Originally rope would be wrapped around a heavy object such as a cannon ball, acting as a heaving line to accurately throw a rope from ship to dock. Today monkey fists are used as keychains and zipper pulls. They can also be attached to knives, flashlights, and other objects for easy retrieval from backpacks and pockets.
- Make your jig by inserting the wooden skewers into the holes of your cardboard square. Place 1 marble in the center of the short side.
- Hold one end of your paracord leaving a 1 inch tail against the cardboard with your left hand while you wrap around the skewers 3 times. Wrap clockwise. You know you’re done when you can count 3 lines on all four sides but if you continue to wrap it will create 4.
- You're going to wrap the cord around stick A and down to D. See picture above. Stick A is the same place you originally started. Slip the cord under the marble and up the other side continuing until you have 3 rows of cord again. It should look like the picture below when you're done.
- Time to change directions again. Slip the cord down the right hand side this time on the inside of the previous wraps. Follow along stick B.
- Wrap under all cord and back up along the skewers on the opposite side.
- Continue wrapping till you have 3 rows of cord.
- Remove from the jig.
- Do not tighten by pulling. You’ll need to follow the cord along all the wraps to synch it snug. I like to follow the slack in one direction and then the other evening out the ends. You need the ends to be as even as possible for finishing.
- You can either leave just one knot, or repeat the process for two.
- Finish your key chain by attaching the carabiner.
- With the help of an adult, cut the ends even a few inches above the knot. Place your carabiner on one of the ends. Warm both ends in a flame of a candle until soft and press together.
YOU did IT!!
We'd love to see your finished project. Can you make a monkey's fist out of anything else? How big do you think you could make one? What about how small?
Share pictures of your creations - finishedcrafts@handmeacraft.com