Female

I have been spinning, dyeing and knitting my own yarn for well over 10 years. Then I suddenly discovered Japanese Rope Bondage and realized I could combine two of my favorite activities into one! One of the secrets of rope bondage is *always* having enough rope. You don’t want to run out at a crucial moment. I generally carry around at least 10 or more. When I realized the similarities between rope and the yarns I have been making for years it was quite an epiphany. I can make all the rope I could ever possibly need!

Obviously rope is thicker and because of the shorter lengths involved extreme twist control is required. With yarn you are dealing with hundreds of yards and so any inconsistencies disappear into the length. You don’t have that luxury with a 30 foot rope. You also have to carefully control the twist all the way down the full length of the rope. Any misalignment becomes painfully obvious when wrapped across someone’s chest.

I put together a ropewalk in my hallway vaguely based on one I had seen in Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. (They had an entire looong building devoted to rope making). The best I could manage was about 27 feet. Allowing for the pull in of the twist, I can make a standard 22 foot rope. ( I now can do a 30 footer in my house!) This allows enough length to be doubled and go around the body at least 2 times. For longer lengths I have to go out to the park on sunny days. Explaining to people what exactly I’m doing has its own entertainment value.

One of the really fun things about making my own rope is being able to use all sorts of different fibers as the basis. My favorite so far is silk noil. It has a rough appearance you don’t normally expect from silk. (It does NOT look like curtain pulls.) It has enough memory to give as its being cinched down yet shrink back once the pressure is released. (You just don’t find a lot of silk rope at the Maritime supply stores.)

I make laid rope, also called twisted rope, it’s a three strand plain rope as opposed to a braided or plaited rope. They have a right twist and left reverse twist (Z)(ply). But either ply can be made. Hand laid cotton rope also works a lot better then the machine made woven stuff. I’ve done a set of Natural Indigo dyed cotton ropes that I have had a lot of fun with.

Another great aspect is being able to dye the ropes any color I like. Silk takes dye better then a cellulose based fiber like hemp. There’s nothing wrong with Hemp rope, I love the stuff too, but for a really brilliant Japanese red you can’t beat silk. I like to alternate between the dyed and the natural ropes, you get beautiful contrasts in a chest harness.

Each dyed rope is unique. I generally use acid based protein fiber dyes and am also proficient with most types of natural dyes. If I get a request to dye a silk rope with leaves, I can do that. I can’t guarantee what color it will end up though.

Silk gives more then Hemp so you have to take this into account. Being a softer fiber it will lock into a knot if you’re not careful. Silk ropes are excellent for chest harnesses and all close body work. The real appeal of the silk is tight on your body. It feels great and looks wonderful.

My silk ropes are machine washable. So if you absolutely must get them *wet* you can put them into lingerie bags and wash on gentle with regular detergent and then pull them out to air dry. Don’t put them into the dryer, they can get all twisted out of shape.

It’s such a treat to have two of my favorite pastimes converge like this. Needless to say my toy bag is chock full of ropes.

Madame Butterfly

"I very much enjoy this rope. It's very attractive, easy to work with, feels good on skin, and holds knots well." --

Jay Wiseman