Coiling Rope

A person holding up a blue rope that has been folded in half three times and tied in a simple overhand knot.

Step by step

A person holding two ends of a blue rope in their right hand and the doubled center of the rope in their left hand.

1Hold the ends of the rope in your right hand and run your left hand along the rope, removing tangles as you go. Keep going until you get to the center of the rope (the bight).

The rope is now doubled.

A person holding two ends of a blue rope and the doubled center of the rope in their right hand and two doubled rope centers in their left hand.

2Take the bight with your right hand, holding it next to the ends of the rope. Run your left hand along the rope until you get to the end.

The rope is now quadrupled.

A person holding up a blue rope. The rope has been folded in half three times, so it is about two feel long and has eight strands of rope running between the two hands.

3Double the rope a third time.

The rope is now octupled and about 2' long (if it’s a 15' rope) or 4' long (if it’s a 30').

A person holding up a blue 30 foot long rope that has been folded in half four times. It is about two feet long and has 16 strands running between the two hands.

OPTION4If you have a 30' rope, double it one more time to make it about 2' long.

5Finish the coil by tying an overhand knot it in.

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