Fat rope, Arrgh! Decking project

Hi. New here and thought id ask the advice of you lovely people with a decking project im currently making a mess of. Ive made an area of decking on top of an old stable that has been knocked down. Ive got it all done nice with some posts in ready to attach some brass eyelets and rope for the fencing around the front. Now i read that pre-soaking the rope was a good idea as it shrinks and can create problems if not done. Trouble is that now i have done so, the rope may have shrunk length ways but its also got twice as fat and now does'nt fit through my brass eyelets/handrail fittings anymore. Will it shrink again once dry ? Are there any tips for this kind of problem!? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Dave

 

anyone ???