Shorten a winch rope, chain sinnet?

[J.Pierce]

This morning I had to move some blown down trees and I needed to shorten my winch rope extension.
I haven't been in a situation where I needed to shorten a rope when winching my Jeep, but I use a couple of winches for other utilitarian not fun purposes too and had the need a couple of times in the past.
I've seen the x-lock recovery tool thing, and I'm sure it works well but I so seldom have a need that I can't justify the cost.
I did it today and a couple times in the past, I used a chain sinnet or a daisy chain to shorten my extension.
I've never approached the limits of my ropes or winch so far, the only times I've tried it has been relatively light loads.

I haven't been able to find any reliable information on doing this though.
How much does it reduce rope strength?
Is it just a bone headed ignorant dipshit thing to be doing it at all?
Is there a proper way to do it? I've just used a branch in each end loop. I've thought about making a steel pins just to make removal easier.
Is there a better, safer, more efficient solution that I should use instead?

I didn't take a photo when I was doing it but here is an example of a chain sinnet.
When I've done it my loops are larger than the photo below.

 

[jjvw]

That's dumb. Use a pulley to get rope off the drum, assuming that is what you are trying to achieve. Or get some shorter straps to attach to these trees. Or fold your extension in half.

 

[J.Pierce]

That's dumb. Use a pulley to get rope off the drum, assuming that is what you are trying to achieve. Or get some shorter straps to attach to these trees. Or fold your extension in half.

Most of the line was off the drum, but that wasn't a concern it was a light pull.
An assortment of winch extensions was probably the right answer.
It was a rare situation. If I doubled my extension my main winch line wasn't long enough.
I had two pulleys to redirect my ropes and avoid other standing trees.
Using the extension I do have the thimble was only 5 feet from going into one of the pulleys.
So, I shortened the extension, pulled about 10', lengthened the extension back out, which then got my thimble out from between the two pulleys.
None of that makes a god damn bit of sense without seeing it...................
Basically, I had very limited options and not enough equipment, I guess.

I was just wondering if there was a proper way of making do with what I had.

Time to order more rope so I'm ready in 10 years when this comes up again.....LOL