The knots are worn in rows of three and centered above the left pocket of the uniform.  The bottom edge of the knots should touch the top edge of the pocket flap.  Subsequent rows of knots are centered above the initial set of three.

The order of the knots is at the discretion of the wearer.  However, there are two theories of knot sequence in common practice:

• The knot that the wearer views being the most important is placed on the wearer's right side of the first row (lower left when viewed by others) because that position is closest to the heart.
• The knot are worn in the order received, which would have any knots earned as a youth in the first row.

Often a combination of these two methods is used, with the most important knot (eg. Eagle knot) being first, and the other knots being in the sequence earned.  Again, the order is completely at the discretion of the wearer.

You may wear as many different knots as you would like, although, at various times, scouting committees have recommended limits of 9, 12 or 15.  However, you may only wear one of each knot.  If you have earned the same knot more than once - for example, the Scouter's Key, you would wear a single knot with two devices to denote multiple awards.  The devices are small pins that are attached to the knot.

A detailed description of proper knot placement can be found at http://usscouts.org/usscouts/awards/knots2.asp

Which side of the knot goes where?
Each knot has a left side and a right side, but it is often difficult to know which is which.  From the BSA's Insignia Guide, page 44:
       "The loop of the embroidered square knot that comes in FRONT of the standing
        part (the part to the left as you are looking at it) is ALWAYS to the wearer's right."
In other words, the loop tells you which side is on the left or right.  The loop of the square knot that is in front is always found on the LEFT side (as you are looking at it), and the loop that is partly covered is always found on the RIGHT side (as you are looking at it).

A detailed explanation for telling which side of the knot to put on the left can be found at http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/knotside.htm

[Credit:  parts of this text copied from other BSA websites]

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