Decorative Knots
Matthew Walker Knot
DIFFICULTY ●●●●●
The great multi-strand stopper of the tall-ship era: each strand of the rope is tied in an overhand around its neighbors, producing a symmetric, barrel-shaped knob in the rope itself.
See it tied step-by-step ↗Why it earns its place
One of the very few knots named after a person, and still the most elegant way to put a permanent knob in the end of a multi-strand rope or lanyard.
Where it fails
Requires unlaying the rope's strands first, and the even, spiral fair-up is genuinely difficult. Practice on three-strand cord you don't care about.
Quick facts
| Type | Multi-strand stopper |
| Strands | 3 or more |
| Untying | Permanent |
| Best for | Lanyards, traditional rigging |