How-To: Weave a rope mat

Craft & Design Energy & Sustainability
How-To:  Weave a rope mat
prolong-knot.jpg

I’ve seen this thing referred to as an “Ocean Mat,” a “Prolong Knot,” a “Ladder Mat,” and a “Sailor’s True Love Mat.” Whatever you want to call it, it’s a noble expression of the manly art of knot-tying, and this tutorial at the UK’s Scullion Enterprises will show you how it’s done.

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14 thoughts on “How-To: Weave a rope mat

  1. ehrichweiss says:

    Funny this was posted, I’ve been learning the art of netting and learning different knots for the different materials I use. For example, the “netting knot” is usually the sheet bend but for nylon the double sheet bend is significantly better to avoid the knots coming loose. I’m going to be playing with the Carrick Bend today to see how well it works as well.

    I found a book called “Knots and Nets for Fishermen”(or something close) that is chock full of good information that isn’t really being taught at all these days.

    1. Ted Stern says:

      Pictured above is the Prolong Knot. A very similar but distinct knot is the Ocean Plat, which has three bights along each side instead of four.

      For more information about making mats, see the unrivaled reference book, The Ashley Book of Knots, which has been continuously in print since 1944.

      * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashley_Book_of_Knots
      * http://www.amazon.com/Ashley-Book-Knots-Clifford/dp/0385040253

      If you’ve ever read The Shipping News by Annie Proulx, she used excerpts from Ashley to introduce each chapter. It is a rarity among craft books, a tome that is as charming for its anecdotes as the breadth of its information.

    2. Daryl says:

      You might also want to check out the “Encyclopedia of knots and fancy rope work” by Raoul Graumont and John Hensel. It is a very helpful book.

  2. Sean Michael Ragan says:

    Thanks to both of you for taking the time to point out some good resources. We all appreciate it!

  3. Anonymous says:

    The “Ocean Mat,”  “Prolong Knot,”  “Ladder Mat,” and  “Sailor’s True Love Mat” Are all different knots that are used for mats.

  4. Anonymous says:

    The “Ocean Mat,”  “Prolong Knot,”  “Ladder Mat,” and  “Sailor’s True Love Mat” are not the same knot.
    each of these knots are used to make rope mats.  If you would like more information on these and other knots, then I suggest that you consult “Ashley’s Book of Knots”.  This book is considered the authority on knots.

  5. Anonymous says:

    The “Ocean Mat,”  “Prolong Knot,”  “Ladder Mat,” and  “Sailor’s True Love Mat” are not the same knot.
    each of these knots are used to make rope mats.  If you would like more information on these and other knots, then I suggest that you consult “Ashley’s Book of Knots”.  This book is considered the authority on knots.

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I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

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