sheet bend

Sheet bend
Names	Sheet bend, becket bend, weaver's knot, weaver's hitch
Category	Bend
Related	Bowline
Typical use	joining two ropes of different diameters
ABoK	(simple) #1, #1431; (double) #488, #1434; (weaver's) #2, #485;

The Sheet bend (also known as becket bend, weaver's knot and weaver's hitch) is a bend that joins two ropes together. Doubled, it is effective in binding lines of different diameter or rigidity securely together.

The sheet bend is related in structure to the bowline. It is very fast to tie, and along with the bowline and clove hitch is considered so essential it is knot №1 in the Ashley Book of Knots.^[1] It is a more secure replacement for the reef knot (square knot), especially in its doubled variety.^[2]

Method

Steps in tying a weaver's knot

The sheet bend may be tied by various methods: the basic "rabbit through the hole" method of forming a half hitch in the bight of the larger rope, by a more expedient method shown in Ashley as №1431 (similar to the method used by an experienced sailor or mountaineer to tie a bowline) or by a trick method, Ashley №2562, involving upsetting a slip knot over a short end of the "larger" rope. (Lines of equal size may be joined with a sheet bend, of course, but when one is larger, it plays the simpler rôle of the red line shown in the infobox, rather than forming the nipped hitch as the green line does.) For maximum strength it is desirable to have the free ends on the same side of the knot.

One type of weaver's knot is topologically equivalent to a sheet bend, but is tied (usually in smaller stuff) with a different approach shown at right.

Secure

Insecure

Double sheet bend

The double sheet bend

When lines are of unequal diameter or rigidity it is necessary for security to "double" the sheet bend by making an additional round turn below the first before bringing the working end back under itself.^[3] The free ends should end up on the same side of the knot for maximum strength.

Sheet bend in netting

Sheet bends are also used for netting.

A fish net made from sheet bends

References

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sheet bends

• List of bend knots
• List of knots

External links

• Animated Knots by Grog: Sheet bend
• Sheet bend & Double sheet bend