How to Tie a Chain Stitch Lashing

Use chain stitch lashing primarily to store a long length of rope on a timber. The primary advantage of this type of lashing is that you can easily unzip it. You can also use the chain stitch by itself such as a basic stitch in crocheting.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Begin the chain stitch lashing around a horizontal pole such as a mast. The lashing will typically be started with some type of hitch and the working end will be long. Drape the unsecured length of rope over the mast.

2. Form a bight from the first part of the working end and place it against the front side of the mast.

3. Pull the working end around to the front of the mast from the bottom and make another bight. Push this bight through the one made in Step 2. Make another bight and push it around the bottom of the mast. Pull this bight through the one made in Step 3.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 as needed to consume the length of rope along the mast. Secure the working end of the rope to the mast with another simple hitch such as a clove hitch.

5. Retrieve the rope when needed. Untie the terminating hitch and pull the working end back through the last bight. You can "unzip" the entire length of rope by pulling each bight back through the previous one from alternating sides of the mast.

Resources

• Learn more about knot-tying at Realknots.