Butterfly Knot

Start the knot the same way as a figure 8 knot, but do not complete the last step. (In other words, make the two twists in the rope, but do not pass the rope through the loop.) Then you should have two loops, an upper loop, and a lower loop made by the twists. Now drop the upper loop down the back under the lower loop. Pull it back up through the lower loop and it should look a little like a butterfly. Now pull the two ends tight with one hand and the loop with the other. Now you have a loop in the knot which can be used in climbing or pulling large objects with a tackle and the rope still has both the ends. The butterfly knot can be made anywhere in the rope and is extremely useful.

Thanks to Charles Kreisel of Troop 88 Carteret, New Jersey for informing us about this knot.
Thanks again for helping to make this site one of the best around!

Now take the rearmost loop from the back of the hand and place it at the front nearest the fingers, now take what is now the rearmost loop from the top of the hand to the front and while sliding the whole assembly of your finger you turn the loop back through the centre and you have a perfect Alpine butterfly.

I use it in Abseiling a lot because as a knot, it does not weaken the rope as much as many other knots do when tied.

I have also used it when the need to tow several vessels in line, excellent to tie of several boats as required on one tow rope.

Thanks to Michael Thoms - a scout

Go back to:
Forty Boy Scout Knots