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How to weave your rope into an emergency sleeping pad / hammock

Original Post
DannyUncanny · · Vancouver · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 100

I was just messing around the other day, and tried knitting my rope into some kind of net. I found that a 70 m rope makes a pretty good size for a hammock. The picture has 10 stitches, but I think 6 to 8 stitches would be a good width. It's quite stretchy. This might actually be useful if you found yourself stuck somewhere with minimal space, or just have a lazy afternoon. Folded in half it also makes a decent sleeping pad. The whole process took about 15 minutes, and unravelling it is as easy as just pulling on one end.

Give it a try, and maybe keep it in the back of your head in case you ever get stuck out in the cold. At the very least, it would give you something to do.

The basic idea is you just use your arms as giant knitting needles. If you don't know how to knit, it's pretty easy: wikihow.com/Knit
If you want it tighter, you could use something like an ice axe (two straight shafted would be ideal) to make smaller stitches. But this is a little bit slower way of going about it.

woven rope

Folded into a sleeping pad

Tighter weave

ChristopherAust · · Ohio · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 25

Thanks, grandma! Want to knit me a hat, next?

Austin Baird · · SLC, Utah · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 95

I think this is pretty cool. Unfortunately, I know I'll butcher it when I try.

TWK · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 160

It looks like it has potential for medevac applications as well.

rpc · · Portland, OR · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 775

works like a charm...unplanned bivys, punctured thermarests :)

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Looks nice, I have no patience for technique or talent to do this.....need help on mine.

H BL · · Colorado · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 95

That's pretty cool. I don't think I have the patience for that. I just roll it up and dump it under my pad if I need the extra.

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Now my regular 70 M climbing rope?/ THAT would look exactly like this weave job if I stuff it into the bottom of my pack and leave it there overnight. Happens to all of us, doesn't it? Rutabega knots all over.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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