Page 32 - Geoffrey Budworth, Jason Dalton "The Little Book of Incredibly Useful Knots"
P. 32
Sheet bend
This is a very old knot, used to join two lines of different thicknesses. It is quick to tie and is
commonly used when hauling a large rigging line with a smaller “tag” line. In practice this knot
can easily slip if the line diameters are very different, or if the material itself is very slippery
(such as polypropylene rope). In that case there are several other knots that may be used for this
purpose.
Begin the knot with the larger line, making a bight with the ends facing to the left (1). Insert the
working end of the smaller line up through the bight from the bottom. Pass the end around the
back of bight from left to right (2). Finally, lay the second working end above the bight, but
beneath the small line (3). The working ends of both the large and the small rope should always
emerge from the knot on the same side. Tighten by pulling on the bight and the standing end of
the small line (4).
