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KNOTCRAFT 2009:Layout 1 23/10/09 12:17 Page 82

Monkey’s Fist/Light Pull

MONGST SAILORS THE monkey’s fist is known the world over.
AIt is the knot found on the end of a heaving line. The weight
of this handsome knot helps the heaving line to travel further
and more accurately. The monkey’s fist has a special significance
to the sailor, as his first connection with the land and his help-
ing friend when needing assistance.
It is often confused with the Turk’s head but, unlike the
Turk’s head, it is always spherical in shape and its method of
construction is totally different, the full number of passes being
defined as it is made. It cannot be enlarged after it has been tied.
It helps to have something round in the centre to give it shape.
This can be a wooden ball or a knot tied in the end of the line
and built up with a little yarn to make a ball. In the past it was
often a pebble or a bolt or lump of lead, although a dock worker
takinga heaving line with what he considered to be a
dangerously heavy monkeys fist would cut it off. Today putting
a weight in a heaving line is considered to contravene all the
safety at work rules.
A good use of the monkey’s fist in the home is to make a light
pull or blind pull.

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