Page 73 - Merry Barbara "Marlinspike Sailor's Arts and Crafts"
P. 73
66 < Marlinspike Sailor’s Knots and Crafts
To first tie a practice piece: Making Rope (Cable)
1 > Cut eight lengths, each 2 feet long, of #24 cotton for the Picture Frame
seine twine.
You will use ropemaking skills to make rope to deco-
2> Tape the ends into a flat bundle and set that part rate the picture frame.
into a clipboard.
3 > Complete the braid following the diagram, using 12 to 14 feet of small cordage
two strands at a time. fixed hook and pencil
masking tape
scissors
To make a practice cable rope, follow these steps:
1 > Cut 10 feet of #18 cotton seine twine and wrap the
ends with tape to prevent unlaying.
2 > Tie one end of the twine to a fixed hook. Holding
the pencil horizontally about 3 feet from the hook,
alternately pass the twine around the pencil and
hook until you have made at least 1½ complete
rounds. Tie off the unsecured end to the pencil
(see photo below for reference).
3 > Pull on the pencil to create a uniform tension and
length on the twine. Lightly grasp the bundle of
strings in the fist of your left hand with the pencil
resting outside your thumb and forefinger.
4 > While keeping tension on the bundle of twine with
your fist, turn the pencil clockwise with the index
finger of your right hand to form the cable strand
(see diagram for reference). The number of twists
you put into the strand will determine the firmness
of the finished rope.
Making rope is a fun activity and doesn’t take much in the 5 > Grasp the pencil with your right hand and keep
way of supplies. tension on the strand throughout this step. With
The twine wrapped around the hook and pencil.
