Splicing an Eye into a Rope

Start with this...

(c) 2012 by Tom King

Here's a handy thing to know how to do that will impress your campers, Pathfinders and youth group. It's makes an easy and good-looking loop in the end of your rope. The loop is suitable for pulling something with your trailer hitch or for creating a foothold in the end of a rope or zip line pulley. 

Here's the final eye loop...

You start with a rope like the one above. Cut the end cleanly, untwist the strands about 8 inches and braid the loose strands into to the standing rope.

Click on this link (Eye Splicing Illustrated) to see step by step instructions. I put these on the end of rope swings and climbing ropes. It allows a kid to put his foot in the loop without the danger of the loop slipping and hurting the child's foot. It's also easier to get out of. It's also a very handy way to keep the end of a grass rope from unraveling AND one on each end of a tug-of-war rope gives the anchor guy a very strong hold with less danger of a rope burn.


Tom