How to Lace a Rope Bed

Position the bed so you are standing at the foot board and facing the headboard. Wrap duct tape around one end of a piece of rope to prevent the rope from fraying.

Insert the non-taped end of the rope through the leftmost hole on the headboard from the inside to the outside. Tie a secure knot. Stretch the rope from the headboard to the leftmost hole in the footboard. Thread the taped rope end through the hole to the front of the footboard. Thread the rope through the next hole to the right and stretched across and through the second hole in the headboard.

Bring the rope across the back to the right and third hole, through to the third hole in the footboard. Continue until you reach the last hole on the headboard right side. Take the rope under and inside the post to the outside top hole in the right side rail. Weave the rope over and under the headboard and footboard ropes to the left side rail. Take the rope out the top left side hole and down to the second hole and in through that hole moving toward the right. Weave in the opposite order of the first row. Continue weaving until you reach the outside of the right bottom hole. Tie a knot and trim off the rope.

Tighten the rope by inserting a straining wrench where the rope exits the first hole on the left on the outside of the footboard. A straining wrench is a 12-inch-long wooden dowel with a 3-inch slot. Above the slot is a crossbar used for twisting. Slide the groove of the straining wrench over the rope and twist away from the rope toward the right, stretching the rope. Drive an awl into the outside first hole to prevent the rope from slacking when you release the straining wrench.

Move the tool to where the rope exits the second hole from the left on the outside of the headboard. Twist the tool and drive a second awl into the second hole. Move the tool to the third hole from the left on the footboard. Twist the rope. Remove the awl from the first hole and insert it into the third hole. Continue following the rope until you reach the last hole on the bottom right side rail. Twist the rope and insert the awl on the inside of the same last hole. Tie a tight knot as close to the outside rail as possible and trim the rope.