Rope Making & Useful Knots

Rope making is the traditional craft of twisting fibres together to make a strong, usable rope. Fibres are twisted into yarns, yarns into strands and strands into rope, with each stage twisted in the opposite direction to the one before. Those opposing twists lock everything together, so the rope holds its shape instead of unravelling. It's an ancient skill that's oddly addictive.

The classic is three-strand laid rope. Each strand is twisted tightly in one direction, then the strands are brought together and allowed to twist around each other the other way. Traditionally this was done in a ropewalk, a building long enough to stretch out a full length of rope.

A simple rope winder does the same job on a smaller scale, with hooks you turn with a handle to twist the strands. Bushcrafters also make cordage by hand using the reverse wrap, twisting and folding two lengths of plant fibre over each other. No machine, just your fingers and a bit of patience.

Natural fibres have been used for thousands of years, including hemp, sisal, jute, flax, cotton and coir from coconut husks. In the wild, bushcrafters use plant materials like nettle stems and the inner bark of trees such as lime and willow. Most modern rope is made from synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester, which are strong and resist rot, but there's something special about rope you made yourself.

The bowline makes a fixed loop that won't slip or jam and is often called the king of knots. The clove hitch ties a rope quickly to a post or pole. The reef knot joins two ends of the same rope, and the sheet bend joins two ropes of different thickness. The figure-of-eight is a stopper knot that stops a rope sliding through a hole. The round turn and two half hitches is a secure way to tie off to a ring or tree. The taut-line hitch makes an adjustable loop, which is perfect for tent guy lines.

Perfect, most people haven't. Your Activity Leader shows you each step, and it clicks faster than you'd think. There's a lovely rhythm to twisting and winding, and many people find it calming. You'll leave with rope you made yourself, a handful of knots you'll actually use and the power to finally tie down a gazebo properly.

You might also like Pioneering, Macrame and Shelter Building.

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