Hello, I’m Karen (she/her). I’ve been playing with string since I was a child and even taught myself to French braid my own hair well before the internet showed up to show folks how to do such things. With early retirement looming on the horizon in 2015, I ventured out into the kink world and fell in love with rope (shibari, western, fusion, etc.) immediately, seeking out training and experiences in my local community as well as at regional and national events. My rope philosophy is “yay rope!”, so you will see me using a variety of fibers to tie others, tie myself, and occasionally be tied. I’m the daughter and granddaughter of teachers, so it was a natural step for me to develop classes to share my love of rope play in all its wonderful variety.
This is where I store the handouts for classes I teach. If you took a class from me and didn’t get a password, please contact me on FetLife (ThatKaren) or via email (yesthatkaren@gmail.com).
Let’s get to class…
- Rope Bondage Fun-damentals
This class is for folks new to rope and folks with some experience who want to refresh or reinforce basic skills that form the foundation for more complex ties. We will cover columns, what they are, how to tie them in singles and doubles in a few different ways, and why we might want to do that. If you have rope, bring a couple pieces (15 feet is ideal, but longer works, too); there will be loaner rope available if you don’t have your own. This class can be done with a partner or solo.
Prerequisites: None.
Handout (requires password) - Frictions and a Couple of Knots
This class is for folks new to rope and folks with some experience who want to refresh or reinforce their skills in creating frictions and knots with rope. We will cover useful frictions and knots to use in building ties and discuss why we might want to use one versus another. If you have rope, bring a couple pieces (25 to 40 feet each); there will be loaner rope available if you don’t have your own. This class can be done with a partner or solo.Prerequisites: Familiarity with terms such as bight and working ends will be helpful but is not required.
Handout (requires password) - Tying People to Things
This class is for folks who know a single column tie and want to learn a few ways to attach the other end of the rope to something—such as a bedpost or a D-ring on a St. Andrew’s Cross.Prerequisites: Ability to tie any non-collapsing single column tie will be helpful to put these frictions into practice.
Handout (requires password) - Gauntlets and Ladders and Corsets, Oh My!
This class is for folks who want to learn how to create a variety of ties that build on one of the basic skills in rope bondage. Many of them can be self-tied. Having a shorter length of rope (10 to 15 feet) to learn the basic technique is nice to have. Other ties will use approximately one to four 30 foot lengths, depending on the size of the body being tied and where your creativity takes you.Prerequisites: Ability to tie a reverse tension (aka lark’s head) single column and join ropes is helpful but not required.
Handout (requires password) - More Gauntlets
This class is for folks who want to learn how to create gauntlets (and corsets) that use techniques other than the classic reverse tension. Many of them can be self-tied. Self-tiers may find it easier to practice on a thigh or calf rather than the forearm. A shorter length of rope (10 to 20 feet) to learn the basic techniques is nice to have. Other ties will use approximately one or two 30 foot lengths, depending on the size of the body part being tied and where your creativity takes you.Prerequisites: Ability to tie a reverse tension gauntlet is and join ropes is helpful but not required.
Handout (requires password) - Basic Chest Harness (Shinju)
This class is for folks who want to learn a classic basic chest harness. Two 30 foot pieces of rope are enough to complete this tie on most bodies. This harness can be self-tied (by folks who can reach behind their own backs) or done on a partner.Prerequisites: Ability to tie a lark’s head and reverse tension, join ropes, and perform a lock off such as a half hitch is helpful but is not required.Handout (requires password)
- Basic Reverse Chest Harness (Reverse Shinju)
This class is for folks who want to learn a chest harness suited for attaching lines to the front of the body (as for ebi ties or face up suspensions). Two 30 to 40 foot pieces of rope are enough to complete this tie on most bodies. This harness can be self-tied (by folks who can reach behind their own backs) or done on a partner.Prerequisites: Ability to tie a basic/shinju harness is helpful for this class but not required. Ability to tie a lark’s head and reverse tension, join ropes, and perform a lock off such as a half hitch is more helpful, as those concepts will not be covered in detail in this class.
Handout (requires password) - Hogs and Shrimps
This class is for folks who have learned basic building blocks of rope ties and want to put those pieces together into whole body ties. Hog ties and shrimp (ebi) ties will be covered. Three to four 30 to 40 foot ropes will be enough to complete these ties on most bodies. Self-ties will be able to do some of the ties but it’s ideal to have a partner to tie with for this class.
Prerequisites: Ability to tie non-collapsing single and double column ties, join ropes, and complete a basic chest harness.
Handout (requires password) - Heart Harness
This class is for folks who want to learn a variation on the basic chest harness that incorporates some weaving to make a heart shape suitable for Valentine’s Day (or other occasions when you’re feeling the love of rope). Two 30 to 40 foot pieces of rope are enough to complete this tie on most bodies. This harness can be self-tied (by folks who can reach behind their own backs) or done on a partner.Prerequisites: Ability to tie lark’s head and reverse tension, join ropes, and form a lock off such as a half hitch will be helpful but not required.
Handout (requires password) - Cupcake Harnesses
This class is for folks who want to learn how to tie cupcake harnesses on bodies with generous breast tissue. Two to three 30 to 40 foot pieces of rope are enough to complete these ties on most bodies. This harness can be self-tied (by folks who can reach behind their own backs) or done on a partner.Prerequisites: Ability to tie a lark’s head and reverse tension, join ropes, and form a lock off such as a half hitch will be helpful but not required. Ability to tie a basic chest harness (shinju) will be very helpful but also not required.
Handout (requires password)