Tying Your First Monkey Fist Knot

[@huckfinnguy]

I am trying to make my first monkey fist--a decorative key fob. I recently bought an aluminum "Uni-Monkey Fist Jig" on Amazon, which, while it appears well-made, included only instructions to assemble it, but little to no instructions or guidelines whatsoever on how to actually use it (i.e., # of passes by cord and core ball size, cord lengths, etc.), as one would expect for such a specialized gadget (which didn't come cheap, BTW)! So here I find myself aimlessly stumbling around the interwebs, watching countless KZbin videos, etc., trying to figure out all these rather important details on my own so I can even start using the damned thing, and growing increasingly frustrated by the minute! Actually considering returning the damned thing and making a homemade one as there are numerous instructions to do that online! While I do like the very clear and precious instructions on wrapping the cord onto the jig in this video, it still isn't detailed enough to include some of the questions I have thus far been unsuccessful in finding answers to anywhere, specifically: Where along the length of cord does one begin wrapping the very first pass to end up with the two, even-length "tails" at the end to braid and/or attach to a fastener?? The middle? Somewhere short of the middle (to allow for all the cord on the working end being wrapped on the posts)?, Or anywhere along the cord, then evening the tails out while tightening up the knot? And on the subject of the "tails", how much extra cord should be included in the total length for braiding knots or a sinnet of varying lengths to attach the fastener to? Which are the most practical, or attractive types of those braids/knots one should consider? Why does nobody ever include that info??? It's as frustrating as contributors to recipe sites who purposely omit key ingredients so other users can never successfully recreate their "secret" recipe!😠 Can somebody PLEASE help me by pointing me in the right direction? I'm nearing the end of my rope (or, in this case, "paracord"😁)!

[@inomad1313]

The first monkey fist I ever made was a four wrap when I was on an airplane. I got board and happened to have about 6’ of 3/8 cotton rope in my carry-on. I worked the knot to the point I could bury 1 end of the rope in the knot. The other end was quite long, so I tied a bowline in it just big enough to squeeze the monkey fist though. I wore the whole thing as a necklace as I got off the plane cause I wasn’t sure what else to do with it. 😂

[@straightupparacord9377]

I love a good Monkeyfist !

[@melinaz3385]

an Aiglet would work too if you can't use a fid. We used to make ours from some scotch tape.

[@dssouthern]

Romantic music?