Those wanting to try their hands at decorative knotting, here are a few things to bear in mind –

Not all rope and cord is kind to the skin, especially when using fingers to tighten a knot. “Colourline” braided cord and paracord are both quite smooth, and nice to work with, but at times you might experiment with other types of rope or cord. Sisal in particular can be quite “prickly”!

Tying decorative knots often involves cutting (or trimming) and burning ends using a lighter. Obviously, knives and flames can be dangerous, so care is essential – youngsters will require supervision when using tools, or an adult should do the cutting, trimming and burning for them.

Small pliers or fids are often used to thread rope or cord – again, care is needed.

Let’s be careful out there!

Phil The Rope