I originally wrote these instructions for making twisted rope, but have changed to plaited because the twisted rope comes undone in the wash, and can leave gaps between the strands to catch little feet. The cloth is now twisted to make it strong, then plaited, which gives I find gives the best from each technique.

1. Take your sheets, or any other long pieces of material, and tear/cut them into strips about 8cm or 3 inches wide and as long as you can get them.

2. Use an elastic band to fix three strips of fabric tightly together at one end.

3. Wedge the end under a heavy piece of furniture.

4. Twist each strip of fabric round and round for about the first foot of its length.

5. Plait the three strands together as tightly as you can, twisting the strips as you go to keep them solid and compact.

6. Fasten the ends with an elastic band. It should look reasonably like a rope now.

7. Take the first end out from under your furniture. If it looks loose, you may need to undo the elastic band and tighten up the plait at that end.

8. Once it's all nice and tight, bind the ends with string and cut off the elastic bands. If you leave long ends on the string, you can use them to attach the rope to the cage.

9. The ropes can be used as they are, or knotted together using macrame techniques to produce rope ladders similar to those available commercially.