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How to Tie a Sheet Bend
The sheet bend joins two ropes of different diameters reliably — the correct knot to use when you need to extend a rope or join lines of different thicknesses. Stronger and more reliable than a square knot for this purpose.
How to Tie a Sheet Bend Step by Step
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Written Instructions — Sheet Bend
- Bight in thicker line Form a U-shaped bight in the end of the thicker or stiffer rope.
- Thread thinner line through bight Pass the thinner rope's working end through the bight from behind, upward through the center.
- Pass under both bight strands Bring the thin rope around behind the bight and under both strands of the thick bight.
- Tuck working end under itself Pass thin rope's working end under its own standing part. Both tails must exit on SAME side.
- Pull tight and verify Pull all four ends. Both tails exit same side = correct. Opposite sides = retie.
Tips for Tying a Sheet Bend
- The critical check: both tails must exit on the same side of the knot — opposite sides means a wrong-handed (slipping) bend.
- The thicker or stiffer rope always forms the bight — thinner rope wraps around it.
- A double sheet bend (two wraps around the bight instead of one) is significantly stronger for very different diameter ropes.
- This is the correct answer to 'how do I join two ropes of different sizes' — use this, not a square knot.
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