:Towel rails
The idea of a rope towel rail for the bathroom or kitchen came from working with the high grade 24mm ropes in the making of stair ropes and handrails.
The 24mm natural fibre hemp rope we supply is a very hard laid (tightly twisted) rope, 4 strand with a core: it holds its shape really well and doesn't scuff up easily. As it is a natural material, it will vary in colour from coil to coil and also has a characteristic hay-like odour. If you are at all unsure obout this, please ask for a sample. Two rope towel rails made of 24mm hemp are shown in the small pictures below.
24mm 4-strand spun polyester (p.o.s.h.) rope in pale or dark shades, is the closest synthetic equivalent to natural hemp. The rope towel rail shown left is made from the pale p.o.s.h. rope and has a wrought iron satin black fitting with round base plate.
Our 4-strand unbleached cotton rope is a creamy-white colour, softer to the touch and not so rigid as the hemp. For images and details on all these ropes see our Ropes page.
The ends of the rope are carefully stitched and bound using sailmaker's whipping twine. A sailors' Turks head knot covers the join of the the rope and also brings this join up to the same stiffness as the rest of the ring.
The round configuration is the tightest circle which can be made with the rope without distortion, and produces a round rope towel rail measuring approximately 22cm in diameter.
Brass and chromed fittings used on the round rope towel rails are the same ones we provide for stair ropes and rope hand rails, and have been especially manufactured to our own design. The chrome finish is available in mirror or satin.
Wrought iron brackets are custom made locally and are available to order in a number of finishes with various base plates. For detailed images and information on all our fittings for ropes, see our Fittings page.
- Round Towel Rail in hemp, cotton or p.o.s.h.
- with brass or chromed fitting: £56.00 (inc. UK p&p)
- Round Towel Rail in hemp, cotton or p.o.s.h.
- with wrought iron fitting: £68.00 (inc. UK p&p)
:Other Rope Towel Rail Ideas
These hoop towel rails feature the decorative ropework technique known as a grapevine service.
At sea, a service on a rope or ring would protect against chafing.
A 3mm cord is worked around a solid ring with a netting needle, creating a spiral effect.
Shown here are two rope worked hoop towel rails each measuring approximately 14cm in diameter. One uses a natural fibre hemp cord as a decorative hitching, the other is finished in black polypropylene 3mm cord. Polypropylene cord comes in strong bright colours - red, blue, yellow, green and white.
A straight towel rail has been made from 24mm natural polished hemp as a very short rope hand rail, and features a manrope knot at each end.
The Manrope knot is a well known ship's knot which is tied with the four unlaid strands of the same rope. A decorative eyesplice is another way to secure the ends of the rope. A selection of knots and splices used for stair ropes can be seen on our Knots page. The straight rail can be made to measure if you have a particular space for it.
