Best macrame & rope work books according to redditors

This is the book I started with. I liked it so much I even bought volume 2.

Forgot this gem.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0688012264/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

Morrow Guide to Knots
(aka Mario and Guido's knot book)

Looks like you have the answer to your question, but another suggestion for you...

These cards are great to toss into the glove box of the truck/car. Most of us don't have the opportunity to tie a trucker's hitch on a regular basis, and if you're like me, that means you'll have a hard time remembering how to tie it the next time.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0922273227/

These cards are only about $5 for the set, so you may be able to find them cheaper (or just make your own).

I'm seeing a complete oversight of the stuff I see so many other people make on this sub. Hygiene gear. Hygiene gear. Hygiene gear.

What are you going to wipe your ass with? Clean your hands before your eat? Brush your teeth? What will you bathe with, even if it is just a pits, nuts, and ass wipe down with baby wipes?

-My rule of thumb is 7-10 baby wipes a day when in the field. Having baboon butt from being poorly cleaned up after hurts at first, then will get to be real bad news. A pack of 100 baby wipes doesn't weight too much.

-A toothbrush. Things like toothaches used to be fatal problems not too long ago in first world countries, and still are in third. A cavity or any other nastiness in your teeth is one of those "all encompassing hurts" that make everything difficult, kind of like pulling a muscle in your back or something.

-An outdoor shower isn't necessary, just a good scrub down at the end of the day on any part of the body where there is a crease/fold- armpits, groin, etc. These places also have hair, which grows/supports bacteria.

I'm not going to hit the clothes thing, because u/edheler did a good job of the break down. I'm just going to emphasize socks. The legs feed the wolf, right? If you're feet go bad from wet socks/foot nastiness, life starts to suck fast.

The rest of this is just my opinions and personal preferences.

-I see you have quart sized ziplock bags. I prefer gallon ziplock bags. Waterproofing your kit, especially your clothes, is key. When it rains and your pack gets saturated, everything inside will soak up all that water like a sponge. This adds more weight, which sucks to carry, but on a survival note, now you have to take the time to lay out all your gear and dry it to prevent it from molding. In Undaunted Courage, Ambrose talked about how Lewis and Clark went to great lengths to dry out their gear anytime it got wet, because they know that that shit had to last them for the duration. A bugout situation will be similar- what you have is going to have to last, and it getting wet is no good. The 32 gallon trash bags may be for this purpose, or other general purpose stuff, but I've found that once you put a lot of stuff in them they rip. Gallon bags are clear so you can see whats inside of them, small enough to not have so much extra space, and big enough to fit most things. I've found quart size bags to be just too small for all around use.

-A tarp. I see you have a hammock and a bag, which is my preferred way of sleeping outdoors. My hammock is a hennessy with a built in rain fly. Getting rained on sucks, and a tarp can keep you dry. Also with hammocks, on cold/windy nights, the hammock functions as a heat sink, since there is no ground beneath you to insulate you. A tarp will cut down on the wind leeching away your valuable heat, even with your bag in there. I've slept in my hammock for a long period straight, and some kind of windscreen/liner is important for the winter moths that are coming up. Plus, a tarp is one of those survival items like a knife or rope- it's got too many uses to be left out. My personal three items that I always harp on are knife, rope, tarp.

-Good on you on the zip ties. They are incredibly useful little things.

-Have you considered a knot card? Knots are a set of skills with an expiration date on them- if you don't use them all the time, it leaves you. I use the hell out of mine, and you don't give up much weight or space.

https://www.amazon.com/Ashley-Book-Knots-Clifford-W/dp/0385040253/ref=pd_sbs_14_8?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0385040253&pd_rd_r=e0ab9849-0e7d-4ba9-a032-9a9d01f9ee48&pd_rd_w=DsijS&pd_rd_wg=En3yr&pf_rd_p=1c11b7ff-9ffb-4ba6-8036-be1b0afa79bb&pf_rd_r=PE3RHZF1NQ3W6QAF2VF8&psc=1&refRID=PE3RHZF1NQ3W6QAF2VF8

That one is the holy grail of ropeworking books. I have yet to get my hands on it so I have never seen it but everyone serious about the hobby loves it.

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Ropecraft-Stuart-Grainger/dp/1574092480/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=creative+ropecraft&qid=1566544712&s=books&sr=1-1

That is the creative ropecraft. The illustrations can be a bit difficult but its a great beginner book.

https://www.amazon.com/Pawsons-Knot-Craft-Rope-Mats/dp/1472922786/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2/136-7070516-4175455?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1472922786&pd_rd_r=2e8898cd-24a4-48de-a09f-b99388849af1&pd_rd_w=rUDOx&pd_rd_wg=zQIMo&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=CTJM8EXWXXN8V6FQH32G&psc=1&refRID=CTJM8EXWXXN8V6FQH32G

This is one of Des Pawson's books. I borrowed it from a friend once, tons of info. I had to give it back though. ><

https://www.amazon.com/Marlinspike-Sailor-Hervey-Garrett-Smith/dp/0070592187/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3/136-7070516-4175455?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0070592187&pd_rd_r=2e8898cd-24a4-48de-a09f-b99388849af1&pd_rd_w=rUDOx&pd_rd_wg=zQIMo&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=CTJM8EXWXXN8V6FQH32G&psc=1&refRID=CTJM8EXWXXN8V6FQH32G

This is a nice cheap book too, I have never seen it myself but it is one that is recommended a lot on various youtube ropecraft channels.

I have done a couple projects from Des Pawson's "Knotcraft" with good results. My favorite so far are a pair of coasters I made with 1/8" dacron cord. That amazon link has some other great suggestions for other ropework guides.

Not as much ropework, but the Samso ropes website has phenomenal splicing guides Here

In your situation I would first be working on defense in depth strategies. It sounds like you have a fairly ideal opportunity to interdict travel to your retreat. Since we're obviously postulating a TEOTWAWKI situation some strategically downed trees or a small landslide might permanently interdict vehicular traffic. If they get out the chainsaws to clear some trees how much further could you hear that versus the vehicles themselves. How many neighbors do you have that would help with your interdiction efforts after the ballon went up? Can you disguise the road to your retreat so that people who didn't know it was there before wouldn't notice it?

There are too many reference books worth hiding given your postulated circumstances. Duplicating my reference book collection to hide a set would be quite expensive. There is always the book shelf listing of survivalblog to use as a good starting point. Here is a link to the knot reference I have in my INCH bag. It's very basic but also waterproof.

Hahaha. yeah! Don't let it stop you though. You can go out there and tie basic knots and it'll work, but not quite as well. I got this little knot guide and it helped a lot: https://smile.amazon.com/Pro-Knot-Outdoor-Knots-John-Sherry/dp/0922273227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481681534&sr=8-1&keywords=knot+book+plastic

I learned the knots from youtube and then, because I'm forgetful and never remember them, I use the guide to consult them when I want to actually use them.

This little set of cards helped me through my first 2 burns till I just memorized them.

I'm a fan of the Morrow Guide to Knots. Nice step-by-steps, and sometimes it includes multiple ways to tie the same knot.

well in that case, maybe you want something more portable/permanent.

http://www.amazon.com/PROKNOT-Outdoor-Knots-John-Sherry/dp/0922273227

I have a knot guide in my home prep kit so others can have a resource and for a reminder for me if I can't recall a certain knot. Nice and hard plastic and connected as a fan basically. Highly recommend.
PROKNOT Outdoor Knots https://www.amazon.com/dp/0922273227/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_0bTMwb8RZA285

2 useful items that could be stocking stuffers for under $20

Paracord spool/tool

Knot reference cards

I like these wallet-sized plastic cards that come bound together, it's a great field reference and doesn't take up much space/pack weight:

https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Knot-Outdoor-Knots-John-Sherry/dp/0922273227

http://www.amazon.com/Lindsey-Philpott/e/B001JP7M4C

I have his The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots in hard cover. It's great. Really nice photographs.

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Ropecraft-Stuart-Grainger/dp/1574092480/ref=pd_sim_14_12?ie=UTF8&dpID=51ytxt4HWhL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR101%2C160_&refRID=1EA18FQTZ5JA2PD9R0EQ

I reference that one a lot when tying.

Don't be intimidated by one of the most rewarding parts of camping, ie.. playing around with rope and stuff.

Just get some and start practicing knots, it's big fun and a very useful skill to have.

Check out this site for some decent instructions on setting things up, and even how to make some stuff your self and save gobs of cash.

Two books on knots I can recommend that aren't prohibitively expensive are this and this. That 60 dollar price is wrong, I don't know what's up with that, but that books should be around 16-20 bucks.

Of course this is the 'bible' of knots, though a bit pricier. I don't own it, but wish I'd gotten it instead of those other two.. meh.

A word of warning.. If you start asking about hammocks, someone is going to point you toward the hammock forums. I won't tell you to avoid that forum, but be careful there. There are some dubious characters there, and the forum as a whole will steer you in the wrong direction for sure.

Pick and choose, especially if you have more time than money.

I wouldn't buy anything from any of the members, or any of the 'cottage industries' often linked there. Their ethics being questionable, at best.