The second and third cuts for each section of your carved rope moulding are angled cuts, one above the stop cut and down to meet it at it's base, and one below the stop cut and up to meet it at the base. I tend to make all my cuts down to the stop cut, then reverse my piece of work and make all my matching cuts down as well. Some people prefer to make a down angle cut, and then an up angle cut and move on to the next line.
Rope is slightly rounded, even when it is wrapped tightly around a surface. The angled cuts you make on either side of your stop cut will set the shape of your rope. Try to hold your blade at a matching angle for every angled cut you make. This is easiest if you cut all the angles in the same direction to the stop cut, one after the other, either up or down your length of carved moulding. For this fine moulding, keep the angle of your knife to a minimum and start with the top cut (above the stop cut) finishing your cut at the base of the stop so that you have a neat valley with no splinters.
