Bends

Knots and Rope Work

Course 1 · Chapter 5 · Bends: Reef Knot, Sheet Bend and Double Fisherman's

A bend joins two ropes together. Chapter 1 drew the line between a bend and other knots; here are three bends worth knowing. Each suits a different job, and each has a known weakness. Choosing the right bend matters more than tying any one of them quickly.

What Makes a Good Bend

  • It holds both ropes. Neither rope should pull out of the knot under load.
  • It suits the ropes. Ropes of different thickness, stiffness or material behave differently in the same bend.
  • It unties afterwards. A bend that jams solid is a problem when you need the rope back.
  • It is easy to check. A symmetrical, tidy knot is easier to trust than a tangled one.

The Reef Knot

The reef (square) knot is two overhand knots tied one on top of the other, the second in the opposite direction. It is flat and quick, and is good for tying a bundle, a bandage or a parcel. It is not a safe bend for joining two ropes under load: it can capsize and slip if the ropes differ or the load is uneven. (Its history and failure modes: check.)

  1. Take one end in each hand. Cross the right end over the left and tuck it under, as for the first half of a shoelace knot.
  2. Now cross the left end (which is now on the right) over the other end.
  3. Tuck it under, so each end emerges on the same side as its own standing part.
  4. Pull snug. The knot should lie flat and symmetrical.
# reef knot, in words ("right over left, left over right") 1. right end over left, and tuck under (first half) 2. left end over right, and tuck under (second half) 3. check both ends sit beside their own rope 4. pull snug # if the ends cross the wrong way you have tied a granny knot
Granny knots and weak joins Tying the same direction twice gives a granny knot, which slips and jams. Even a correct reef knot should not join ropes that matter, such as anything carrying a person or a heavy load. Use a sheet bend or double fisherman's instead.

The Sheet Bend

The sheet bend joins two ropes, and is especially good when they are different thicknesses or one is stiffer than the other. The thicker or stiffer rope forms the bight, and the thinner one is woven through it. It is easy to tie and untie, and the "double sheet bend" (an extra turn) is more secure for very unequal ropes. (Exact security compared with other bends: check.)

  1. Make a bight (a U-shaped loop) in the end of the thicker rope.
  2. Pass the end of the thinner rope up through the bight.
  3. Take it round behind both strands of the bight.
  4. Tuck it under itself, on the side where it came up.
  5. Pull both standing parts to tighten, keeping both short ends on the same side.
# sheet bend, in words 1. make a bight in the thicker rope 2. pass the thinner rope up through the bight 3. take it round behind both strands of the bight 4. tuck it under its own standing part 5. pull the two standing parts to tighten # tip: both short ends should lie on the same side of the knot

The Double Fisherman's

The double fisherman's bend is made of two double overhand knots, each tied round the other rope, which then slide together. It grips tightly and is trusted for joining two ropes of similar thickness, including in climbing. It is bulky and can jam hard after heavy load. (Climbing practice: check.)

  1. Lay the two rope ends side by side, pointing in opposite directions.
  2. Tie a double overhand with one end, wrapped twice around the other rope.
  3. Do the same with the other end, wrapping round the first rope.
  4. Pull each standing part so the two knots slide together and meet.
# double fisherman's, in words 1. lay the ends side by side, pointing opposite ways 2. tie a double overhand with end A round rope B 3. tie a double overhand with end B round rope A 4. pull the standing parts; the two knots slide together # result: a compact, strong join; may jam after heavy load
BendBest forStrengthWeakness
Reef knotBundles, bandages, parcelsFlat, quickUnsafe as a load-bearing join
Sheet bendRopes of different thicknessEasy to tie and untieCan loosen if slack or shaken
Double fisherman'sRopes of similar thicknessGrips tightlyBulky, can jam hard
Leave long tails Whatever bend you choose, leave generous tails past the knot and back it up with a stopper where it matters. Bends can creep if the ropes are slippery or the load comes and goes.

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). The reef knot's history and failure modes, the sheet bend's relative security, and climbing practice for the double fisherman's.
  • Descriptions. The steps are in words. Follow them with real rope and adjust to what you see.

Exercises

Exercise 1

Tie a reef knot in a length of cord, then deliberately tie a granny knot. Compare how they look, then pull each hard and try to untie them. Write down the differences.

→ Solution
Exercise 2

Join a thick cord to a thin cord with a sheet bend. Then try the same join with a reef knot and pull both gently. Which holds better, and why?

→ Solution
Exercise 3

Tie a double fisherman's between two cords of similar thickness. Pull hard, then try to untie it. Describe how it behaves, and name a job where a bend that grips this tightly is useful.

→ Solution

Quick Reference

  • Bend: a knot that joins two ropes
  • Reef knot: flat and quick; for bundles, not for load-bearing joins
  • Sheet bend: best for ropes of different thickness
  • Double fisherman's: strong join for similar ropes; may jam
  • Always leave tails and check the knot before trusting it
Coming next Chapter 6 moves on to hitches: tying a rope to a post, ring or another object with the clove hitch, the round turn and two half hitches, and the taut-line hitch.