Beginners Guide to 5 Easy Bondage Ropework Shibari Styles

Whether you’re wanting to exercise your inner dominant or surrender yourself as a submissive, bondage ropework, also referred to as Shibari can be a great way to start practicing and experimenting with your partner or by yourself. Certain bondage rope styles such as the pentagram chest piece can also be great outfit accessories to wear over clothing if you’re looking to add some bondage-esque vibes to your outfit.

How to do Bondage Ropework safely

Communication is Key

If you’re planning to do some bondage rope work on your partner it’s important that they’re comfortable and happy with the process. Always ensure they are comfortable and that the rope isn’t hurting them beyond what they’d like.

Safety when doing Bondage Ropework on Yourself

If you don’t have anyone with you and want to do a piece on yourself always consider the risks, and properly plan a quick-release strategy if you need to remove the rope quickly. See more on this below. We advise bondage ropework is never conducting on yourself if it involves restraining your arms or handbags in any way. Always seek professional advice if you plan to do self-bondage ropework.

Always have a Quick-release Plan

When practicing bondage ropework safety should always be the first priority. In case of an emergency, the person being tied up needs to be able to be released quickly from their restraint, therefore, we strongly advise having a pair of trauma scissors to hand. Trauma scissors are blunt, but will quickly and effectively cut through bondage rope for a quick release.

If you enjoyed these styles, why not try 5 More Beginner’s Shibari Bondage Styles?

5 Easy Bondage Rope Styles for Beginners

1. Cock and Ball Rope Restraint

What you will need for the Cock and Ball Rope Restraint 

• 5m of Bondage Rope (one bundle would be more than enough for this restraint)
• Trauma scissors for quick release in case of emergency and to trim the rope if required.

How to do a Cock and Ball Rope Restraint

Step 1 – Take the rope under the balls and create a simple overhand knot.
Step 2 – Bring the rope around underneath the balls again, tucking in the tail from the knot.
Step 3 – Begin a figure 8 weave over the individual balls.
Step 4 – Bring the rope around the back of the penis and begin to wrap up the shaft
Step 5 – Tuck the tail under the previous loop to tighten the knot
Step 6 – Tuck the remaining tail under one of the remaining loops and then your cock and ball rope restraint is complete.

Watch the step by step video on how to do a Cock and Ball Bondage rope restraint below

2. Pentagram Chest Rope Restraint

The pentagram chest harness rope restraint looks incredible and can be worn by itself or it even looks great over a top as a decorative bondage piece.

What you will need for the Pentagram Chest Restraint

• One bundle of Bondage Rope (9.5m)
• Trauma scissors for quick release in case of emergency and to trim the rope if required.

How to do a Pentagram Chest Piece Rope Restraint

Step 1 – Find the center bite of your rope and bring the rope around the back of your partner, and bring the other end of the rope through.
Step 2 – Pull it tight and reverse the tension by pulling the rope the opposite way to the loop and bring the tail end over the shoulder
Step 3 – Put your fingers under on the front of the body in the center. Wrap the rope over this and bring it back up under the rope
Step 4 – Bring the tail end of the rope up and over the other shoulder, which creates a nice twist in the middle of the rope at the front.
Step 5 – Then bring the rope over the other shoulder strap, and under the waist rope in the same direction.
Step 6 – Reverse the tail rope again and bring this around the front of the body above the breasts.
Step 7 – Using your fingers, pull the rope under the strap you’ve just created
Step 8 – Reverse the tension and bring the rope under the armpit and up towards to neck
Step 9 – Place your fingers under all of the ropes on the opposite side and pull the tail end through.
Step 10 – Reverse the rope around the opposite armpit and pull the rope up towards the neck over the shoulder.
Step 11 – Place your fingers under all the ropes on the opposite side and pull through, leaving a loop.
Step 12 – Pull the remaining bit of tail through the loop you’ve just created and tighten. This finished the knot.
Step 13 – Using the reaming rope, weave this around the shoulder straps.

Watch the step by step video on how to do a Pentagram Chest piece Bondage rope restraint below

3. Basket Weave Corset Rope Restraint

The basketweave is a gorgeous chest weave, where you can use two different coloured ropes to create a harness that sits on the shoulders and chest.

What you will need for the Basket Weave Bondage Restraint

• Two bundles of Bondage Rope (2x 9.5m)
• Trauma scissors for quick release in case of emergency and to trim the rope if required.

How to do a Basket Weave Chest Piece Rope Restraint

Step 1 – Find the center bite of your rope by folding your rope in half and pinching it together. Bring this close to the neck, over the shoulder and under the armpit in opposite directions. Pull the tail end through the loop.
Step 2 – Position the bite so it’s on the back of the neck, bring the rope around your partner a total of 5 times.
Step 3 – Bring the rope around the front of your partner again, this time underneath the breast. Bring the tail up and over the shoulder, keeping this in line with the other straps on the shoulder.
Step 4 – Leave the tail rope of the rope you’ve just added handing over the shoulder. Now take your second rope, come round to the front of your partner and begin to weave the new rope on the front, under the first one and over the second strap of the original rope. Pull the bite end of the new rope over the shoulder and make sure it just touches the new ropes.
Step 5 – Bring the tail end around to the back and weave it in the opposite pattern, over the first rope and under the second. Once you’ve weaved up to the neck, pull the tail end of the rope through the bite loop on the neck. 
Step 6 – Reverse the tension of the rope and weave the rope back down, the opposite to what you’ve already done 
Step 7 – Continue this weaving pattern across the front and the back until you have five wraps of either colour.
Step 8 – To finish the weave, cross the ropes over each other and weave the same colours up behind the same colour ropes.

Watch the step by step video on how to do a Basket Weave bondage rope restraint below.

4. Bondage Rope dress

Find out how to do this incredibly beautiful rope dress on your partner with this step by step, easy to follow tutorial from Pulse and Cocktails. You will need 9.5 meters of bondage rope for this rope dress as well as a pair of trauma scissors to hand in case you need a way to quickly release any of the rope work.

What you will need for the Bondage rope dress Restraint

• One bundle of Bondage Rope (9.5m)
• Trauma scissors for quick release in case of emergency and to trim the rope if required.

How to do a Bondage Rope Dress Restraint

Step 1 – Find the center bite of your rope by folding the rope in half and pinching it together. Bring either strand of the rope over the neck and create a simple over hang knot at the back, leaving two inches of loop.
Step 2 – Hold the knot in-between the shoulder blades, then create a second knot just underneath the collar bone on the front of your partner.
Step 3 – Create a second over hang knot further down the chest near the sternum / between the breasts.
Step 4 – Create the third knot in the center of the rib cage.
Step 5 – Create another knot in-line with the belly button.
Step 6 – Create another knot to go between the legs. Often referred to as a ‘happy knot’, this would sit on a females clitoris or behind the balls on a male.
Step 7 – Bring the rope through your partner’s legs and up through the loop you created at the beginning. 
Step 8 – Separate the tail of the rope, and bring each part of the rope around the front of your partner on either side. bring them over the breats, pull them through the first loop inbetween the first knots. 
Step 9 – Tighten this as much as it is comfortable. Bring either end of the rope to the back.
Step 10 – Bring one of the ropes over the centerline, with the second rope over that first rope. With your fingers behind all of the ropes, pull the tail end up through and create a friction knot. 
Step 11 – Keeping the ropes tense, bring the ends back around your partner in opposite directions under the breasts and thread them through the loop on the front. 
Step 12 – Keeping the ropes tight bring the ropes around the back. Repeat Step 10. 
Step 13 – Keeping the ropes tense, bring the ends back around your partner in opposite directions over the lower rib cage and thread them through the loop on the front. 
Step 14 – Reverse the ropes and bring them back around your partner towards the back. Repeat Step 10
Step 15 – Bring the ropes to the front and through the final loop. 
Step 16 – Take the ropes back around your partner for the last time and create the same tension knot. 
Step 17 – To secure this knot bring the right-hand rope over the left, up through and pull tight. This completes the knot. 
Step 18 – Any excess rope can be tucker up and down the centerline at the back.

Watch the step by step video on how to do a bondage rope dress restraint below.

 

5. Loop Chain Fashion Top

Loop chain fashion top looks to restraint the full torso with the rope going over one shoulder and between the legs.

What you will need for the Loop Chain Fashion Top Bondage Restraint

• One bundle of Bondage Rope (9.5m)
• Trauma scissors for quick release in case of emergency and to trim the rope if required.

How to do a Loop Chain Fashion Top Rope Restraint

Step 1 – Find the center bite of your rope by folding the rope in half and pinching it together. Bring the bite over the front of your partner, under the armpit and under the breast and weave back round. Make sure the rope stays flat against their skin.
Step 2 – Grab the tail end and loop it around the bite the sit it over the opposite shoulder.
Step 3 – Place your fingers through the loop behind all of the rope and grab the bite. Pull this through and tighten with the tail, ensuring you leave a two-inch loop.
Step 4 – Bring the tail rope under your partner opposite armpit and around over the top of the breast all the way to their center back.
Step 5 – Place your fingers through the loop and grab the tail. Pull through and make another loop the same size. 
Step 6 – Keeping your thumb in that loop to hold it, pull the tail end of the rope around the front of your partner, under the breasts and to the back again.
Step 7 – Repeat step 5
Step 8 – Repeat step 6
Step 9 – Repeat step 5
Step 10 – Lock this knot off placing the tail behind the rope and pulling it through and back down through the loop you just created. 
Step 11 – Bring the rope through your partner’s legs and up to the first rope on the front.
Step 12 – Put your fingers behind the first rope, pull the tail end through off to the left. Cross over the centerline and go back up behind the line and pull tight. 
Step 13 – Repeat this again for the next two ropes on the front of the body.
Step 14 – Repeat this again ensuring the rope is kept tight, behind the line and over the center, then up behind. 
Step 15 – Bring the tail up across the shoulder and around the back. Go under, over and under the relevant ropes.
Step16- Place your fingers behind all of the shoulder ropes. Pull the tail over the ropes, grab them with your fingers and pull through. Tighten this and this completed the knot.
Step 17 – To use up any excess rope, simply wrap it around the shoulder straps.

Watch the step by step video on how to do a loop chain fashion top rope restraint below.

Why you should try Shibari / Bondage Ropework

In western culture, Shibari or bondage rope work is more often used for restraint purposes, but in the Japanese culture, it’s more about the beauty and art of the rope work. Whichever way may appeal to you more, having a go at Shibari is a low-cost entry experiment to see if you or your partner enjoys the feeling of rope against their skin, pulled ever so tightly (if so be it), to either look incredibly beautiful or turn you on.

With our 5 easy to follow videos these pieces of rope work can be achieved in half an hour or less depending on your skill level. You will need some bondage rope (follow our requirements above to see how much you need, and you’ll also need some blunt trauma scissors in case a release is required quickly and safely.)

If you’re looking to spice up your sex life with some fetish and bondage play, you can shop our wide range of fetish and bondage products here.

We hope we’ve inspired you to tie someone up or to be tired up yourself – you never know, you might just love it.