Page 86 - Des Pawson "Des Pawson's Knot Craft" 2 edit.

KNOTCRAFT 2009:Layout 1 23/10/09 12:17 Page 85

MONKEY’S FIS T/DOORS T O P
ball of lead and spun yarn for a ball of old corks and spunyarn.
Whatever the scale of your monkey’s fist, be it for earrings, key
rings, light pulls, Christmas tree decorations, fenders or
doorstops, you can be certain that if you use this monkey’s fist
deviation the loop will never pull out.

MATERIALS For the floating key ring: 1 table tennis ball
4m of 6mm rope will cover with 5 passes. I prefer to
use polypropylene, either as a hemp look alike or
in the coloured multifilament form, as
polypropylene is one of the few ropes that floats

For a door stop: Scrap lead made up into a ball
about 65–70mm in diameter, then covered with
scrap yarn to bring it up to 100–115mm in diameter
8m of 18mm rope, will cover with 4 passes. I like
the look of 3 strand rope for this sculptural project

KNOTS USED Monkey’s fist with a deviation: diagrams a, b and c

METHOD A
It is probably a good idea to
start with a key ring version
first. This gives you the chance
to understand how this monkey’s
fist deviates from the standard
one without having to struggle
with the problem of working
with heavy 18mm rope as well.
The start is as for the standard
monkey’s fist: first 5 passes Start as standard monkey’s fist
round your fingers, then 5 more
passes at right angles round the then complete (diagram c),
first set, then tuck the working trapping the ball inside. The
end diagonally through the whole knot can be worked tight
centre, out the other side, form in the usual manner. It is a little
a loop and tuck the final series tricky following the hidden
of passes from the other side. diagonal pass out to the loop
Put the ball in the middle after and back again, but with care it
just two of these last passes, can be done.

85