Page 146 - The Pocket Guide to Outdoor Knots

FIGURE OF EIGHT TWIN LOOPS

Purpose

Twin loop knots are generally portrayed as ad hoc chair slings for working—
ashore or afloat—while seated in one loop, with the other around one’s armpits

at chest height. Alternatively, they were designed to rescue an injured person by

raising or lowering them. If conscious, the patient might thrust a leg through
each loop and hold on above the knot. Either way, the support is very
uncomfortable.

Nowadays hazardous working practices are generally outlawed and the

authorities charged with monitoring health and safety are prepared to prosecute
any foreseeable risk-taking. Similarly, victims of any recklessness or

carelessness are all too willing to sue those responsible for their loss, injury or
damage. Consequently I do not recommend the regular use of these knots as

rescue or chair slings. There are harnesses, properly tested and certificated, for
such purposes. For all who would be prepared for that rare occasion when an

improvised rope sling may still be justified, however, this knot is one that would
serve.

Tying

Make a long bight and in the resulting doubled line tie a figure of eight knot with
a draw-loop (figures 1–2). Bring the single projecting loop down in front of the

incomplete knot, lifting the two other loops forward through it, and then replace
it upward behind the body of the knot (figure 3). Then carefully tighten

everything (figure 4).

Knot lore

This knot seems to have been first described and illustrated by Clifford Ashley in