Part 8: Completing the double

Most of the slack is worked through. There remain some strands to double up.

ready to try this?
bulk cord in white and hand dyed colors available here

Pop the knot off the mold and use the fid to complete the doubling. This makes it easier to flex the knot fabric and thread the cord.

Here the knot is completely doubled but is a bit messy with uneven tension and shape.

A top view of the completly doubled knot.

At this point the knot is placed on another mold and worked up to the final, even tension using the round jaw pliers to grab the individual strands.
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start over at the beginning

Part 7: doubling the strands

The first 13 part circuit is complete and the cord is doubling around the knot. Use the fid to carefully position the cord through each intersection keeping parallel and on the same side as the original strand.

Another look.

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Keep the twist out of the cord as much as possible. This will help when working up the knot to it's final form.

Here the knot has been doubled and slack has been removed for all but a few bights. The over under pattern can be seen clearly.

Work the slack out of the knot by following around and progressively taking up the tension. Don't pull too tight, leave each part evenly tensioned as you go.

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Part 6: finishing the weave

Here the cord has been inserted in to the wooden fid. This makes the process of threading the over-under pattern easier. As the slack is pulled through the standing parts be sure to remove the twist each time.

bulk cord in white and hand dyed colors available here

Same pattern with the fid as before, here we see the 11th part being placed in the 13 part design.

Cord is pulled through and parallel to the weave.

Here the cord is doubled and a larger gauge fid is used to manage the longer cord through the multiple weaves of the expanding knot.

Keeping the slack cord tangle free is important.

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Part 5: continuing the pattern

Here the center crossing is clearly established and visible. Keep the opposite over-under pattern going based on the adjacent part.



bulk cord in white and hand dyed colors available here

Always OVER at the last part on the outside.

The gaps at the edges will start to shrink as the number of standing parts increases. Keep adjusting the rubber bands to maintain a "V" shaped space on each outside edge.

Here the parallel strands can be seen in the same over-under pattern across the center of the diamond.

Keep working around and back and forth.

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Part 4, building a 13 part turks head knot bracelet - Adding more parts

This is part 4 of the tutorial:

Keep working the running part across the knot from side to side reversing direction after going OVER the last standing part.


bulk cord in white and hand dyed colors available here

Here the edge pattern is clearly established and visible.

Each time the running part crosses the first standing part be sure it is opposite the previous strand. If the previous strand goes over the parallel strand then pass the running part under. This keeps the over-under pattern intact.

On the outer edge the running strand must always emerge OVER the last sanding part. Work backwards to set up the over-under pattern to ensure that the last crossing is always OVER.

The open diamonds will get smaller as you add parallel strands. You will also notice that every other circuit around the knot appears to exactly follow the parallel strand on the opposite side of the diamond. This pattern will become clear as the number of strands increases bringing the parallel parts closer together.

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Part 3, building a 13 part turks head knot bracelet

This is part 3 of the tutorial:

Move toward the right and again place the running lead UNDER the first strand, then OVER the second. Use the loop and gently pull the cord through.

Place the bight and "zig" to the left.

bulk cord in white and hand dyed colors available here

Work back to the left again using the same sequence but this time there will be two standing leads, place the running lead UNDER the third one and OVER the outside lead. Use the loop again and draw the cord through.

Completed rope bracelets available here

Here you can see the UNDER-OVER pattern at the outside left held in place with the rubber bands.

The cord leads to the right again...

...and goes UNDER the first standing part, then OVER the second one (just like before) using the loop to avoid tangling the long slack end.


At the outside on the left it's the same move again: UNDER the first standing part then OVER the outermost part.

We have 5 of the 13 parts placed now. The knot is complete for a five part diamond weave as you can see the over-under pattern is consistent even though there is lots of space left on the mold. We will fill that space up as the number of parts increases.

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Part 2 building a 13 part turks head bracelet tutorial

This is part two of the tutorial

Place the running lead OVER the crossing strand in the center and  place the running lead OVER the standing lead on the right making a bight (turn) under the rubber band on the right side as shown


bulk cord in white and hand dyed colors available here

Cross the center lead again going the other way. Place the running lead OVER the center as before and OVER the standing lead on the left side. Place a bight under the rubber band.


See finished bracelets like this in the Etsy shop

Cross OVER the center lead again headed to the right. (Notice the standing lead on the left is not used until the knot is complete).

Form the bight on the right hand side under the rubber band. Be sure that the running lead passes OVER the standing lead.

Now for the first time place the running lead UNDER the first strand and OVER the second.

Use a loop as shown to feed the cord through the weave and pull the slack through. Be careful not to disturb the rest of the cords!

Place the cord OVER the standing part on the left and secure it with the rubber band.

Remember the move to the outside is always OVER the last standing part.
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Part 1, building a 13 part turks head knot bracelet in pictures

This is the second part of the tutorial:

Unwind the cord and work out all the kinks so it is relaxed. Find the center of the cord about 15 ft from one end and place a loop under the left hand rubber band as shown.

(The rest can be coiled up and placed inside the cardboard tube)

roll the tube towards you and go half way around the tube and place another loop, (or "bight") under the right hand rubber band (on the opposite side)


bulk cord in white and hand dyed colors available here

keep going around the tube and cross OVER the first (standing) lead. Place a bight under the left hand rubber band opposite the existing bight on the right.

Here you can see the pattern clearly. Continue around placing new bights opposite existing bights. See how it creates a diamond shape?

When you get to the starting point, place the bight under the left hand rubber band placing the running lead OVER the standing lead.
Remember this move, you will use it to complete the rest of the knot.

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need something easier? Try this four part design

building a 13 part turks head bracelet

Going from this....

#72 cotton cable cord - 30 ft long
round nose pliers
wood fid

bulk cord in white and hand dyed colors available here

...to this
building a 13 part x 19 bight x 2 strand turks head bracelet

                                  get started -->

OK nevermind! Take me to an online shop!!

Classic whites section on Etsy

Extra wide cuffs on Zibbet

desert sunset )strata( design slip-on cotton bracelet

I like to use bright colors to offset the darker days of fall and early winter. Here is a blast of orange, red, and yellow to cast some light into the dark!

The oranges and reds kind of blend together in the photos. This is all fabric no beads or other details.





design and photos copyright 2009 WhatKnotShop

BASIC beaded bracelet medium - rainbow colors

 New BASIC beaded turks head knot bracelet made with white 3 mm cord and transparent plastic "sparkle" beads.

This is a rainbow color design with eight color beads.

Check your slip-on size click here then select your favorite color from one of the three online shops:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop
ArtFire: http://www.artfire.com/users/WhatKnotShop
Zibbet: http://www.zibbet.com/WhatKnotShop








Design and photos copyright 2009 WhatKnotShop

new BASIC line of turks head knot bracelets available now

Ten colors plus the natural white (not shown) now available in the popular double diamond weave pattern made with hand dyed cotton cord.






Key Features: 
* variety of single colors ranging from the subtle grays and greens to brighter blues and reds 
** 17 bight x 5 lead pattern creates interest and texture
*** variety of sizes from small to extra large available at the same low price
**** each item is handmade with care and shipped directly to you
***** competitive prices


check your slip-on size click here then select your favorite from Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop


Check these other online venues for more turks head knot bracelets in a variety of weave designs ArtFire: http://www.artfire.com/users/WhatKnotShop
Zibbet: http://www.zibbet.com/WhatKnotShop