How to Tie an Fireman's Coil

The fireman's coil knot is made for keeping coiled rope under control. Fireman's coils are released by a simple pull. Although coil knots are considered among the more difficult of knot tying skills, the fireman's coil is the easiest. The completed knot creates a rope hook for hanging. Below are instructions on how to tie a fireman's coil.

Instructions

1. Coil your rope in the usual manner leaving the one end free. To coil a rope means to loop it around in circles (usually over your hand) until you are holding a bundled circle of rope rather than a line of rope. The rope you use is up to you.

2. Take the hanging end of rope between your fingers approximately 10 inches from the end and move it from right to left to make a loop shape. This loop lies on top of the coiled rope with the free end pointing downward and straight toward your right hand. The left hand secures the loop.

3. Hold the loop cross over in place with the left hand while you gather both the side of the loop and the coil roped up with your right hand pinching them together.

4. Transfer the holding of the loop and coils completely to the left hand as you pull the tail end of the rope down and around the back of the loop and coiled rope. The looped rope should criss-cross underneath you left thumb.

5. Use the right thumb and forefinger to push the rope end under and through the loop. Hold tight to the end of the rope and pinch it together with the coiled rope on the left side o f the loop. You should have a vertical loop coming through the middle of a horizontal loop.

6. Pull the loop through the first loop using the back fingers of your right hand to stretch the loop keeping its shape and keep it secure.

7. Tighten the second loop by pulling up on it as you hold the end tight against the coiled rope. This is your hanging hook. Pull on the end of the rope to undo.