Hi, I'm Neil at The Traditional Rope Company, who Sacha kindly
mentions. I have finally got my website re-built, www.traditionalropecompany.co.uk
and it does now have lots of pictures and loads more advice. Hopefully
it will help answer some of your questions. I specialise in supplying
natural fibre rope, mainly Manila. Most of my customers are gardeners
and I'll post out rope cut to the length you need, not just in set
lengths.

In response to the question about the knot to use to stop the rope
pulling back through a hole in a post then a simple overhand knot will
do the job. That's the knot that appears all by itself in bits of
string, power leads, shoe laces etc! When you are on a yacht or a ship
you wouldn't choose it for a stopper knot, which is what it is doing,
because it can be really hard to un-do once its tightened up, but
that's not really a problem here. You could also use a figure of eight
knot, which is more decorative, easier to un-do and whilst its bigger
it can lie flatter against a post.

Oh, and for those of you that haven't visted her at Hill House
Nursery, Sacha and Ray have a great tea room!

If you have any questions or suggestions I'm always happy to help.

Neil