The monkey's fist (or monkey's paw, depending on who you ask) has long been used as a weight on the free end of a heaving line, which is a lightweight rope thrown between a ship and the dock, used to easily draw a heavier line to the right spot. It's far easier to toss a light line that's tied to a heavy duty line and then pull the heavy line over, right? The monkey's fist makes it easy to toss the heaving line exactly where you want it to go. 

Other uses for the monkey's fist now include everything from keychain fobs, decorative curtain tiebacks, door stops, even cufflinks. With just a little bit of practice, you'll have your own monkey's fist in no time. How will you use the monkey's fist to decorate your home? 

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