Stopper Knot

Applications: Creating a safety block at the end of rope to stop a climber from rappelling off the end of the rope; backing up a tie-in knot, such as a Figure Eight or a Yosemite Bowline

The Stopper Knot is a solid knot that creates a block on the end of a rope, so that nothing can slide off. When the knot encircles another rope, it is called a Fisherman's Knot.

How to tie:
         Holding the rope in one hand about a foot from the end with the trailing end down, grasp the end of the rope and wrap it twice around the rope, being sure to wrap it in a downward spiral. Now pass the end alongside the trailing end, up through those loops you just created and out the top. Pull it tight, being sure to leave at least 4 inches of tail. The knot should have two loops on one side and an "X" on the other, formed by the rope. To tie a Barrel Knot, wrap the rope around another rope, and follow the same instructions. The slideshow below gives a demonstration of how to tie a barrel knot as a back-up for a figure eight.