Rope handcuffs were the first tie that Mister K and I learned when we started exploring rope bondage and play. So when we saw MLSlaveuppets prompt, Tie Those Hands, we knew we had to participate and show some variations.
When we were taught how to complete this tie we were told it was called “Texas Handcuffs“. In Texas (and other places, obviously) it is also known as a hobble knot. When used by ranchers and farmers, it is often used to tie the legs of cattle and horses during the night to prevent the animals from wandering too far while the cowboys rest.
It works great on submissives and rope bunnies too!
The tie is quite simple, but has the unfortunate element of tightening when the captive struggles. For this reason, they are not a great knot for long term use, or for consensual-non-consent play. A good way to continue to use this knot, but to prevent injury to your willing or not so willing captive, is to double-up the rope. This spreads the point of impact over a larger area and decreases the amount of pressure put on the wrist joint and the tendons and nerves in the hands.
The loop in the middle also gives a great tie off point, so you could connect them to a headboard, or suspend the arms above the head. The extra rope also stops the knot from becoming too tight, but will only work if the person being cuffed participates in the bondage. If they wanted too, the bottom could easily get out of this tie, which is great for comfort or a sense of security, but not so great for a top who is trying to subdue a squirming, fighting prisoner…
If you’re looking for a tie that your bottom can’t get out of and you also don’t have to worry about it tightening and cutting off circulation, Pete Riggs at ropeconnections.com has a great tutorial. I find it also looks much more aesthetic than the simple handcuffs, and it’s more comfortable long term. As someone who spends a lot of time with my hands tied (literally, not figuratively), I appreciate this detail. While this tie looks complicated, it’s actually a bit more simple that the standard handcuffs. Mister K particularly likes it as he can use it the bight at the top to anchor to a post or a hook, or he can use the excess rope for a more elaborate bondage scene. Sometimes, it’s even used as a leash.
MLSlave also showed a tutorial for the “Back-Arm Harness“. This is a good one for tying someone to a chair or for keeping them in a certain position. It can be used either sitting or laying which makes it a versatile knot, but also gives the feeling of being tied up, which is great for the bunnies out there. Again, it’s a simple tie, but as said before, will only work functionally if the captive participates. I enjoy the feeling of rope sliding against my skin and the connection that is formed when in scene with Mister K so this tie works well for us.
The only downfall is the angle of the arms when behind the back. This is great for temporary use or for people with full range of motion, but for those who can’t keep their arms in this position due to shoulder or rotator cuff issues, it could cause aches and pains in your back and deltoids. If you really want to try it though, you can use the same concept while attaching the hands to the lower back, or hips with the lovers knot. You can use this great PDF provided by Two Knotty Boys to learn the steps (Mister K and I have this book and think it’s the best thing we’ve ever invested in).
Rope should always be snug, but not too tight and please remember to have safety scissors on you at all times. Rope can be replaced, people can’t!
Most importantly, Have fun!
To see who else participated in #TieMeUpTuesday, click on the badge.
For more bondage posts, see Naughty Knots.
Looking for something to inspire your rope play? Give Magic Touch a try, or take a look at Photography or Smutty Snapshots.
