The Monkey’s Fist has always been the standard heaving line knot of sea-going vessels. A heaving line is used for throwing a light section of rope from one place to another so it can be used to retrieve much heavier ropes.

Holdfast With A Monkey’s Fist

When used as a heaving line, the knot is commonly tied over a small heavy stone or piece of lead. The heavy core is necessary to carry the weight of the heaving line when it is thrown from the ship to the wharf. However, the Monkey’s Fist may also be tied over a cork float or worked into a compact ball without a core, thus making it an excellent choice for a single-cord lanyard knot. When something falls overboard, a sailor has almost no chance of retrieving it, so knotted lanyards are attached to virtually everything.

Patience, practice and the following illustrated steps can help you solve the mystery of the “Monkey’s Fist”. Your imagination and creativity will help you find new ways to use this traditional example of “fancy knotting”.

 

•Approximately 48 inches of small diameter (1/8 to 3/16 inch) cotton, nylon or leather cord or lacing.

•Knife

•Optional key rings and /or small bobbers (for floating core).  

Suggested Materials:

Instructions:

• Step 1: Lay one end of the cord over your hand with approximately 4 to 6 inches hanging below the fingers (fig. 1). Take three turns around your fingers with the longer section of cord (fig. 2).

Figure 1 Figure 2

Step 2: Add three more turns at right angles to the first three turns (figs. 3,4, & 5).

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Step 3: Continue the final three turns by winding the cord outside the second three turns and inside the first three turns (figs. 6, 7, 8 & 9).

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Step 4: If you plan to use a center core such as a marble or float, insert it in the center and work the knot tight around it (fig. 10, 11, & 12).

• If you’d rather not have a core, patiently work the turns of the knot until all the slack is taken out (fig.13A&B).

Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12

Figure 13A Figure 13B

Congratulations, you have tied a three-ply Monkey’s Fist! If you would like to tie a four, five or six-ply Monkey’s Fist, simply follow the previous instructions and increase the turns accordingly. The traditional method of finishing a monkey’s fist calls for splicing or seizing the ends together. But you can tie the ends together with a simple square knot.