Alpine Butterfly Loop
The best fixed loop for the middle of a rope. Wrap the rope around your hand, shuffle the turns, and pull a loop through — no rope ends needed at all.
How to tie the Alpine Butterfly Loop
- Lay the rope across your palm and wrap it around your hand twice, creating three parallel sections across the palm.
- Move the section nearest your fingertips over the other two sections and toward your wrist.
- Bring that same section back underneath the other two sections, forming a bight that points toward your fingertips.
- Pull the bight out from beneath the wraps to create the finished loop.
- Remove the knot from your hand, arrange the two outer wings symmetrically, and pull both standing parts apart while holding the loop to dress and set it.
How to inspect it
A correctly dressed Alpine Butterfly has a central loop and two balanced wings, with the standing parts exiting in opposite directions. Turn the knot over and confirm that the structure is compact and symmetrical on both sides.
Common mistakes
Losing track of which wrap moves first can produce a different knot that looks plausible from one side. Avoid tightening before the loop and both wings are identified; early tightening makes crossed or misplaced strands difficult to correct.
Rope and material notes
The hand-wrap method works best with flexible rope that keeps each wrap visible. On stiff or large rope, a flat tying method may be easier to control. As with any midline loop, test how the chosen rope dresses and whether the load direction matches the intended use.
Safety note: These steps support practice and recognition. Climbing, rescue, lifting, towing, and other critical systems require qualified instruction and equipment-specific procedures.
Which knot should you choose?
Choose the Alpine Butterfly for a fixed loop in the middle of a rope, especially when the standing parts may be pulled in opposite directions. Choose a Bowline for a loop at the end and a Figure Eight on a Bight when its simpler doubled path better fits the system.
Why it earns its place
Uniquely happy being loaded in any direction: on the loop, on either end, or end-to-end with the loop slack. Also the classic way to isolate a damaged section of rope.
Where it fails
Easy to tie a lookalike that isn't a butterfly. Learn the hand-wrapping method and always check the finished knot has its distinctive symmetric weave.
Quick facts
| Type | Midline loop |
| Under load | Secure in all directions |
| Untying | Easy |
| Best for | Mid-rope clip points, isolating damage |
External reference
KnotStyle provides the selection advice, written practice sequence, inspection points, and cautions above. Use this independent animation as an additional visual reference.
View external animation ↗Source and editorial notes
Reference: Animated Knots by Grog: Alpine Butterfly Loop. Source checked 2026-09-30. Selection advice and difficulty ratings are editorial judgments, not strength tests. How this guide is prepared.