Rope Bondage Part 3a: Rope Coils

As was rightly pointed out in my last post (gotta love peer review!), storing rope for any length of time in a chain can be bad for the rope and introduce kinks (in the rope, not in oneself). I do thing rope chains are the best method for washing your rope in a machine though, just make sure to undo and dry under tension.

For long-term storage the rope coil is your best option – it keeps the rope flat and also allows you to get at the bight end of the rope and start using it right away.

1) Find the bight of your rope:

2) Run the rope through your fingers to the ends of the rope:

3) Holding the ends in one end slide your other hand about 1ft / 30cm down the rope towards the bight:

4) Drop the ends of the rope so you’re now holding another bight with one hand:

5) Slide your now free hand down the rope stopping at the dangling ends (should be 1ft / 30cm as before) and let go of the other end:

6) Repeat the hand over hand process building up coils:

7) Stop once you have a couple of feet / one metre left (I have left mine intentionally long):

8) Grab the loose end and start wrapping around the coils:

9) Stop wrapping with a few centimetres left:

10) Put your finger under one of the wrappings:

11) Wrap around once more, make another bight near the end and hook that through with your finger:

12) Twist the wrappings and the hooked-under end in the direction of the wrappings to tighten. You should be able to chuck the coil on the floor without it springing open:

13) To undo, simply pull on the bight and the rope will unravel: