Classic (Square Knot) Double Column

Easy

When a rigger says “Double Column” without further specification, such as “Lark’s Head Double Column,” this is probably what they are talking about (or they are saying that you can use any Double Column you like).

This is a very quick and intuitive method of tying a forward-tension Double Column, using a variation on a Square Knot or Granny Knot. This version is commonly used in classical shibari.

On the downside, it is not as stable as the other options and can collapse if not properly formed or if too much tension is put on the knot without reinforcing it.

Important: See Reducing Risk for important safety information about tying the wrists.

I use an amazing Natural hemp rope provided by my affiliate Twisted Monk. Check them out!Prerequisites:

Rope Needed

For this tutorial, I used one 10' (~3m) piece of Natural 1/4" (6mm) hemp

Prerequisites

Square Knot Single Column

The Core Technique

For this example, we will tie the wrists.

Double Column (1)

Begin with your rope folded in half. Hold the rope in your guiding hand while your active hand lays the bight, on top of what you are tying.

Double Column (2)

Make two to three wraps for a total of four to six strands in the cuff. You will need a longer bight than you had for the Classic Single Column, roughly 10 to 14 inches, to have enough to finish the tie.

Double Column (3)

Keep a grip on all the strands with your guiding hand and use your active hand to lay the bight end over top of all of them…

Double Column (4)

…then wrap between the two columns, all the way to the other side.

Double Column (5)

Bring the bight around all the lines and back up to where you started.

Double Column (6)

Now we need to lock the cuff. First, reverse the direction of the tail to make a bend in the rope. (This, along with the crossing in Steps 4-5, creates the first twist of the Square Knot.)

Double Column (7)

Pull the bight straight up to begin cinching the lines of the cuff. This will tighten all the strands at the same time and to the same level.

Double Column (8)

Lay the bight on top of the bend in the tail.

Double Column (9)

Reach through the bend and hook the bight.

Double Column (10)

Pull the bight through. This is the second twist of the Square Knot.

Double Column (11)

If you have tied it correctly, you will have this distinctive shape with three lobes.

Double Column (12)

Confirm the cuffs are at the desired level of tightness. You need to be able to get two fingers under the cuffs. If not, it is too tight, and you risk impacting blood flow or causing nerve damage.

Double Column (13)

Tighten the knot very tightly as shown in the Single Column tutorial, Steps 22-30.

Double Column (14)

You will know you have the Square Knot version if you see this pattern with three sets of two lines converging and the tail and bight being parallel to the cuffs. If the tail and bight are perpendicular to the cuffs, you have made the Granny Knot version. Both can work fine if properly tightened, but the Granny Knot version is a little more prone to collapsing than the Square Knot version.

Double Column (15)

It is better to have the cuffs a little higher on the wrists so they do not impact the small bones of the wrists. The rope may have naturally migrated tight up to the hand while tying. If so, place your fingers inside the cuff and move them away slightly.

Double Column (16)

This way the pressure is not directly on the bones and other sensitive areas of the most vulnerable part of the wrist.

Double Column (17)

A Word of Caution

If strong tension is added perpendicular to the cuffs (I am pulling straight up on the tail)…

Classic Double Column - Collapsing (2)

…this knot will deform and can either untie or result in this becoming a collapsing tie.

Classic Double Column - Collapsing (3)

If you plan to have the tail in this configuration, use the load-bearing technique (p. 248) or reinforce the knot as shown on the next page.

Classic Double Column - Collapsing (4)

Reinforcing the Knot - Making the tie more stable

Grab the tail.

Double Column - Extra Hitch (1)

Give it a twist to create a loop. Do this so that the lines of the tail lay parallel to the lines of the cuffs.

Double Column - Extra Hitch (2)

Reach through that loop and grab the bight.

Double Column - Extra Hitch (3)

Pull the bight all the way through. Now that that loop is around something, it is a Hitch. That is why this technique is often called “dropping a hitch.”

Double Column - Extra Hitch (4)