Stopper Knots

Knots and Rope Work

Course 1 · Chapter 3 · Stopper Knots: Overhand, Figure-Eight and Their Jobs

A stopper knot is a bulge tied in the end of a rope. It keeps the end from slipping through a hole, a pulley or your own grip, and it stops the rope unravelling a little. Stoppers are the simplest knots there are, which makes them the best place to start tying.

What Stoppers Are For

Stopping a line running out through a block, a ring or a hole.
Marking the end of a rope so you can feel it in the dark or with gloves on.
Preventing a fray for a while when you cannot whip the end.
Giving a grip or a handhold, for example on a pull cord.
Backing up another knot by tying a stopper in the tail so it cannot work free.

The Overhand Knot

The overhand is the simplest knot: one crossing, one tuck. It is quick, but it jams tight when loaded and can be hard to untie afterwards.

Make a loop by crossing the end over the standing part.
Pass the end under and up through the loop.
Pull both ends to snug it down.

# overhand knot, in words
1. cross the end over the standing part   (makes a loop)
2. tuck the end through the loop
3. pull tight

# result: a small, tight knot that can jam

Why it jams The overhand squeezes itself as the load grows, and the rope bends sharply inside it. That is useful for a quick temporary stopper and a nuisance when you want to untie it. (General observation, not checked against a source.)

The Figure-Eight Knot

The figure-eight is the standard stopper. It is the overhand with one extra turn, which makes a bigger, more rounded bulge that holds well and is much easier to untie after a heavy load.

Make a loop by crossing the end over the standing part.
Take the end around behind the standing part.
Bring the end back over the front and down through the loop.
Pull snug. The knot should look like a figure eight on one side.

# figure-eight knot, in words
1. cross the end over the standing part   (makes a loop)
2. take the end round behind the standing part
3. bring it forward and down through the loop
4. pull tight

# result: a larger stopper, easier to untie than the overhand

Feature	Overhand	Figure-eight
Turns in the knot	One crossing	One crossing plus a half turn more
Size of bulge	Small	Larger
Untying after load	Often hard	Usually easier
Best use	Quick, temporary	Standard stopper, backing up other knots

Choosing and Using a Stopper

Size the stopper to the hole. The knot must be clearly bigger than the gap it is meant to block. A thin rope may need a double or stacked stopper.
Leave a tail. Do not tie right at the very end; leave a few finger-widths so the knot cannot slip off as it tightens.
Dress the knot. Make sure the strands lie neatly side by side, then pull snug before use.
Check it again. Stoppers can work loose in slippery synthetic rope if they are not pulled firmly.

A stopper is not a safety device A stopper knot can stop a line running out of a pulley, but do not rely on one alone where a person's weight or a fall is involved. Safety work needs the methods and equipment covered in Chapter 9. (Guidance for safety-critical use differs by activity: check.)

Not Yet Verified, and Sources

Source. Written from general knowledge of common knot practice; no specific source was read, and nothing is quoted from a text.
Marked (check). Claims about jamming and ease of untying, and any guidance for safety-critical use.
Descriptions. The steps are written in words; follow them with a real piece of rope and adjust to what you see in your hands.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Tie an overhand knot in a piece of cord, pull it tight, then try to untie it. Do the same with a figure-eight. Write down which was easier to untie and which bulge was bigger.

→ Solution

Exercise 2

Thread a cord through a hole or ring about the size of a coin. Choose and tie a stopper that will not pull through, and test it. Explain what you would change if the hole were twice as wide.

→ Solution

Exercise 3

List three everyday places where a stopper knot is used (for example a zip pull or a blind cord). For each, say which stopper you would choose and why.

→ Solution

Quick Reference

Stopper: a bulge in the end of a rope that stops it passing through
Overhand: one crossing and a tuck, quick, can jam
Figure-eight: overhand plus a turn, bigger and easier to untie
Leave a tail and pull the knot snug
Not a safety device on its own

Coming next Chapter 4 moves on to loops: the bowline, the figure-eight loop and the alpine butterfly.