The figure-of-nine loop is a type of
knot
A knot is an intentional complication in Rope, cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including List of hitch knots, hitches, List of bend knots, bends, List of loop knots, loop knots, ...
to form a fixed
loop in a
rope
A rope is a group of yarns, Plying, plies, fibres, or strands that are plying, twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have high tensile strength and can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger ...
. Tied
in the bight, it is made similarly to a
figure-of-eight loop but with an extra half-turn before finishing the knot.
Also similar to the
stevedore loop, the figure-nine loop is generally shown as being based on an intermediate form between the
figure-eight knot
The figure-eight knot or figure-of-eight knot is a type of stopper knot. It is very important in sailing, rock climbing and caving as a method of stopping ropes from running out of retaining devices. Like the overhand knot, which will jam under ...
and the
stevedore knot.
''
The Ashley Book of Knots
''The Ashley Book of Knots'' is an encyclopedia of knots written and illustrated by the American sailor and artist Clifford W. Ashley. First published in 1944, it was the culmination of over 11 years of work. The book contains 3,857 numbered ent ...
'' shows this intermediate knot, in
stopper form, as #521.
While it uses more rope and is bulkier than the figure-of-eight loop, the figure-nine loop is somewhat stronger and less likely to jam.
It is sometimes used instead of a figure-of-eight loop to attach a rope to an anchor point or
belay.
Tying
File:Neunerknoten-1.jpg
File:Neunerknoten-2.jpg
File:Neunerknoten-3.jpg
Figure-of-nine knot
The knot can also be tied with the end of a rope - a single strand replaces the double strand, and therefore a naked end replaces the loop. This knot can be rearranged to form a stopper knot, in the same manner as a
figure-of-eight stopper knot.
File:Figure9stage1.jpg
File:Figure9stage2.jpg
File:Figure9stage3.jpg
File:Figure9tightened.jpg
File:Figure9stopper.jpg
References
Climbing knots
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