Tassels

If I had a person who was also a mat, I would probably make that mat match the rest of my decor. I think some nice purple tassels would be good

Ushirote munenawa

The seductive art of japanese bondage, a lovely big book

Well I knew this would happen, I learned a lot about rope all at once then once I got to a certain level I quickly lost interest.  Well not completely, I am still tying up my friends when I get the chance, but in terms of sitting here tying myself up and taking photos of it, that has lost a lot of charm for me.

I have been practicing ties out of Midori’s book as well as some basic ones like binding wrists together to start.  Have tried a couple of different body harnesses.  I think they are fun to show the way ropes can be used sensually rather than only to restrain.  I have been playing only with people who have never really had ropes before so I find this a fun concept to share.

I am struggling with a tie called “ushirote munenawa” or “arm and chest tie.”  It’s supposed to look like this:

ushirote munenawa from page 67 of the Seductive Art

But I always get confused around this point:

ushirote munenawa instruction from page 75 of the Seductive Art

I manage to get myself back on track by improvising, but I don’t think it’s really so good.  One time it slipped all over the place because I did it wrong.  I shall have to get someone to show it to me.

One thing I really do like in this tie is this little detail at the armpits:

ushirote munenawa instruction from the Seductive Art, pg 77

Which ends up being pulled through and looking like quite a nice little stich:

ushirote munenawa isntruction from the Seductive Art, pg 78

I will have to find a way to practice this on myself so I can get good at it.

Knot: Running lark’s head

Here is a quick video about how to do a “running larkshead.”  It’s obvious once you think of it, but I liked having it spelled out like this as well.

Whipped rope

I got a new 100 ft of rope.  Since the knots in my last batch seem to want to fall out all the time I thought I would try whipping the ends of the new stuff.  I couldn’t find whipping twine at the hardware store so I used some wool thread I have around;  I dragged it through a block of beeswax to make it stickier.  So far it looks good!

6mm twisted nylon rope, whipped with waxed wool thread