The
first of two methods I'll describe is shown above. It goes by
many different names including an Electrician's Braid and a Doubled
Monkey Chain. Parachutists use such a method to keep their chute
cords from tangling.
Double up the rope by grasping the two ends
together and make a slip noose as shown in step "A". Then, reach
through the loop just made and pull a bight of doubled-up rope through it to make a new loop. Continue reaching and pulling loops until you get to step "C".
If
you reverse the last move correctly, the whole thing should cleanly
unzip with a single tug. This can be tricky sometimes.
Most
find it easier to finish the chain by almost pulling the last double
loop all the way through, but then taking single bight leftover (the
middle of the rope), and and throwing this single bight over the final
double bight, as shown in the "Improved Method..." diagram. So when you want to undo it, you just pull on the only single bight available.
This
method is especially effective in keeping your rope tangle-free when
you need to wash a filthy rope in the washing machine (air-dry only to
prevent heat damage). Switching hands halfway through the braid
helps reduce kinking at the end.
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