How rope is made

A rope stays together because every layer is twisted opposite to the one below, so the twists pull against each other.

stations: 5
things upstream: 14
raw sources: 5
steps from the ground: 6

The short version

Most rope is built from fibers twisted into yarns, yarns twisted into strands, and strands twisted together, each stage in the opposite direction to the last. That counter-twisting locks the rope together and spreads the load. Modern braided rope instead weaves strands into a tube around a core.

Spin fibers into yarn

Fibers are gathered and twisted into yarns. Natural fibers include manila hemp, sisal, jute and coir. Synthetic ones such as nylon, polyester and polypropylene are stronger.

Goes in
Nylon Polypropylene
Twist yarns into strands

A number of yarns are twisted together to form a strand. The twist in the strand runs opposite to the twist in the yarn.
Lay the strands

Typically three strands are twisted together in a third direction to lay the rope. Because each level resists the others, the rope does not unravel and the load is shared among the strands.
Braid a jacket instead

For braided rope, an even number of strands, often eight or twelve, are braided into a round tube. In kernmantle rope, a braided sheath wraps a core of long twisted fibers that provides most of the strength.
Seal and reel it

Ends are bound or heat-sealed so they do not unravel, and the rope is coiled or wound on reels.

End of the lineRope Next it goes into kite.

Worth repeating

A 20 cm strip of mammoth ivory with four holes, found in Hohle Fels cave in Germany and dated to between 35,000 and 40,000 years ago, has been identified as a tool for making rope.
From the Middle Ages until the 18th century, European rope was laid in ropewalks, very long buildings where the strands were stretched out and twisted together.
Nylon is 10 to 15 percent weaker when wet.