Plant fibers like grass, hemp, flax, straw, bark, nettles, yucca, and any other fibrous or vine-like plant. [1] X Research source Twine, string, thread, or even dental floss. Plastic bags or paper, shredded into strips.
If you are working with a material like string, where you are cutting lengths, remember that your rope will get shorter as you twist it together. With materials like grass and other plant fibers, you can easily splice in more lengths of thread later to make your rope longer.
Once you divide the sections, the bundle will be in a V-shape that’s attached at the knot.
As you continue twisting, the two strands will begin to wrap around one another, forming a rope.
As you near the end of your first bundle, grab two more sections of thread that are the same thickness as the original two. Overlap the tails of the original thread sections with the heads of the new sections, making sure the tops of the heads actually extend beyond the tails, so that the new threads are anchored into place. Continue twisting. Eventually, the twisting will wrap the new and the old sections together, giving you an additional length of rope.
If you are working with nylon or something similar, you can also burn the ends to melt them together and keep them from coming apart.
To make an even stronger rope, repeat this process, and then twist those two ropes together using the same method to make an even thicker rope. [5] X Research source You do not need braided or super strong ropes for decorative projects, as they do not have to hold up too much weight. [6] X Research source The ply and braided ones are probably the strongest. [7] X Research source The single twist is quite strong, but it’s more for decorative purposes. [8] X Research source
Twist the section away from you once. Then, bring it over top of the other section back toward you, grabbing it with your non-dominant hand and securing it in place (as though you were braiding with only two sections). [9] X Research source Grab the new section in your dominant hand, and repeat the twisting and wrapping process.
You turn the grass in opposite directions so that there is thicker grass stalk distributed evenly throughout the rope. [10] X Research source Once you’ve made your pile, grab either a thick or thin handful of grass, depending on the diameter you want your rope to be. Tie a knot in one end and proceed with your rope making.
This method will also work for other woody plants that are tough but break open easily.
