Info about Rope

 


We import 5mm and 6mm natural jute rope directly from Japan. The rope arrives in its raw form and needs to be conditioned before it's suitable for use in shibari. If you’re interested in purchasing rope, we offer two options:

Treated Rope

This rope has been carefully conditioned by us and is ready for use.. Treating rope is a labor-intensive process, which is why we can only supply a limited quantity—exclusively to students participating in a course or workshop at Studio TIEY.
A rope set costs €120 and includes six 8-meter ropes of 5 or 6mm.

Untreated Rope

This rope is still raw and must be conditioned by you. A step-by-step guide is provided below.
Untreated rope is available to everyone and costs 1,25€/meter (5 or 6mm).

For beginners, we highly recommend starting off with 6mm ropes.

How to Condition Your Own Rope?

Conditioning rope is a time-consuming process that requires patience and care. Start with the mindset: "better too little than too much." You can always repeat steps later, but it's difficult to undo over-conditioning. Keep in mind that conditioning is essentially a controlled form of wear to make the rope suitable for shibari. You don’t want to tie with stiff, hard rope, but you also don’t want it over-worn. Over time, your rope will naturally become more supple and silky-soft with use. With practice, you’ll find the right rope conditioning balance. Preferences vary between people, so what works for one may not work for another. Below are some guidelines to get you started. You may want to skip certain steps, or you can choose to follow all steps.

Step 1: Waxing the rope

You may choose to apply beeswax to the rope before proceeding to Step 2. You will essentially knead the wax into the fibers as you break in the rope. You can use pure beeswax, or create a rope conditioning mix by heating beeswax, adding jojoba oil, mixing thoroughly, and allowing it to cool for later use. Be mindful with this step, as it can easily make the rope heavier.

Step 2: Breaking In

You can break in rope using one of two methods.

Tumble dryer:

  • Place the ropes in the dryer and check them every 15 minutes.

  • Clean the lint filter and ensure knots are still secure. If a knot comes loose, the rope may fray.

  • Repeat until the rope feels flexible enough. If unsure, move on—you can always return to this step.

Carabiner:

  • Twist the rope a few times and pull it back and forth through the carabiner.

  • This generates a lot of loose fibers, so it’s best done outdoors.

Step 3: Burning Off the Fluff

Use only a blue gas flame (e.g., from a camping stove).

  • Gently pull the rope back and forth through the flame to burn off surface fuzz.

  • Never hold the rope still in the flame and be cautious around knots.

  • Repeat until all fluff is gone. As long as you keep the rope moving, you won’t overdo it.

Step 4: Cleaning the Rope

After burning, the rope will contain soot particles.

  • Gently pull it through a dry, light-colored cloth until no more residue comes off.

  • Avoid squeezing—too much pressure may alter the rope’s natural twist.

  • This step can be repeated as needed.

Step 5: Oiling the Rope

Apply a light, surface-level layer of oil—we recommend jojoba oil, as it doesn’t easily go rancid and doesn’t feel greasy.

  • Put a few drops on a cloth and gently pull the rope through it.

  • Don’t apply pressure—you want to coat the surface, not soak the rope.

  • The oil will distribute naturally with use.

  • Repeat this step until you’re satisfied with the feel of the rope.

If necessary, go back and adjust the previous steps. Consider your first few attempts an investment in learning—this process is about discovering what works best for you without ruining your rope. Please understand that we cannot provide exact answers to questions like how long to tumble dry or how much jojoba oil to add to the beeswax mix. These details depend on your starting point (every tumble dryer is different) and your personal preferences. We started with labeled short lengths of rope, each conditioned to varying degrees—from light to extremely intensive. This allowed us to consciously choose the level of conditioning that suited us best.

How to Maintain Your Rope?

Maintenance is also a very personal choice.

  • At a minimum, let your ropes air out and avoid storing them tangled or tightly coiled.

  • You can choose to reburn ropes once they start to fluff.

  • If they feel dry, you can choose to reapply a bit of jojoba oil.

  • We advise against washing your natural fiber rope, as it may affect its balance.
    If your rope gets really dirty, gently use a damp cloth at most. Be sure to avoid excess moisture, as it can cause the rope to swell.

 
Peter Jasperspracticals