cosine said:
I'm just starting to get into this, and I've got a question...
Do you have to put something in the middle of a Monkey's Fist to get a smooth and even knot? None of mine ever turn out nicely. They just kind of bunch and ball up.
It isn't necessary however, some cord is easier to use for the Monkey's Fist than others. If the cord is flat like a shoestring, it wont work very well. Some paracord lays flatter than others, so it won't work as well as the paracord that seems stiffer and rounder. The paracord that lays flatter will feel somewhat "loose" compared to the cord that doesn't lay as flat, and it feels somewhat "tighter" and "more dense".
Having a marble, or some type of ball inside will allow the turns to look more uniform, but the trade off is that they can tend to slide, while this won't happen in a Monkey's Fist done without the marble. I personally found it easier to learn without the marble, YMMV. I don't know how "smooth and even" you want it, but most people who look at mine think they are pretty good, and I don't usually use a marble or BB. All the Monkey's Fists in posts 128 and 129 are done without anything in the center.
The main thing is learning what I refer to as "the anatomy of the knot". Once you learn that, then you'll start working out what method is best for you to gradually tighten it (that's where your at now). I imagine it's one of those things that some people have their own way of doing. Key thing is to
gradually tighten it.
