About Rope
When looking for rope to tie in a shibari style there are a few key things to consider.
Firstly, natural fibres are almost always the best choice. If you choose to tie someone, it is imperative that your knots are safe and secure. The ropes we sell are more than capable of generating the right amount of structure and friction to make sure that your knots stay where you put them. This is an essential safety consideration.
Another consideration is one of comfort. We strongly recommend avoiding nylon or polyester type ropes. This is because in addition to having more stretch and less friction with itself causing safety issues they also can create rope burn when dragged across the skin.
Lastly consider how long your rope needs to be. Typically 8m lengths (or hanks) are considered standard. This is because they strike the best balance between having enough length to tie something whilst not being so long that you are pulling a long rope through the knot you’ve just tied. Sometimes advanced riggers will choose slightly longer or shorter lengths because of the style or person they are tying.
Hemp Rope
Hemp is our go-to rope fibre choice. Like jute, hemp is a traditional fibre that dates back to the origins of shibari. Although both jute and hemp are essentially dried-out grass, the natural oils in hemp mean it requires less regular maintenance than jute.
Hemp does also take colour quite well when dying, however its colours are often darker, warmer or more muted than cotton. This is particularly as we do not bleach our hemp before the dying process. We use a cold chemical dye which ensures colour is chemically bonded to the fibre.
Healthy hemp should not feel dry. This can settle down if used regularly on the body. Alternatively, we recommend treating your rope with a wax or oil (such as beeswax, Camelia oil or Jojoba oil).
When placed under tension, hemp will feel unyielding as the fibre has very little stretch.
Cotton Rope
Popular with people wanting to dip their feet into shibari, cotton is an excellent choice. Whilst still a natural fibre cotton does not dry out at all unlike hemp or jute. This means it is just as good to use now as it will be if you’ve forgotten about it for a year or two.
Whilst it isn’t considered a “traditional choice” it is perfectly capable and acceptable for most people.
Cotton does not have any lose fibres that can irritate sensitive skin or be left visible on dark clothing.
Because of it’s white colour cotton is also an excellent candidate for dying bright and vivid colours.