Butterfly loop

The butterfly loop is an excellent mid-line rigging knot; it handles multi-directional loading well[2] and has a symmetrical shape that makes it easy to inspect.

[3] The earliest known presentation of the knot was in A.A. Burger's 1914 work Rope and Its Uses, included in an agricultural extension bulletin from what is now Iowa State University.

[6] The authors claim to have developed the butterfly noose themselves while attempting to improve the selection of knots available to climbers.

[7] Wright and Magowan call the butterfly loop "new," along with several other of their knots, in the sense they were unable to identify any earlier record of them.

"[8] Clifford Ashley presented the knot in 1944 (text & image #1053), calling it the lineman's loop; he attributed its first publication to J.M.

(Curiously, Ashley gives no hint that this book which he twice praises contains a full knots chapter written by Drew!)

Among high quality knots, the butterfly loop is perhaps the easiest to remember how to tie correctly. Start by simply making two twists in the same direction to form the two loops. Then wrap the outer loop around the standing part and pull it through the hole of the inner loop.
Alternate method of formation using wraps on the hand.