Put a bight (this is when the rope is pinched to make a circular shape) in the rope with the short side of the rope (the tag end) to the right. Think of this circular shape as a "bad guy's" head.

Use the short side (or tag end) of the rope to go around the bight clockwise. Think of this as strangling the "bad guy."

Poke the short side (tag end) of the rope through the hole and away from you. Think of this is poking the "bad guy's" eye out.

Pull the short side (tag end) of the rope through, and you have tied a figure eight knot.

Put a bight in the rope with the short side (tag end) of the rope oriented downward.

Using your right hand, twist the circular shape of the rope up and away from you (clockwise if you're looking from the right side of your hands toward the left).

Twist again in the same direction.

Reach through the hole to grab the short side (tag end) of the rope from behind.

Pull through, and you have tied a figure eight knot.

Make a loop (this is when the rope is CROSSED to make a circular shape) in the rope with the short side (tag end) of the rope over the long side (load strand).

Curl the remainder of the short side (tag end) of the rope under the long side (load strand) of the rope so it looks like the number 8.

Poke the short side (tag end) of the rope away from you through the bottom hole.

Pull the short side (tag end) of the rope. You have tied a figure right knot.

How to tie a figure 8 knot 3 ways

It's always best to know more than one way of doing things. As a climber, it's easy to get used to tying a figure eight knot one way, but you may not always be standing below the rope you're tying. From different positions, different methods may be more efficient for tying this and other knots.