How to Tie the Double Column Tie

How to Tie the Double Column Tie

Usage

The Double Column Tie is the shibari and BDSM binding that joins two "columns" — most often two wrists or two ankles — side by side, holding a controlled gap between them. It is the natural next step after the single column tie: the same wrap-and-lock logic, extended to bind a pair of limbs (or two objects) together without either being able to twist free.

Why Learn the Double Column Tie?

Binding two limbs together is a core position in rope bondage — wrists behind the back, ankles together, an ankle to a thigh. Done well, the double column holds both columns firmly at a set spacing so neither can slip out or crush against the other. The spacing pass between the two limbs is what makes this a genuine double-column lock rather than two limbs crammed into a single wrap, and it is the detail worth practising until it is automatic.

Common Uses

• Shibari & BDSM: binding two wrists or ankles together as a base restraint position.
• Progressive rope work: a building block for box ties and more complex harnesses.
• Everyday utility: lashing two poles, rails, or bundled items in parallel.

ABOK Number (Ashley Book of Knots): Unlisted A modern shibari technique post-dating Ashley (1944); no ABOK plate exists. Other Names Two-Column Tie TK (community shorthand) Type Binding Knot · Bondage / Restraint

Notable Features

• Binds two columns at a set gap: the spacing pass holds a palm-width between the limbs so neither is crushed against the other.
• Non-constricting when set right: like the single column, the locked wraps do not cinch down under a partner's movement.
• Stable and symmetric: load spreads across both columns evenly, resisting twist and roll.

Variations

One wrap vs. two wraps

• One wrap: some riggers wrap both columns once for a lower-profile tie.
• Two wraps: others use two for a wider, more comfortable pressure band — a stylistic and comfort choice, not a correctness dispute.

Similar Knots

Single Column Tie vs. Double Column Tie

• Pros: the single column is faster and is the foundation skill — master it first, since the double column is the same lock applied across two limbs.
• Cons: it binds only one column, so it cannot hold two limbs in a fixed relationship the way the double column does.

Quick-Release Single Column vs. Double Column Tie

• Pros: the quick-release single column spills in one pull for a fast escape.
• Cons: the double column has no quick-release by design — it is meant to stay put, so safety scissors are the emergency exit.

History

Like its single-column sibling, the double column tie is a modern community technique with no entry in The Ashley Book of Knots or traditional guild knotting. Sources are unusually consistent here: the dedicated shibari references all describe the same structure (a wrap-and-lock binding two parallel columns) under "double column tie" or "two-column tie," making it one of the more consistently named ties in the curriculum.

Security Level

Set correctly, the double column holds both columns firmly at a fixed spacing without constricting. It is a restraint-level binding, not a rigging knot, and must never be used to suspend body weight.

Downsides

• No quick release: it is designed to stay put, so an emergency exit depends on having safety scissors within reach.
• Not load-bearing: a restraint and binding technique only — never a suspension anchor.

Structure

1. Find the centre (bight) of the rope.
2. Place the bight under and around the two columns — e.g. both wrists — leaving a palm-width of space between them.
3. Wrap around both columns together, flat and untwisted (one wrap or two, per preference).
4. Cross the bight over the working ends at the centre of the wraps.
5. Pass the bight between the two columns, over both sets of wraps, and back up around — the step that distinguishes a double-column lock from a single-column lock.
6. Form a loop with the working end and pull the bight through.
7. Repeat the loop-and-bight-through pass a second time to fully lock the knot.
8. Finish with a square knot and tension-check for one to two fingers of slack between rope and skin.

The between-the-columns pass in step 5 is the part that is easy to get wrong — the Knot IQ app lets you rotate the double column tie in 3D and slow that pass down until the lock is clear.

FAQ

What is the double column tie used for?

It binds two limbs or objects together side by side at a controlled spacing — most often two wrists or ankles in shibari and BDSM — and is the standard two-column restraint position.

How is it different from the single column tie?

The single column binds one column; the double column adds a pass between the two columns so it locks a pair of limbs together at a fixed gap rather than just one.

How many times should I wrap?

Either one or two wraps works — one is lower-profile, two spreads pressure over a wider, more comfortable band. It is a comfort choice, not a correctness rule.

Can it be used to suspend someone?

Never. It is a restraint-level binding only, with no load rating. Suspension requires dedicated training and hard points.

Important Notes on Safety

Maintain the spacing between the two columns and check circulation continuously whenever this tie is on a person — numbness, tingling, or discoloration are documented warning signs that call for immediate loosening. Keep one to two fingers of slack between rope and skin. Because the double column has no quick-release, keep safety scissors within reach at all times as an emergency-release backup. Never rely on this tie to suspend body weight: it is a restraint and binding technique, not a suspension-rated anchor.