How to Tie Yourself up With Rope

Last Updated: July 6, 2022

Whether you want to practice your escape artistry or act out a bondage situation, you want to tie yourself up with rope. You can, of course, simply ask a friend to tie you up—but with a bit of maneuvering, you can do the job without anyone's help. Make sure that you have a plan to get out of the rope: learn how to escape from being tied up, arrange for someone else to untie you, or keep a sharp object within reach of your bound hands.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Tying your Hands Together

1
Choose your rope. If you're only tying your hands, you will need at least four feet of rope. You may find that thin, smooth ropes—even string or twine—are the easiest to work with, but can pinch and really aren't suitable for tying yourself or anybody up. Consider cotton clothesline. If you don't already have rope, you should be able to find something suitable at a hardware store.^{[1]
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- Cut the rope to the length that you need. Rope and twine are generally sold in increments much larger than what you'll need to tie yourself up, and you'll be able to do a cleaner job if you buy them cut to size.
- If you don't want the rope to chafe your wrists, consider avoiding a thin, smooth rope. The thicker and rougher the rope, the more you risk hurting your wrists, cotton clothesline is best for beginners. Some people are allergic to nylon, so make sure that the rope won't irritate your skin.
2
Tie your hands in front of you. Wrap the rope around each of your wrists, and leave the ends of the rope free so that you can make a knot. Be sure to cinch or knot the rope between your wrists so that you can't wriggle free. Imagine that you are using the rope to make a pair of handcuffs: your hands should be tied into separate "cuffs," not one single, easy-to-slip-out-of wrap. When your wrists are wrapped up, tie a square knot, make a double-tied bow, or use another simple, sturdy knot.^{[2]
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- Your left palm should be facing down. You should see the rope crossed just beneath your left palm. Place your right palm against the palm of your left hand so that your wrists line up.
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3
Put your hands behind your back. If your hands are tied behind your back, it may look more like someone else tied you up. Once you have tied your hands in front of you, bring your bound hands low enough that you can step over them. Lift your legs over the knot so that your hands are bound behind your back.
- Some people find it easier to tie their hands together when their wrists are already behind their back. Try clasping your wrists behind your back, then attempting to tie the same knot that you would tie with forward-facing hands. Consider using a mirror so that you can see yourself tying the knot.
- To bring your hands back to the front of your body. To do this, simply bend down, holding your bound hands as low as they will go, and step backward over the knot. You may find it easier to escape from the knot if your hands are in front of you.
4
Consider tying your hands to a fixed object. Tie your wrists together as normal, but also loop the rope around a pole, chair, or bedpost. It may be difficult to tie each wrist separately without someone else's help. You can, however, tie your legs to separate fixtures, then bundle your hands together.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Tying up Your Whole Body

1
Wrap the rope around your torso and your non-dominant arm. Make sure that it's just a little loose—the rope shouldn't hurt you, but it should be tight enough that it won't slip off. You must wrap the rope with both ends going around you instead of one. When you are holding less than a foot of loose rope in each hand, pull the rope tight. Hold it tight until you are able to tie it.
2
Tie the rope. Tie the ends of the rope together using a square knot, a double-tied bow, or any other simple, sturdy knot. Squeeze your free arm into the wrapped rope, as deep as it will go, until you appear stuck.
- Try wrapping the rope around the area with one hand, then using the other to grab the rope and help out. Tie the ends of the rope with a tight double-knot bow.
- Consider puffing your chest or stomach out as you pull the rope tight and tie it. This way, all you need to do to loosen the rope is empty your lungs of air and make your torso more compact. You can also flex your arm muscles to make the wrap slightly larger than your natural form.
- To escape this trap, squeeze the arm that you used to tie the knot. This should loosen the rope so that you can slip out of the wrap.
3
Consider binding yourself in several places. Use a separate rope for each knot. Try knotting your feet together (with a 2-3 feet of long rope) using the same technique that you'd use for your hands. Consider binding your legs together in the same way, but bear in mind that the rope is likely to slip down your legs. Finally, tie your wrists together, making sure to tie a knot or cinch between them so that the rope doesn't slip off.

Community Q&A

Question

What do I do when I am tied up on the inside of a cage and am being watched?

Sonicboom007

Community Answer

There are two things you can do. If you can escape, undo the rope (we have an article to do that) and try to open the lock with a pin or anything else you have handy and escape. If you can't, try to ignore them as you are absolutely helpless.
Question

What happens if I tie myself to a train I thought was inactive, but then a conductor doesn't see me and starts driving forward?

Bella Rastrelli

Community Answer

Scream and yell, try to get someone to hear/see you. Or better yet, don't tie yourself to a train.
Question

How do I escape if I've been tied back to back with someone?

Community Answer

Try to untie any of the ropes on them and they should try to untie any ropes on you. After you can loosen a rope or twp, then you can probably move better and reach more ropes to untie.

Warnings

If you use a knife or other sharp object to free yourself from the rope, be careful not to cut yourself. It will be even more difficult to treat a cut if you're still tied up.

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Remember that you can get stuck there forever if no one will help you or if your friend is toxic!

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Consider keeping someone around to help untie you. Even if you're confident that you can escape on your own, it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to rope play.

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Make sure you can get out of have someone right there to help you

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Avoid tying rope around your neck, especially in the form of a noose. If something goes wrong, you run the risk of choking yourself and hurting or breaking your neck.^{[4]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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