"Bends" are the group of knots that join/tie two ropes together. The Reef Knot and Sheet Bend are both "Bends". The Sheet Bend is sometimes referred to as a Becket Bend, Weaver’s Knot or Weaver’s Hitch because it was used for joining two threads. Boaters call it a "Sheet Bend" because of its nautical history.
History
On sailboats, the rope used to pull in the sail is called a "sheet". The rope for the main sail is the "main sheet" and the rope for the jib is the "jib sheet", etc.
On the ancient square riggers, the upper or top sails had only short pieces of rope attached to the lower outside corners of the sails. This eliminated a lot of clutter when a particular top sail was not in use. You can imagine masts with several furled sails and all their unused sheets for each hanging down to the deck--flailing in the wind.
Their solution to the clutter was these short pieces of rope on the lower corners of each top sail. To these, they attached a long rope (sheet), when the sail was going to be used. This long sheet was attached to the short corner rope with a "Sheet Bend". This knot was easy to tie, didn’t bind and was always easy to untie after a heavy load had been applied.
Likely, during a long boring ocean crossing some smart seaman figured out how to improve the "Reef Knot". He did it by pulling out the last "through", then laying it over both strands of the loop and under the first "over". Try it yourself after you’ve learned the Sheet Bend. Pull apart a "Reef" and rebuilt it this way to see how I think the "Sheet Bend" was invented.
Overall, the “Sheet Bend” is a far superior joining knot, than the over-rated "Reef Knot"; so I use it more often and recommend it highly.
Main Use
To join two ropes together of different sizes (or the same) even different materials, where a heavy load is to be applied and you want to be able to untie the knot afterwards. It is very fast to tie and is a more secure replacement for the Reef Knot.
How to Tie a Sheet Bend
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In the pictures, one rope is coloured black for clarity purposes.
Hold the two ropes to be joined--one in each hand.
Start by folding the heavier rope to form a loop, in your left hand.
Take the lighter or poly rope in your right hand and push about 8” to 10” up through the loop from below.
Pass it over and away from you, let it fall down the far side of the loop and pass it across below the loop.
Bring it up the near side of the loop and take it across the top of the loop and also under the lighter rope that previously came up through the loop.
Draw tight by continuing to hold the loop in your left hand and with your right hand, pull the light rope holding it at a point where it starts into the knot.
Conditions
The Sheet Bend is a superior joining knot instead of the Reef Knot, because it won’t slip or bind too tight to untie, regardless of the sizes and materials of the ropes being used or the loads applied.
Pull several inches of extra rope through to guarantee it won’t slip. For an even more secure knot, use a Double Sheet Bend shown below.
Examples of use
The Sheet Bend is ideal for joining two anchor lines or mooring lines or tow lines.
Join a poly line from a water toy or dinghy to a nylon dock line to create a longer tow line.
Join two sections of poly ski rope together.
Join two dock lines, when one isn’t long enough.
It is also called the Net Knot because it is used to make nets.
It is an excellent knot for joining cables.
When camping, make a clothes line between two trees from a number of short lines for hanging wet, soggy sleeping bags after a storm or beach towels after a swim.
For joining two pieces of light poly cord to tie down a load on a trailer.
For lengthening a kite line.
For lengthening a ring buoy line.
For joining two pieces of thread or wool.
For joining a broken shoe lace.
Where there is no fire escape, join bed sheets, blankets, towels together to throw from an upstairs window.
From the bottom of a lock or climbing wall, it is easier to throw/heave a light line, then pull up the heavier line that is attached with a Sheet Bend.
To climb a tree with a rope, to rescue a cat or hand a bird feeder or whatever, throw a light line over a high tree branch. Have a weight attached to the end (light a tennis ball) to help. Then, pull your heavier line that you've attached with a Sheet Bend. Tie one end of the heavy line to the tree and climb up the other end hanging down. To make climbing this section easier, before raising the heavier line, tie a series of Figure Eight Knots (or Bowline Loops if you have lots of rope) spaced every two feet to give your hands and feet a lump to prevent slipping.
Variations
When the lighter rope is a vastly different size or very slippery, pass it around the loop twice, instead of once. This is known as a Double Sheet Bend.
The Double Sheet Bend is a better choice when you really need a secure knot. For example:
When joining two lines to lengthen an anchor line for a storm.
To lengthen a dockline when leaving the boat for a long period of time and wanting it to be secure.
The Double Sheet Bend is equally as good a joining knot for the above heavy duty jobs as two interlocking bowlines.
To Tie A Double Sheet Bend
Complete steps 1-5 above, then go around one more time as shown:
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Prepare Your Crew
The Sheet Bend and Double Sheet Bend should be practiced by all Captains, First Mates and Crew members, so that they are prepared and ready whenever called upon to join two ropes. Knowing how to tie these and other knots could save your boat from serious damage and/or save a life.
I taught my Sea Scouts to tie all six essential knots in 30 seconds. Have your crew practice and see if they can beat that!
Have fun with your ropes, lines & knots.
Knots are Free and Reliable.
Learn them once and use them forever, year round.
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