines with a bowline at one end and a movable prussic loop somewhere near the other end you can just girth hitch one end to the tarp and you're done. No knot tying in the field necessary. (I don't really consider the girth hitch tying a knot since it's so simpe!)

(EDIT: Hey, I just learned that a lark's head knot is the same as a girth hitch knot!)