The alpine butterfly knot is commonly used in sailing to form a strong, fixed loop in the middle of a line. It’s ideal for tasks such as securing a halyard to a shackle, creating a tow-line attachment point, or making a mid-line loop for connecting to a mooring. This knot is especially valuable because it holds steady under tension from multiple directions and can still be untied easily after bearing a heavy load.
Step By Step:
- Tuck one end of the line under your thumb
- Wrap the rope around your hand twice.
- Pick up the line held under your thumb and bring it towards your fingertips
- Move the line at the base of your fingers across both wraps
- Pull the line you just moved under the two wraps
- Pull through and tighten