Easy DIY guide on how to make hemp rope
With the ever-growing increases to costs of living and the continuity of stagnant wages, more people than ever before are seeking new and exciting ways to make homemade items, rather than buying them from a store. This move is powerfully beneficial for the environment as it saves money, and if you can learn how to make something well, it can cut down on the number of times you’ll find yourself without one. This project shows you how to make hemp rope in the easiest way possible with few tools and little to no prior skill, making it perfect for anyone to try.
What is hemp rope?
Hemp rope is just like any other kind of rope, with the main difference being the fibrous materials that are blended together to provide strength. Most ropes are made using ingredients that break down rather quickly, leaving ropes unusable after only a few uses, but they sit around in landfills for decades before they finally degrade enough to no longer be of harm to the environment. Hemp rope offers the same strength of some of the strongest competitive materials on the market today, and when the time comes for you to be done with it, the damage it leaves behind is a significant improvement, when compared to any other most utilized materials, like plastic.
How to make hemp rope
This is a primitive type of hemp rope that is made using the least amount of processing possible. Manufacturers of hemp rope or string products utilize many different machines and washings that result in a slightly longer-lasting version, but this easy to make project is perfect for the average do it yourself fanatic who is trying to save a few dollars, help save the environment, and have a little bit of fun in the process. It is, however, important to note that your rope will end up being half the size of your hemp plant stalk, so be sure to get the tallest and freshest one that you can find.
Requires: 2 people
Makes: 1 rope
Duration: 1-2 hours
Materials
- Hemp stalk
- Scissors
- Water
- Bowl
Instructions
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If you can, it is best if your very first step includes cutting the fresh stalk from a hemp plant, as the age of the cutting can impact how easily it can be molded into shape.
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Once you have a nice big hemp stalk, cut off the tip of the plant with scissors, then gently remove the leaves.
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Fold the hemp stalk in half that it cracks open the stalk in a uniform way, then separate the stalk into two sections using those bent lines as guides.
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Once you have separated the two sections of the hemp stalk, gently use your fingers to bend them, which will slowly detach the natural hemp fibers inside.
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Peel away the fresh green outer layer of the hemp stalk then harvests the inner fibers.
Place the strings into a dish filled with water, to maintain freshness as you work through each piece.
Place one section of the hemp fibers on your leg and roll it back and forth with the palm of your hand until it rolls up as tightly as possible.
Once you are satisfied with the first, return it to the water dish and do the exact same thing to the second piece of hemp plant fiber.
Place the second portion into the water once more and allow both to soak together for at least 5 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Each person involved in the process will need to hold onto one end of each of the fibrous portions of 1-ply hemp rope for this to work, so if you are alone, wait until you have access to an extra set of hands or the twisting necessary if impossible.
One of you needs to gently twist both pieces of hemp twine outwards, while the other does the same thing only in the opposite direction, all while holding both pieces tightly together.
The rope will slowly swirl around itself, and the twisting actions will help to tighten and strengthen this homemade piece.
When you are finished, if you have performed every step correctly, the hemp ropes should be wound so tightly together that there is no need to tie anything off. Leaving extra tails at this point helps if you want to add additional portions to make a much longer hemp rope.
You should now have your very own hemp rope that is strong and ready for use. Be sure to store it indoors in a cool dark place, and it can last for well over a year.
The benefits of hemp rope over other materials
As we mentioned before there are several amazing benefits that come along with making the switch to hemp rope including:
- Stronger
- Longer lasting
- Cost-efficient
- Environmentally friendly
- Easy to make at home
- No harmful chemicals or residues
- Made from a sustainable crop that helps to cleanse the surrounding soils
Where to buy hemp rope
If you have already tried to learn how to make hemp rope and had an unsuccessful attempt, or simply don’t have an interest in spending the incredible amount of time that is required to grow hemp plants, then process them down to a usable material, then you always have the option of purchasing premade hemp rope from a retailer. Despite the relatively new fame that hemp products are now receiving, this kind of material had been around for years, and there are plenty of well establish and trusted companies that make and sell hemp rope to the general public, and most of them can be found on third party’s worldwide websites like Amazon for under $20.
