3 Ways To Make A Monkey Fist - WikiHow

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• Knot Tying

How to Tie a Monkey Fist Knot Download Article Make a decorative monkey's fist knot with a weighted end with this easy knot-tying tutorial Co-authored by Lindsey Campbell

Last Updated: April 30, 2025 Approved

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• Tying a Standard Three Loop Monkey Fist
|
• Creating Monkey's Fist Keychain
|
• Creating a Five Strand Monkey Knot
|
• Video
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• Expert Q&A
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• Tips

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This article was co-authored by Lindsey Campbell. Lindsey Campbell is an artist and instructor behind Hello Hydrangea, a modern fiber company specializing in custom home decor and weaving supplies. She has taught over 2500 students how to weave craft through her online video classes. Lindsey's work has been featured in Design*Sponge, Huffington Post, and Vintage Revivals, and she has designed products for JoAnns Crafts, Anthropologie, and Nordstrom. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 11 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 407,636 times.

The monkey fist is a type of knot that can be used as a decorative knot or as a weight at the end of a rope. Getting the hang of successfully tying the monkey knot comes with practice and patience. Go slowly and stay patient.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Tying a Standard Three Loop Monkey Fist

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1. 1 Hold the rope correctly. Place the rope over the edge of your open left hand. The short tail should be over the front of your hand. The rest of the rope should be behind your hand.
   • The long portion of your rope is the working end. This is the portion you will use to create the knot.
2. 2 Wrap the rope vertically. Grab the long tail, or working end, and wrap it around your fingers three times. [1]
   • Start the first wrap on the area of your fingers closest to your palm. Each successive wrap should be closer to the tips of your fingers.
   • Try wrapping the paracord around your first three fingers, or even just your first two to make it easier.[2]
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3. 3 Slide the coiled rope off your hand. Be sure that you maintain the orientation. Keep this same hand positioned so the loops hold.
   • With your free hand remove the rope from the hand you wrapped it around, keeping the first set of turns in place.
   • Keep the first three turns intact by pinching the rope together with your forefinger and thumb.
   • You can also keep the rope on your hand if you wish and thread the next horizontal loops through your finger. [3]
4. 4 Wrap the rope horizontally. Grab the long tail and wrap it perpendicularly around the three vertical loops just created. Do this three times. Each subsequent horizontal strand should be above the last. When done, you should have three turns of rope looped vertically and cinched loosely by three horizontal wraps.
   • Do not pull tight, these wraps need to be loose.
   • Finish the horizontal turns by creating a loop, with the remainder of the rope, going through the three vertical strands. Here, you’re taking your final turn and passing through the middle, not the outside.[4]
5. 5 Make three more vertical turns. Again grab the long tail and wrap it around the three newest horizontal strands. Pass the rope through the opening. Go over the horizontal wraps but between your first three vertical loops. Continue with this motion three times.
   • Weave the rope through the top and out the bottom.
   • You should notice the monkey fist shape coming into place.
6. 6 Insert a marble. To add an extra weight to your monkey knot, add a small marble to its center. This is an optional step, but it is recommended for a sturdy monkey knot.
   • Any small spherical object will work. But a marble is easiest to work with.
7. 7 Tighten the Monkey’s fist. Spend a few minutes gently tugging each loop to tighten your knot. Start with the first loop you cast and end with the last.
   • You have to cinch the slack by tightening each loop in the order in which you created it. Start with the vertical loops, then the horizontal loops, then the last set of vertical loops.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Creating Monkey's Fist Keychain

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1. 1 Create the monkey fist. First you’ll need to construct a standard monkey's fist with three strands.
   • Leave enough slack on the tail to create the additional hangman's noose for the keyring.
   • Make sure you also have a keyring for your keychain.
2. 2 Create a hangman’s noose using the other side of the paracord opposite your monkey fist. Create an even "S" shape with the remainder of the slack.
   • Now wrap the monkey fist around the S-shaped portion of rope three times, Like you would when making a monkey's fist.
3. 3 Place the monkey fist through the loop’s opening, the hole in the noose. Take the loose strand and wrap it three times around, moving up towards the hole.
   • Super glue the wraps to keep a firm hold.
   • Cut off any excess rope.
4. 4 Weave a keychain into your paracord. Take a keyring and weave it around the hole you’ve created from the bottom of the monkey fist.
   • Once you’re done you can attach it to your keys or pass it on to a friend.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Creating a Five Strand Monkey Knot

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1. 1 Position the rope. Place the rope over the edge of your open left hand. The short tail should be over the front of your hand. The rest of the rope should be behind your hand.
   • Give yourself enough length of paracord with the short tail so that its doesn’t slip out of your monkey fist.
   • Pull the short end down far enough so the it goes just passed your bottom finger.
2. 2 Wrap the rope vertically five times. Grab the long tail and wrap it five times around your fingers.
   • Each successive wrap should be closer to the tips of your fingers.
   • On the final wrap you will loop around your finger before wrapping the paracord around the back of your fist, then drawing it around toward you.
3. 3 Slide the coiled rope off your hand. Be sure that you maintain the orientation. Keep this same hand positioned so the loops hold.
   • Alternatively, if you find it easier you can keep the paracord on your fingers. You’ll just have to loop the horizontal turns between your finger and palm.
4. 4 Wrap the rope horizontally five times. Grab the long tail and wrap it perpendicularly around the five loops just created. Do this five times.
   • Each subsequent horizontal strand should be above the last. When done, you should have five strands of rope looped vertically and cinched loosely by five horizontal wraps.
   • Finish this portion of the fist by wrapping the last loop around the vertical strand.
5. 5 Change directions to vertical. Again grab the long tail and tuck it above the five newest horizontal strands facing you, and follow through underneath. Continue with this motion five times. Weave through the top and out the bottom.
   • You want to wrap your paracord in between your first vertical loops but over and under your horizontal ones.
   • Finish this portion of the monkey's fist by wrapping the last loop around the original vertical strand.
   • Insert a large marble. To add an extra weight to your monkey's fist, add a large marble to its center. For the five strand monkey knots, you’ll need something in the core to add to the bulk of the fist.
6. 6 Snug up. Spend a few minutes gently tugging each loop to tighten your knot. Start with the first loop you cast and end with the last.
   • You have to slowly tighten each part of the paracord in succession.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question How do you use a monkey fist? Lindsey Campbell Weaving Instructor Lindsey Campbell is an artist and instructor behind Hello Hydrangea, a modern fiber company specializing in custom home decor and weaving supplies. She has taught over 2500 students how to weave craft through her online video classes. Lindsey's work has been featured in Design*Sponge, Huffington Post, and Vintage Revivals, and she has designed products for JoAnns Crafts, Anthropologie, and Nordstrom. Lindsey Campbell Weaving Instructor Expert Answer Display your Monkey's fist to show off your work! Monkey's fists are mostly decorative. You can use a thick rope to create a big knot and display it on a table or in a bowl, for instance. Since they have the loop at the top, you can also hang it straight on the wall. You can also create a long loop and turn the Monkey's fist into a necklace. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 1
• Question Can you do the monkey knot without a marble or a ball? Community Answer Yes, but will be small - which means it is easy to conceal and still packs a punch. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 15 Helpful 30
• Question What supplies do I need? Anjali Community Answer Paracord (you can use shoelaces, string or yarn as a substitute), a marble, and a keyring (optional). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 16 Helpful 34

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Tips

• Making yourself a jig is the better way to go when making a monkey fist. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1
• Tying off the strings with a simple snake knot or lanyard knot will add character as well as making it easier to finish your lanyard or key fob. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
• There are multi-colored monkey fists that follow the general weaving steps but there are also two techniques not mentioned as of yet. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 4

Show More Tips

**Double colors use a technique that requires a tube to weave around, as does the triple colored technique. I would suggest watching youtube channel Fusion Knots as well as Paracord Guild for all your paracord instructional how to instructions.

Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

1. ↑ http://www.animatedknots.com/monkeysfist/
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXdHcH3FRcM
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31zkBObg-3g
4. ↑ http://www.animatedknots.com/monkeysfist/

About This Article

Co-authored by: Lindsey Campbell Weaving Instructor This article was co-authored by Lindsey Campbell. Lindsey Campbell is an artist and instructor behind Hello Hydrangea, a modern fiber company specializing in custom home decor and weaving supplies. She has taught over 2500 students how to weave craft through her online video classes. Lindsey's work has been featured in Design*Sponge, Huffington Post, and Vintage Revivals, and she has designed products for JoAnns Crafts, Anthropologie, and Nordstrom. This article has been viewed 407,636 times. 1 votes - 100% Co-authors: 14 Updated: April 30, 2025 Views: 407,636 Categories: Knot Tying Article SummaryX

To make a standard three loop monkey fist, hold the rope in your open hand so that the short tail is in front of your hand. Loop the long end of the rope around your fingers 3 times, then carefully slide this loop off of your fingers. Wrap the long tail perpendicularly 3 times around the loops you just created, but do not pull these loops tight. Loop the remainder of the tail 3 times around the newest loops you made, but inside the 3 original loops. If you like, place a marble in the center of your knot, then gently tug each loop to tighten your knot. If you want to learn other monkey fist knots, such as a five strand monkey fist or a keychain, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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  "Just curious how it was done. I was raised on a Navy base and saw them and always wondered how they were made."

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Lindsey Campbell Weaving Instructor Co-authors: 14 Updated: April 30, 2025 Views: 407,636 100% of readers found this article helpful. 1 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote

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