The single column tie is a cuff around one limb that does not get tighter when you pull on it. It is the first tie in shibari and the foundation of almost every other tie. Below is how to tie it step by step, how to check it, and the mistakes that turn a cuff into a tourniquet.
You need one rope (any length from about 4 metres up), a limb or a chair leg, and safety shears within reach.
What makes a good single column tie
A good single column has three qualities:
- The wraps lie flat and parallel. Like piano keys: same spacing, no crossing, no twisting.
- It holds its size. When you pull on the tails, the cuff does not shrink. This is the whole point of the tie.
- It is snug, not tight. You can slide two fingers between the cuff and the skin.
If yours does not do all three, it is not done yet.
Step by step
1. Find the middle of the rope.
Fold the rope in half. The folded end is called the bight. You will work with the rope doubled.
2. Wrap the limb twice.
Lay the bight against the limb and wrap the doubled rope around it two times. Keep the wraps flat and next to each other. Finish with the bight and the two tails on the same side of the limb.
3. Check the size.
Before you lock anything, slide two fingers under the wraps. If they do not fit, loosen the wraps now. Once the tie is locked, the size is fixed.
4. Lock the wraps.
Take the tails and pass them under all the wraps, between the cuff and the limb, so they come out on the other side of the bight. Then bring them back over the wraps. This wrap-around-the-wraps is what stops the cuff from closing when the rope is pulled.
5. Tie it off.
Finish with a knot between the bight and the tails. The traditional finish is the somerville bowline, a non-slipping knot made for exactly this tie. A square knot between the bight and the tails also holds, and is easier to learn first.
6. Test it.
Pull firmly on the tails in the direction the rope will be used. The cuff should stay the same size. If it closes even a little, untie and start again.
If any step is unclear on paper, watch it once on video. Our Sensual Shibari Video Course starts with exactly these basic ties.
A quick-release version
For a tie you might need to get out of fast, you can finish with a slipped knot instead: instead of pulling the final end all the way through, leave it as a loop. A pull on the loose end releases the knot.
A quick release is a good habit, but it is not a replacement for shears. Shears are what you use when something goes wrong.
How tight should it be?
Snug enough that it does not slide off, loose enough that two fingers fit under it. Remember that skin swells a little under rope over time, especially at the wrists.
Watch the hand or foot below the cuff. Cold, pale, blue or tingling means the rope comes off now, not in a minute.
The five most common mistakes
- Twisted or crossing wraps. They create pressure points. Untie and lay the wraps flat.
- Skipping the lock (step 4). Without it, the cuff is a noose. This is the mistake that matters most.
- Tying it too tight. Size is fixed when you lock it, so check before, not after.
- Tying over the inner wrist. The nerves and blood vessels are close to the surface there. Place the cuff a little further up the forearm, and see nerve safety in rope bondage.
- Moving on too fast. If your single column is not clean, every tie you build on it inherits the same flaw.
How to practise it
Tie it 20 times in a row on a chair leg until you do not have to think about it. Then do it with your eyes closed. Then on your own thigh, then on a practice doll's wrist, where the softness tells you if your tension is right. Our practice dolls are built for exactly that.
When it is automatic, move on to the double column tie. The full order is in shibari tutorials: 10 basic ties.
Frequently asked questions
What is a single column tie?
A cuff around one limb that does not tighten when the rope is pulled. It is the first tie in shibari.
What knot finishes a single column tie?
Traditionally the somerville bowline. A square knot also works and is easier to learn first.
How tight should a single column tie be?
You should be able to slide two fingers between the rope and the skin.
Can a single column tie be quick release?
Yes. Finish with a slipped knot so a pull on the end releases it. Always keep shears nearby as well.