How to Tie an Ashley's Stopper Knot

Ashley’s Stopper Knot is used in the Rope Tree Swing project to mount the seat. The knot was invented by Clifford Ashley and is documented in The Ashley Book of Knots.

The Ashley Stopper Knot is bulky and symmetrical with a large load bearing area for the seat of the rope swing to rest upon. This is a great knot to know because it’s useful in so many situations and works for string and rope.

The key to successful knot tying is to pay careful attention to over/under lay of the rope and left/right orientation.

The rope is 5/8 inch diameter braided polypropylene.

How to Tie an Ashley’s Stopper Knot

Step 1 – Loop the rope as shown, then pull the inside loop (red arrow) through top loop trap it.

Ashley’s Stopper Knot – Step 1

Step 2 – Pull the inner loop through the knot.

Ashley’s Stopper Knot – Step 2

Step 3 -Tuck the working end of the rope under the inner loop (red square) and then through top loop (red arrow).

Ashley’s Stopper Knot – Step 3

This how the knot should look before pulling the ends tight.

Ashley’s Stopper Knot – Step 4

Step 5 – Pull the ends tight to draw up the knot.

Ashley’s Stopper Knot – Step 5

Completed Ashley’s Stopper Knot

Note the triangular symmetry of the Ashley’s Stopper Knot that creates a large load-bearing surface for the swing seat to rest upon.

Ashley’s Stopper Knot

Hope this helps,

Bob Jackson

One Comment

knudeNoggin April 26, 2010 at 11:06 pm - Reply
IMPORTANT: At Step 3, one must first DRAW THE OVERHAND KNOT >>TIGHT<< !!
This is important for this component of the knot is not otherwise tightened,
and it is the face that meets the stopped-against object, and must resist
the loaded part pulling through. So, haul it tight at step three, THEN tuck
the end (or even a folded/"doubled" end — a "bight" (loop)) through the
noose part, to then bring down this noose to lock the knot finished.
*kN*