Hooray! A new post! The single column tie is arguably the foundation of most other ties in shibari and is definitely worth practicing on yourself until you’re totally confident.
A column is anything you can tie directly around such as an arm or a leg. The single column tie secures a rope around just one limb and can therefore be used to tie someone spread-eagled to a bed or to a chair with one rope per column. It’s also the starting point in the box tie (chest harness). The single column tie also uses pretty much the only knot you’ll ever have to use :)
Start with the loop (bight) of a doubled piece of rope. Any length and diameter of rope can be used for this, but for comfort 6mm+ is preferred
Wrap around the column at least twice but you can wrap more if you like. Make sure all the ropes are neat and parallel and don’t cross.
Cross over the bight and the working end of the rope as if you were wrapping a parcel. This step helps you visualise what happens next:
Pass the bight under all the other ropes:
Tie an overhand knot (the kind you use when tying your shoelaces). Leaving as small a piece of the bight as possible sticking out helps with neatness:
Pulling on the working end (the end opposite to the bight/loop) should raise up the whole lot:
Run your finger around between rope and skin to even out tension and uncross any ropes and to verify circulation.
You’re done!
