The monkey fist knot is a self-contained ball knot that wraps cord around itself in three directions to create a firm, round sphere. Originally a sailor's knot used to weight the end of a thrown line, it translates beautifully into macrame for keychains, bag charms, and decorative plant hanger bottoms. This tutorial walks through the full wrapping sequence so you can tie a clean, round monkey fist every time.
Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely use and trust.
What Is a Monkey Fist Knot?
A monkey fist is built from three sets of loops — vertical, horizontal, and a final vertical pass — each wrapping around the others to lock them together. When you tighten those loops gradually and evenly, they cinch into a ball. The structure is surprisingly geometric: three passes of three loops create a shape that holds without any glue or stitching.
The result can be purely decorative or functional. For a keychain, the finished ball becomes the grip end. For a plant hanger, it adds weighted detail to the bottom. For a bag charm, it dangles from a cord like a polished accent.
What You Will Need
- Single-Strand Macrame Cord (Petite, 100m) — 2mm or 3mm is ideal for keychains (use code KNOT10 for 10% off)
- Macrame Measuring Tape — for cutting consistent cord lengths
- Sharp scissors — clean cuts prevent fraying during tightening
- A small marble or wooden bead — optional, but helps the ball hold a perfectly round shape
- T-pin board or tape — to anchor the tail while you wrap
If you are new to macrame, reading the beginners guide to macrame first will help you understand basic cord handling before tackling this knot.
How to Tie a Monkey Fist Knot
Step 1: Cut Your Cord Length
Cut one length of cord approximately 90 cm (36 inches) long. At 2mm single-strand, this gives you enough cord for a 3-wrap monkey fist with a little extra to secure the ends. If you are using thicker 4mm cord for a plant hanger counterweight, increase the length to around 120 cm (48 inches).
Step 2: Make the First Set of Vertical Loops
Hold the tail end of your cord between your index and middle fingers, leaving a short tail of about 10 cm hanging free. Wrap the working end of the cord around your fingers three times in the same direction. These three vertical loops should sit parallel to each other, side by side, not overlapping.
Keep the loops loose for now. You will tighten everything at the end.
Step 3: Make the Second Set of Horizontal Loops
Without letting the vertical loops slide off your fingers, begin wrapping the cord horizontally. Pass the working end around the outside of the vertical bundle, then through the center of it, wrapping three times. These horizontal loops will encircle the vertical loops perpendicularly.
If the vertical loops start slipping, hold them lightly between your fingers or pin them to your board while you add the horizontal wraps.
Step 4: Insert Your Core (Optional)
Before you add the final set of loops, now is the time to tuck a marble or small wooden bead into the center of the structure. Nestle it in the space created by the crossing loops. A firm core makes tightening much easier and produces a rounder, more satisfying ball. Without a core, you fold extra cord into the center instead — functional, but the ball is slightly softer.
Step 5: Make the Third Set of Loops
Add the final three vertical wraps. This time, the cord passes through the horizontal loops (inside them) and around the original vertical loops (outside them). This third set locks the first two together. By the end of step five, you have three sets of three loops crossing each other at right angles around the core.
This is the structural heart of the monkey fist — each set of loops is trapped by the other two, so the whole thing cinches into a ball as you tighten.
Step 6: Tighten Gradually and Evenly
This step determines whether your monkey fist looks polished or lumpy. Do not pull one loop all the way tight at once. Instead:
- Find the tail end of your cord.
- Gently pull the first loop snug — just slightly firm, not tight.
- Follow the cord path and snug the next loop.
- Work all the way around the knot in sequence.
- Repeat the full tightening circuit two or three more times, each round pulling a little tighter.
Rushing creates gaps on one side and bunching on the other. Patient, gradual tightening draws the ball into an even sphere. If a section looks lumpy, loosen it slightly with a fingernail and redistribute the cord before tightening again.
Step 7: Finish and Trim
Once the ball is firm and round, secure the ends. For a keychain, thread a keychain ring through the tail loop before your final tighten, so the ring is locked into the knot itself. For a hanging ornament, tie a simple overhand knot with both cord ends together above the ball, leaving a loop to attach to a hook or carabiner.
Trim the tail flush with the knot body using sharp scissors. A clean cut is important here — frayed ends poking out of a monkey fist look untidy. For extra security on a keychain you will use daily, add a tiny drop of fabric glue to the trimmed end inside the knot.
Monkey Fist for Keychains vs. Plant Hangers
The same knot serves two very different purposes depending on cord size:
For keychains: Use 2mm or 3mm single-strand cord without a core, or with a small marble. The finished ball is roughly 2 to 3 cm in diameter — compact enough to slip into a pocket. Three wraps of three loops is the standard count.
For plant hanger counterweights: Use 4mm or 5mm cord with a heavier bead or multiple marbles inside. The finished ball can reach 5 to 7 cm in diameter and adds meaningful weight to the bottom of a hanger. You can also increase the wrap count to four or five loops per direction for an even larger ball.
Our macrame plant hanger tutorial shows where a counterweight fits naturally into a standard hanger design.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Ball is lumpy or uneven: You tightened too fast. Loosen the problem area with your fingernail, redistribute the cord, and tighten again more gradually.
Loops are slipping while you wrap: Pin the completed loops to your board before adding the next set, or ask a second person to hold them lightly.
Ball is too small: Add a marble core, or increase from 3 wraps to 4 wraps per direction. More wraps = larger ball.
Cord keeps fraying during tightening: You need sharper scissors or a cord type with better twist integrity. Single-strand cord frays less during tight wrapping than loosely twisted 3-ply.
The finished ball feels floppy: No core inside, or the tightening sequence was incomplete. Add a bead next time, and make sure you complete at least two full tightening circuits.
What's Next
Once you have the monkey fist down, try incorporating it into a larger project. Our spiral knot macrame tutorial pairs well with a monkey fist end piece for a complete cord keychain with interesting texture along the stem. For understanding which cord sizes suit which projects, the macrame cord size guide is a handy reference before you cut.
