scotcheggz
Member
Is it there any good guides on how to properly use ropes and make decent knots and forms? My friend has been wanting to try out being tied up but I have no experience with it (other than being on the receiving end, that is). And my knot skills are terrible, can't even tie a shoelace that lasts more than half a day
She also wants to try the Shibari kind of bondage down the line but those look so dauntilingly complicated.
You can google search Shibari (copy paste: しばり on Google.co.jp and learn a lot about the types of knots Etc. from the illustrations, it's nothing cement but it can give you an idea. You can practice on your own ankles too. You'll want at least 2x ten foot ropes. You can usually buy soft cotton or silk ropes died all sorts of colours pretty cheaply from most sex shops (at least here in the UK). Cotton is supposedly better than silk, I think I read somewhere silk can have complications. Jute and hemp are proper, but both have some downsides, price and in one of those two, you have to prep the rope properly iirc. Mine are just inexpensive black cotton.
You could try looking up workshops too, I went to a 3 day workshop in London which was great fun and not expensive.
The knots and patterns look complicated but in reality they're not that hard. A simple way to start is tying cuffs then using the rest of the rope to tie the arms together, behind the back, ends go over the shoulders, fancy it up across the chest and tie the two lose ends after that to his/her ankles. It's easy, looks good to start and will definitely make your partner immobile. Use a blindfold if you're worried about fumbling about, it plays into the fantasy for a lot of people and you can relax a bit those first couple of goes.
Had some pretty funky times with a couple of ropes honestly, definitely recommend.
Edit: one thing to watch is circulation. Not so much in the tightness of the ropes, but they'll be in one position for a long time, when you untie them it's best to do it slowly and allow her to relax back into natural positions, so you might have to be quite gentle.