The sheet bend (also known as becket bend, weaver's knot and weaver's hitch) is a bend. It is practical for joining lines of different diameter or rigidity. It is quick and easy to tie, and is considered so essential it is the first knot given in the '' Ashley Book of Knots''. Additionally, it is one of the six knots given in the

International Guild of Knot Tyers The International Guild of Knot Tyers (or IGKT) is a worldwide association for people with an interest in knots and knot tying. Formation and beginning Officially established in 1982, the founding members were initially drawn together by the ...

' Six Knot Challenge, along with the

clove hitch The clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most important knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot ...

bowline The bowline ( or ) is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie; most notably, it is easy to untie after being subjected to a load. The bowline is sometimes ...

, reef knot (square knot), round turn and two half-hitches, and

sheepshank A shank is a type of knot that is used to shorten a rope or take up slack, such as the sheepshank. The sheepshank knot is not stable. It will fall apart under too much load or too little load. The knot has several features which allow a rope to b ...

. The sheet bend is related in structure to the bowline; like the bowline, it has a tendency to work loose when not under load. For increased security, it is sometimes recommended that one add another turn in the smaller end, making a double sheet bend; in most cases, however, a single sheet bend should suffice. As a bend, its advantages lie in its simplicity and non-jamming properties. It is commonly taught in

Scouting Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpack ...

Definition

The term "sheet bend" derives from its use bending ropes to sails (sheets). It is mentioned in David Steel's 1794 book ''Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship'' but was used by Neolithic peoples for tying the meshes of fishing nets. The name "weaver's knot" comes from its historic use in textile mills. Even in modern operations, weavers are taught to use this particular knot when correcting broken threads in the warp.

Method

The sheet bend may be tied by various methods: the basic "rabbit through the hole" method of forming a

half hitch The half hitch is a simple overhand knot, where the working end of a line is brought over and under the standing part. Insecure on its own, it is a valuable component of a wide variety of useful and reliable hitches, bends, and knots. Two ...

in the bight of the larger rope, by a more expedient method shown in Ashley as ABoK #1431 (similar to the method used by an experienced sailor or mountaineer to tie a bowline) or by a trick method (ABoK#2562), involving upsetting a noose knot over a short end of the "larger" rope. Lines of equal size may be joined with a sheet bend, but when one is larger, it plays the simpler role of the "eye" (red line shown in the infobox), rather than the half-hitch (in green) One type of weaver's knot is

topologically In mathematics, topology (from the Greek words , and ) is concerned with the properties of a geometric object that are preserved under continuous deformations, such as stretching, twisting, crumpling, and bending; that is, without closing ...

equivalent to a sheet bend, but is tied (usually in smaller stuff) with a different approach. Sheet bends are also used for netting. Notice that, to have any strength, the two free ends should end up on the same side of the knot (see below). Under even moderate load, a left-hand sheet bend will quickly slip and release completely. Image:Schotstek rechts.jpg, Secure Image:Schotstek links.jpg, Insecure (left-hand sheet bendClifford W. Ashley, ''The Ashley Book of Knots'' (New York: Doubleday, 1944), #67 and #1432)

Double sheet bend

When lines are of unequal diameter or rigidity it is necessary for security to "double" the sheet bend by making an additional round turn below the first and again bringing the working end back under itself. The free ends should end up on the same side of the knot for maximum strength. Image:Double sheet bend 2 rotated 180.jpg, The double sheet bend

Security

A study of 8 different bends using climbing rope of equal diameter said the sheet bend was weak. In one test, it pulled apart with less than half the tension that other knots withstood. The authors recommend "2 half hitches on the bend back line and overhand knot on turn thru line." Even with these, it was always a bottom performer and the double sheet bend did little better. However, the

butterfly bend The butterfly bend is a knot used to join the ends of two ropes together. It is the analogous bend form of the butterfly loop, in that it is the butterfly loop with the loop cut. The observation that the butterfly loop is secure enough to isola ...

did the best. After performing security testing, Ashley wrote with regard to the Sheet Bend: "Some readers may be surprised to find the Sheet Bend with so low a rating, but these tests were made in exceptionally slippery material. The Sheet Bend is the most practical of bends and quite secure enough for ordinary purposes."

References

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Definition

Method

Double sheet bend

Security

See also

References