Registration for this workshop opens on Tuesday, October 8th at 10 am.
There are so many ways to create rope, and so much it’s capable of doing. Join us in exploring local fibres, working them and twisting them with our hands until they become exponentially stronger than their constituent parts, and finally, tie them into knots of practical use.
We’ll learn the “reverse wrap” cordage technique, an ancient, meditative, useful, and fun skill to develop. We'll learn how to harvest and process abundant local plants like basswood, milkweed and dogbane for their fibers, and apply this technique to create beautiful, functional cordage. We will also practice a variety of useful knots, including the Bowline, Alpine Butterfly, Trucker’s Hitch, Clove Hitch, and more.
This workshop welcomes folks of all levels of experience. All materials are provided, but bringing your own rope to practice knot-tying is encouraged!
Session price: $65 +HST. If cost is a barrier, please see our Economics for a Changing World page for sliding-scale and mutual aid options.
Meet Your Instructors
Brendan Rogers is a full time GOS instructor, artist, and local Knot Tying enthusiast. He’s been picking up knots since learning to sail 10 years ago. Brendan has recently discovered the joys of cordage weaving with ancient, local fibres, like Hemp Dogbane, Cedar Bark, and Basswood Inner Bark. He’s been practicing at this skill on the daily.
Tamara Anderson enjoys canoeing and camping and understands the allure of tying a good knot. She has recently developed a passion for teaching knots through story-telling, team challenges and a bit of magic.