When you first get a rope, you would want to ensure that it is whipped, if not the rope will fray (come apart) upon use. Usually this will begin after 2-3 times of use. The best way to solve this problem is to  use a whipping, and the most practical is the simple whipping, which is best for thinner rope, like below 12mm. Thicker rope would be better secured with the Sail Maker's Whipping.

Frayed Rope

You can see that the ends of the rope are falling apart or going off in different directions.

Step 1:

Gather the right equipment and materials to do the whipping. This includes:

1. Candle
2. Lighter
3. Scissors
4. Thread

Step 2:

Cut a piece of thread, around 1 meter in length. The minimal length of the whipping should be the thickness of the rope. Use one end to create a bight at the end of a rope.

Step 3:

Bring the working end of the thread around the rope and continue going around, till you run out of thread.

Step 4:

Put the working end of the thread through the bight formed at the end.

Step 5:

Once through the bight, pull the other end of the thread, to seal the whipping.

Step 6:

Snip of the excess thread and the simple whipping is done.

Step 7:

To further secure the whipping in place, candle wax can be used. Place the candle above the whipping to let the wax drip off onto the whipping.

Step 8:

Before the wax hardens, use your fingers to remove the excess wax off the rope. Rub against the rope and pull away from the whipping. Too much wax just makes the whipping thicker and will come off by itself in the day to day usage of the rope. What is important is to have a thin layer to protect the whipping and fuse the rope together.

Step 9:

Excess wax that has been rubbed off.

Final Look

The final whipping is hard and yet has not increased in thickness. The whipping should last as long as the rope.