Forming a Dubbing Loop

There are many applications for dubbing loops. You can form a full, balanced chenille-like rope to use as a dubbing, reinforce materials such as peacock herl, or use them to make hackle out of material that would otherwise be too long. This list goes on. Below is a step-by-step method for creating a dubbing loop. Practice a couple times on a bare hook before applying to the flies you intend to tie.

	1) To start, keeping the thread taught, pull out a length twice as long as you'll need the loop to be. Allow some extra space in the loop for the tool to be inserted. Bring the thread forward a bit and over the top of the shank to the far side. Insert your dubbing loop tool or whirl into the loop at the bottom to maintain it.
	2) Wind back toward the bend two or three turns to secure the forward side of the loop to the shank. This is the same as when first securing thread to a hook shank.
	3) Once the forward side is secure, bring the thread under the hook shank toward you, come up in front of the loop, then take a counterclockwise turn around the loop only. This squeezes the loop shut near the hook shank.
	4) Now go over the top of the shank with the tying thread, winding back toward the bend. Here, you can position the loop and bind it down, either on the bottom, side, or directly on top.
	5) Continue winding over the loop, lashing it to the shank, back toward the bend until it is in position. Now you can add your materials and spin the loop to form a "rope" of the material.