How to Tie the Sliding Figure Eight Bend
Usage
The Sliding Figure Eight Bend joins two ropes or cords with a connection you can slide to resize before setting it. It is built from two independent figure-eight stopper knots, each tied around the other rope and slid together until they butt — the figure-eight member of the same slide-and-grip family as the Double Fisherman’s Bend. Its documented uses are craft cordage: adjustable claspless necklaces and bracelets, and joining yarn mid-project. No strength or security test data exists for this exact knot, and it is not recommended for climbing or rescue.
Why Learn the Sliding Figure Eight Bend?
Its adjustable design offers flexibility in joining two cords: nothing locks the two stoppers together, so the join slides to resize and then grips when loaded. That makes it a practical knot for everyday cordage and craft work. The 3D animation in the Knot IQ app is worth a look before you try it hands-on — the slid pair of stoppers is easier to follow in motion than in still photos.
Common Uses
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Craft and Jewellery:
- Makes adjustable claspless cord necklaces and bracelets — slide the knots apart to open, together to close.
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Yarn Work:
- Joins a new ball of yarn in knitting or crochet — the figure-eight version of the "magic knot".
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Arborist Rigging:
- Adjustable-eye slings — documented for the double-overhand version of this mechanism, not this figure-eight form by name; related practice, not an endorsement.
ABOK Number
(Ashley Book of Knots)
Other Names
Category
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Notable Features
- Adjustable: Slides to resize before the final set — the knot’s core design purpose.
- Works wet: Grip comes from mechanical interference between the two stoppers, not friction.
- Easy to inspect: Two matching figure-eight stoppers butted flush are visually distinctive.
- Untested: No dedicated strength or security test exists for this exact structure.
Variations
No other documented variations of the Sliding Figure Eight Bend itself.
Similar Knots
Double Fisherman’s Bend vs. Sliding Figure Eight Bend
The Double Fisherman’s Bend is the traditional fixed alternative:
- Pros: Extremely secure and reliable for permanent joins.
- Cons: Hard to untie or adjust after heavy loading.
Figure Eight Bend vs. Sliding Figure Eight Bend
The Figure Eight Bend (Flemish bend, ABOK #1411) shares the name but not the structure. It is a single figure-eight retraced by both ropes, with interlocking tails; the sliding version is two separate stoppers that only butt against each other. The two are often confused — the Flemish bend’s strength and climbing documentation does not transfer to this knot:
- Pros: Well documented, ABOK-listed, fixed once dressed.
- Cons: No built-in adjustability; easily mistaken for this knot in search results.
Alpine Butterfly Bend vs. Sliding Figure Eight Bend
The Alpine Butterfly Bend is another rope-joining option for rigging work:
- Pros: Fast to tie, holds well under multi-directional loads.
- Cons: Not built for post-load adjustment the way the sliding form is.
Sliding Sheet Bend vs. Sliding Figure Eight Bend
- Pros: Simpler to tie and adjust for non-critical tasks.
- Cons: Less secure and prone to slipping under heavy loads.
History
The name borrows from the standard figure-eight (Flemish) bend, which Ashley catalogues as ABOK #1411 (Wikipedia) — but that is a structurally different knot: a single rewoven figure-eight, not a slid pair of stoppers. The climbing and rescue documentation behind the Flemish bend (Animated Knots; Rope Rescue Training) belongs to that knot and does not carry over to this one. The sliding form is a modern craft-and-rigging convention combining the figure-eight stopper with the Fisherman’s-family slide-and-grip mechanism; The Ashley Book of Knots has no entry for it.
Security Level
Untested. No one has break-tested or security-tested this exact knot — the numbers quoted online belong to the fixed Figure Eight Bend or the Double Fisherman’s, which are different structures. When both stoppers are fully cinched and squarely butted it grips by mechanical interference and holds wet, but the whole slide-and-grip family is documented as unreliable on slippery HMPE ropes such as Spectra and Dyneema (Animated Knots). Treat it as a craft and light-utility bend, not a life-safety knot.
Downsides
- Fiddly to tie: Each stopper must sit neatly around the opposing rope and butt squarely.
- Inspection needed: Must be checked thoroughly to confirm security before use.
- Untested: No dedicated strength or security test data exists for this exact structure.
- Bulky: Two stacked stoppers consume more rope and snag more than a low-profile bend.
- Slippery rope: Unreliable on HMPE (Spectra/Dyneema) line, like the rest of its slide-and-grip family.
Structure
- Lay the two ropes side by side with their working ends pointing in opposite directions.
- Tie a figure-eight stopper knot with the working end of the first rope around the standing part of the second rope.
- Tie a matching figure-eight stopper knot with the working end of the second rope around the standing part of the first rope.
- Pull the standing parts in opposite directions so the two figure-eight knots slide toward each other until they butt together.
- Slide the knots along the standing parts to set the size of the join, then cinch each figure-eight knot down fully.
Pro Tip: Leave at least 12 inches of tail on each rope and check that both figure-eight knots are fully cinched and squarely butted before loading.
FAQ
Is the Sliding Figure Eight Bend strong enough for heavy loads?
No one knows — it has never been strength-tested, and it is not recommended for climbing, rescue, or any load a person hangs on. Use it for cord, yarn, and light utility work.
What ropes work best for the Sliding Figure Eight Bend?
Ordinary cord, paracord, or yarn of similar diameters works well. Avoid slippery HMPE lines such as Spectra or Dyneema — the whole slide-and-grip family is unreliable on them.
How does the Sliding Figure Eight Bend compare to the Double Fisherman’s Bend?
It’s more adjustable but requires more care to tie correctly — and unlike the Double Fisherman’s, it has no test data behind it.
Can the Sliding Figure Eight Bend be used for boating?
It isn’t documented for marine use. Its documented uses are craft cordage and yarn joins; for mooring or towing, use a proven marine bend.
Why choose the Sliding Figure Eight Bend over a fixed bend?
Its adjustability: you can resize the join before the final set, which a fixed bend cannot do. That suits necklaces, yarn joins, and adjustable slings — not life-safety loads.
Important Notes on Safety
Do not use this knot to join ropes for rappelling, rescue, or any system holding a person’s weight. No strength or security test data exists for this exact structure, and no standard or training body we’ve found endorses it. For retrievable rappels in particular, bulky stacked bends of this family are documented to snag on edges during rope retrieval and to jam. Use a documented life-safety bend instead.
Common failure points include a loosely cinched stopper or insufficient tail length, which can lead to slipping.
Inspect ropes for wear or damage before tying.
Ensure both figure-eight knots are fully cinched and squarely butted.
Practice tying in low-risk settings to build confidence.
