A lark's head double-column tie is executed similarly to the single-column version, but with an extra cinch in the middle. Watch the above video for a detailed walkthrough or check out Redmayne's full Lark's Head Double Column tutorial on TheDuchy.com for pictures and text.
If you want to experiment with suspensions, you can convert the lark's head double-column tie into a load-bearing version. However, (guess what I'm about to say) wrist joints are extremely sensitive and you should never suspend someone by their wrists.
And there you have it! With just these four knots, you have a solid foundation to execute nearly endless bondage scenes. For inspiration and detailed tutorials on many other ties, Redmayne offers a free "Rope 101" course on TheDuchy.com.
READ: Bondage 201: What to Do After You Tie Up Your Partner
Bondage Mistakes to Avoid
Redmayne listed the following as the most common mistakes he sees people encounter their first time tying bondage knots:
1. Skipping Safety
"Sometimes a person is so excited by the possibilities, they gloss over or skip learning about safety," Redmayne said. "When this happens, they don’t understand what the risks even are, much less how to lower those risks. This is a very dangerous situation. If you learn from a reputable rope teacher, they will stress these points as part of any '101' or introductory course."
(For some basic bondage safety tips to start with, scroll up!)
2. Not Learning How to Handle Rope Smoothly
Rope is only as useful as the rigger tying it. Along with learning basic knots, Redmayne recommends you learn basic rope handling techniques.
"If you take the time to learn how to control and move rope, you will be less likely to make amateur mistakes -- like give your partner rope burn or accidentally slap them in the face with flailing ends of a rope."
3. Choosing the Wrong Kind of Rope
"People will normally just grab any rope they happen to have laying around, or they will go to a local hardware or home improvement store and buy a coil of whatever catches their eye," said Redmayne. But that can be a recipe for injury.
Conditioned bondage rope is designed specifically for this type of play. It will be gentler on your skin and is easier to tie with. While it can be pricier than run-of-the-mill all-purpose rope, if it's accessible to you, Redmayne recommends "...a smoother rope, cotton, for example, or linen, perhaps a synthetic like nylon or MFP (multi-filament polypropylene)."
READ: 7 Tips for Choosing Bondage Rope
4. Not Absorbing Nuance
Being a good top isn't just about tying the knots in the right order. It's also about how you tie them -- and how you handle rope in general.
"A good rope instructor will be showing you not only the pattern for creating a particular tie, but just as importantly, tips and techniques for moving that rope around your partner safely and smoothly. They will show how to 'reach under a strap of rope with your finger, hook the tail and pull it though.' But most people, when they are starting out, don’t see that nuance; they just see 'get the tail under the strap of rope,'" said Redmayne.
When you're learning how to tie bondage knots, make sure you put as much thought into the technique as you do into the ties.
Rope Bondage Sex Positions
OK, now you're ready to try these ties out in practice. Need some ideas? Try one of these bondage sex positions:
READ: 8 Bondage Sex Positions from Simple to Extreme!
![Spread Eagle Bondage Position. Person lying on bed with writs and ankles bound to corners of bed frame.]()
The Spread Eagle Bondage Position involves tying one partner's wrists and ankles to the four corners of the bed. You can do this by tying a lark's head single-column tie around your partner's wrists and ankles to create cuffs (remember to use caution when tying wrists!) and using two half-hitches to anchor the tails to the bed posts.
The person being tied up can lie face-up or face-down in this position -- although, if they're face-down, you'll want to ensure you put safeguards in place so they can breathe easily. Moreover, because the rope bunny's hands are above their heart, loss of circulation is a greater possibility here. Remember our safety tips: If they're feeling numb, let them out!
With the body fully exposed, the Spread Eagle Position can be great for clitoral, g-spot or prostate stimulation. It's also a good way to cultivate feelings of vulnerability. That vulnerability can be enhanced with the addition of accessories like gags or blindfolds. If any of your accessories inhibit the bottom's ability to speak, make sure you arrange non-verbal ways to communicate mid-play.
![Frogtie Bondage Position: Seated person with thighs and ankles bound together and arms bound behind them.]()
The Frogtie is a popular bondage position which involves tying someone's thigh to their ankle. You can achieve it using a lark's head double-column tie.
Once your partner is tied in this position, where you go next is up to you! The Frogtie Bondage Position is very versatile. As pictured, you could tie your partner's arms behind them using another lark's head double-column tie to up the bondage ante. You could also deliver oral sex to the bound partner, penetrate them vaginally or anally or flip them over to transform it into a doggy style sex position. If you go for for the last option, make sure the bound partner is on a soft surface so you don't put too much pressure on their knees.
READ: Doggy Style Position: How to ACTUALLY Make it Feel Good
![Leapfrog Bondage Position. Person in a doggy style position with wrists and ankles bound, gagged.]()
The Leapfrog Bondage Position is another way to elevate doggy style sex. Because of how exposed it leaves the anus, it's also a good position for most forms of anal play.
You can achieve the Leapfrog Bondage Position by tying your partner's wrists to their ankles using a lark's head double-column tie. As always, use extreme caution when tying wrists -- these joints have many blood vessels and are prone to sprains and fractures. Depending on your partner's flexibility, you can place their arms on the inside or the outside of their thighs.
Like the Spread Eagle Bondage position, the Leapfrog Bondage Position is extremely vulnerable for the bound partner. Gags and/or blindfolds can take this feeling to the next level; but be sure to establish safe signals in advance if your accessories will inhibit your partner's ability to speak.
![Armbinder Gag Sex Position: Person with arms bound above head and gagged with binding material]()
The Armbinder Gag Bondage Position is a great entry point into the world of rope bondage because it doesn't require much flexibility and it still allows the bound partner to move their bottom half freely. As pictured, you may want to add a gag or other sensual item to add intimacy (remembering your non-verbal safewords!)
To get into this position, have your bottom place their arms above their head and tie them together using a lark's head double-column tie. If you have enough rope left over, you could attach it to a hard point using two half-hitches.
Conclusion
Before we parted ways, Redmayne emphasized how bondage can be a safe, healthy, fun and hot practice to incorporate into sex -- so long as you do it right.
"Millions of people all over the world are in to rope, sometimes just for the art of it, sometimes for more," he said. "Find your community -- local and real-life options are more available than you might believe, but there is also a thriving online community as well. Find others, learn from them and explore!
READ: BDSM Safety Rules: Expert Advice for Safer Play