August 30, 2011

green and white herringbone weave rope bracelet 1538

 Bright white and green synthetic cord is used to make this classic herringbone weave design rope bracelet.

Size is "extra large" measuring 9" (228 mm) inside circumference so this cuff can fit someone with bigger hands. The weave is drawn up to a firm shape so there is not much stretch. Synthetics will not shrink when wet.
The two color pattern reveals the little "v" shapes that characterize the herringbone weave. One edge is green the other white.

See this bracelet in the blended colors section of WhatKnotShop on Etsy.

To request a custom design like this please use the Etsy convo utility or leave a comment here.



design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

August 28, 2011

Getting Warm Getting Cool now on Etsy

Cool Blue and warm yellow combined in Getting Warm, Getting Cool collection by Malou Paul a jewelley artist from the Netherlands. See her list of favorite items, favorite Etsy shops, and her treasury collections


On the cool side of a warm cup of coffee is Jenna Bigott's Dark Teal Coffee Gauntlet with White Wood Grain Stitch part of her creative collection of cup cozies you can find in her Etsy shop. You can also follow her blog at Jennabigott.com for more illustrations, photos, and stitchery.


Even though this one is sold you should check out romiceramics Small Spinner (Dark Teal). There are more of these Spinners including some at steep discounts 50 percent off and 60 percent off. Apparently the kiln was not kind to some of these crisp geometric bowls which come in solid colors and decorated patterns. 


The featured item in this collection is the light teal blue BASIC turks head knot bracelet. These BASIC bracelets are a versatile accessory available in many colors. The fit is adjustable to suit your wrist size, illustrated instructions are sent with each order. See more of these in the BASIC bracelets section of my Etsy shop.

August 27, 2011

Olive drab paracord turks head knot rope bracelet extra large 1540

 Olive drab paracord made into an extra large cuff weave design 13x19x2

Made as part of a special order. If you like this design please contact me for details. Use the Etsy convo utility or simply leave a comment here.



Worked over a 10 3/4" (273 mm) circumference mold and drawn up to a firm but flexible shape.


design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

August 24, 2011

Aqua Zen collection peacefully co-existing on Etsy

This color themed collection Aqua Zen brings together both the hard and soft site of Nikki Tranchita's love of design and lake erie. See her Etsy shop geaugaroots filled with barnwood jewelry holders & custom creations as well as her tumblr site where you can find behind the scenes glimpses of her life and workshop. 


The signature item in this collection is the Concrete . Zen . Tray made by Andrew Stewart and his family owned design group and sold through his shop atstuart. Read their Etsy featured seller interview here.


On a lighter less massive note you should check out the Round Security Envelope Stickers up cycled by Sara Tenanes a student of architecture located on the opposite coast in LA. See more clever  designs in her shop saratops including things to send to hang and to write.


The featured item in this collection is the popular teal blue BASIC turks head knot bracelet. These BASIC bracelets are a versatile accessory available in many colors. The fit is adjustable to suit your wrist size, illustrated instructions are sent with each order. See more of these in the BASIC bracelets section of my Etsy shop.

August 23, 2011

white rope bracelets extra small 1535

 Here's a group of small three part turks head knot bracelets made with 100% cotton cable cord. 


Find these here in the classic whites section of the Etsy shop.
These small sizes are perfect for party favors, or gifts for children.


To request a custom design like this please use the Etsy convo utility or leave a comment here.


design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

August 21, 2011

just one more day by the sea collection wasting away on Etsy

If only we had just one more day by the sea we could re-live summer's relaxation. Since it's back-to-school time for many we will have to live vicariously through PianoBenchDesigns treasury collection. This graduate student offers an elegant collection of sterling silver wire jewelry in her Etsy shop that communicates on many levels.

Wire is the material used by Xanadu2You to create this Sixteen sided copper wire basket in teal blue, green, and brown part of a collection of finely made baskets in an array of colors. See more in her shop and in Storque Spotlight, "Organization Nation" or in Etsy Gift Guide -- One Of A Kind (OOAK) gifts.

This Deep Aqua Turquoise Blue Ocean Beach Sea Coral Art Glass Bowl will remind you of the sea no matter where you live. Made by Joan Rosen from the bay area you can find more in her shop UneekGlassFusions or on her website.

The featured item in this collection is the black paracord small turks head knot sailor rope bracelet a traditional pattern in a a modern material. Parachute cord has a comfortable elastic quality which makes it an ideal material for these rope bracelets. See more simple black designs in the Etsy shop.

August 20, 2011

paracord herringbone weave turks head knot extra large 1533


 This is an extra large herringbone or gaucho weave turks head knot made with olive drab parachute cord. In the front view you can see the distinctive "V" patterns in four groups. The edges are double overlap, the center is quadruple overlap.

This was made on a jig using a pattern map that was taped to a cardboard mold. The photo shows the knot after the first half of the parts are placed. You can see the gaps where the remaining cord will be interwoven to fill in the over four under four pattern.

The push pins hold the cords securely in place on the map.
The weave design is 32 bights x 28 parts x 1 strand using ~40 ft of cord. Weave design: O2 U4 O4 U4 O4 U4 O4 O2 (28 parts)

This is shown in a relaxed state as it came off the mold. The cords are loose and will be worked up to a firm symmetrical shape. To request one of these please use the Etsy convo utility.

This is not a knot that can be tied easily. This example required four attempts. The first try was made using a different pattern and no interweave. The second try came up short with only 35 ft of cord. The Third try had so many weaving errors it had to be undone. Here is the fourth which despite a few corrected errors is the intended pattern.

Finished worked up on the 10 3/4" mold.

design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

got A Green Thumb? (maybe!) collection now growing on Etsy

This new collection A Green Thumb? is curated by Florence see her shop laidbackladies where you can find handcrafted pretties, vintage items, and prim needfuls for your home.

My favorites from this collection are the Grassy Green Naturally dyed hanwoven shawl made with natural dyed wool by Lucia Squillari. See more of her "edjy and minimal, organic and the very romantic and feminine" style of handmade clothing in her shop larimeloom.

From the soft to the hard but sensuous Fat Bellied Mug in Grey-Green made by Justin and available in his shop RosenbushPottery where you will find more mugs as well as Linsey Kalley sculpture.

The featured item in this collection is wide green & blue turks head knot sailor bracelet  one of the more popular blended color combinations in my Etsy shop. This bracelet can be made in both smaller and larger sizes by special order.

August 19, 2011

big soft rope bracelet 1360

Big soft clothesline cord is used to create this oversize rope bracelet. The weave is a simple 5x4x3. Suitable for dip-dying or spray painting. Can be made in multiples for craft parties.


See this and other weave designs in the classic white section of the Zibbet shop. 


To request a custom design like this please use the Etsy convo utility or leave a comment here.


design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

August 18, 2011

Throw me a bone... a new collection now getting chewed up on Etsy

If you have a dog the request is obvious Throw me a bone.... if you are Megan Martin owner of SpiceofLifeDesigns it all about herringbones especially the charcoal, grey, and off white palette. Visit her shop to see Modern Eco Friendly Jewelry Recycled Sterling Silver  featuring recycled low-tarnish Argentium sterling silver and genuine gemstones. You can also find SpiceofLifeDesigns on Facebook.

In my book this Blank Book in Herringbone and Dove Gray made by NatalieAsIs gets a top rating. You can find more of her beautiful anachronisms in figurative and fiber arts on her website and see work in progress on her Flickr page.

Even though these GRAY Herringbone leg warmers made by RunSystem53 are sold you should click through to see the rest of Amelie's fine work including more leg warmers, leggings, and tops.

The featured item in this collection is the ecru cotton medium herringbone weave turks head sailor knot rope bracelet made in the over two-under two signature herringbone weave. This weave design is available in a variety of colors and sizes including solid colors section and some dramatic wide cuff designs in the classic whites section.  If you see a design you like but need a special size please convo for more information. 

August 16, 2011

paracord wide hybrid weave cuff bracelet 1518

 I'm working on a project for a customer to develop extra wide cuffs. This series uses a combination of weave patterns. Here's one made from olive drab para cord.


The design is 33 lead x 32 bight x 1 strand laid out with two different herringbone weave patterns:
The edges are over two-under two (O2 U2)
The center is over four - under four (O4 U4)
pattern design is coded thus:
O2 U2   O4 U4 O4 U4 O4 U4   O2 U2
The para cord is from u-braid-it Braiding supply Co. Very nice people to deal with, now one of my recommended suppliers. They offer a full palette of parachute cord colors and other hardware for the equine inclined. 


To request a custom design like this please use the Etsy convo utility or leave a comment here.
design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

August 15, 2011

A Day on Lake Michigan collection on Etsy

Summer means A Day on Lake Michigan for goodriddance a self described "stay-at-home mom raising three crazy kids a few blocks from Lake Michigan.

It also means you will need a High Quality Hand Woven Turkish Cotton towel made by Turkishtowel from (where else?) Bursa, Turkey. See more of this couple's fine work including mathing, robes, and of course more colorful and soft towels.

Carry your towels and sunscreen to the beach in this Water resistant /STOCKHOLM Soft Red and Ecru Pleated Diaper bag one of a line of attractive bags from Feysa Demirtas in her shop Ikabags based in Paris.

The featured item in this collection is the ocean & sky turks head knot sailor bracelet one of the more popular color combinations. If it this items is showing "sold" simply send me a message. I'll re-stock as soon as I can. 

August 11, 2011

herringbone weave bracelet in white and grey cord 1473

 This is another large cuff made with a braided grey and white synthetic cord. The weave design is 26 x 15 x 1 herringbone with single overlapping or "locked" edges, The herringbone weave creates the "V" patterns visible in the second photo with the red core background.


The knot was tied on a 10 3/4" tube using rubber bands to organize the bights during construction. To see how a simple herringbone bracelet is made using the rubber band method click here for an illustrated tutorial.
The cord material came from a home improvement warehouse store. This material usually is sold in 50ft hanks for about $2.50. This design used up about 25 ft of cord when it was finished but you will need a longer piece to get started.


As with most of the double overlap herringbone weave patterns this bracelet can work down to a smaller size but still retain some elastic stretch.


To request a custom design like this please use the Etsy convo utility or leave a comment here.
design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

August 10, 2011

teal blue rope bracelet 1491

I always appreciate it when happy customers send me photos of WhatKnotShop products in use. Here's Nikki with one of her custom made knot bracelets.


This is an example of the hand dyed cotton cord made into a five part plain weave bracelet. All of the colors you see in the shop are made in small batches and no two batches are ever exactly the same. This is a pale teal blue which captures the essence of summer at the beach. 
Custom orders are always welcomed. Visit my Etsy shop to pick out weave designs and colors. To request a custom design like this please use the Etsy convo utility or leave a comment here.
If you would like to be featured with your favorite rope bracelet simply send me copies of your photos and any other details that you think readers might find interesting. I'll select some for publication from time to time.

The last bit of summer collection now warming up on Etsy

It's still August but the dog days are soon upon us and with them The Last Bit of Summer collection put together by Alyssia. Be sure to see her other curated collections click here.

I really like this Macaron Rainbow - 8" x 12" Original Signed Fine Art Photograph made by SonjaCaldwell. Maybe it's the California sun but her photos are bursting with color. Visit her blog Pictures from Paris to see the gargoyle eating the ?? and other continental sensibilities.

Speaking of rainbows you can't pass up these FORTUNE COOKIE CRAYONS Recycled / Upcycled made by Merrill and offered in her shop ivylanedesigns which is filled with cool recycled stuff.

The featured item in this collection is the bright orange BASIC turks head knot bracelet which is a smaller version sized for smaller adults and teenagers. This adjustable rope bracelet is made from soft hand dyed cotton cord. See all the color options in the BASIC section of the Etsy shop.

August 9, 2011

Ah Summer collection on Etsy

Ah Summer collection by mystichintime on Etsy captures the relaxed feeling of late July. Happiness one stitch at a time explains Marcy's passion for crochet so visit her shop to find hair clips, hats, earwarmers, headbands, legwarmers, fingerless gloves, washcloths, cozies, bags, and home decor.

For a casual beach-y look go for this BLUE VOYAGE BRACELET made by Stone AloneDemet finds beach stones then builds whimsical layering bracelets like this one. Her shop is filled with more great work.


To light up those soft summer nights you need this End of Summer Nights Sapphire Blue Pressed Glass Floral Print Mid Century Tumbler Chandelier made by  Jeff and Mark. Their shop BootsNGus from Ann Arbor has a boatload of wonderful up cycled chandeliers and fixtures made from mixing bowls, mason jars and other glass containers. Just the thing for that porch or living room by the sea.

The featured item in this collection is the popular navy blue BASIC turks head knot bracelet . These BASIC bracelets are a versatile accessory available in many colors. The fit is adjustable to suit your wrist size, illustrated instructions are sent with each order. See more of these in the BASIC bracelets section of my Etsy shop.


August 8, 2011

red and black herringbone weave knot rope bracelet 811

 This is a small herringbone weave design made with 1.5 mm synthetic cord. The weave pattern is over two-under two with five parts. 


The material is a high density synthetic with almost no elasticity. 


Size is "small" measuring in at only 6 1/4" (158 mm) inside circumference. The bracelet will stretch slightly due to the herringbone weave, not the material!


This bracelet is available in my Zibbet Shop. Click here to message me with any questions.


design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

August 7, 2011

Blue Cream. now showing on Etsy

Two comfortable colors organize blue cream. a collection by Arlie Trowbridge. See more of her  Shredded T-Shirt Apparel, Accessories and Glass Jewelry in her shop  UrbanRevisions on Etsy.

One of my favorites is the Laurel crocheted necklace in fisherman cream white made by jess o. from Philadelphia. She offers an intriguing variety of knit and crochet accessories in her shop ohjustjess. The knit jersey bracelets with the industrial couplings combine soft crochet with hardware for a dramatic contrast.

On the blue side is this handsome Large German Pottery Vessel made by Hindsvik from Canada. There is a lot more Vintage Home Decor and Furniture in the shop well worth a visit.

The featured item in this collection is the navy blue BASIC turks head knot bracelet which is part of the BASIC bracelets collection available in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Each BASIC bracelet is adjustable to maker a perfect fit. Illustrated instructions are included with each order and are available online as well. 

August 6, 2011

herringbone weave bracelet in white nylon cord 1489

A 50 ft hank of flawless nylon cord and an afternoon is all that is needed to weave this massive herringbone knot. (OK and the pattern of course...)


This big cuff is 33 bights and 17 parts doubled and drawn up to a firm shape. It measures about 8 3/4" (223 mm) inside circumference and about 2 1/8" (55 mm) wide
The herringbone weave pattern is not as distinctive due to the square aspect of each pair of cords. 






design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

August 5, 2011

Sail away with me collection now departing on Etsy

Summer is the best time for ocean or lake cruises so welcome aboard the sail away with me tour with Becky King. Before you leave you won't want to miss her shop SincerelyCrafted where she perfects some high quality handcrafts in vibrant colors.

These Bergamot Moisturizing Vegetable Based Pocket Full of Shells Soap collection looks like the real thing but it's just one of Jennifer's great handmade soap products that you can find in her shop thecharmingfrog or on her blog.

I like the spirit of this Huge 16 x 20 paper print - Salt Water - inspirational ocean artwork by Mae Chevrette. After all we are 78% water why not admit to it? See more of Mae's art in her shop full of lively colorful poster art.

The featured item in this collection is the popular navy blue BASIC turks head knot bracelet which seems to be popping up in treasuries all over the place (thanks!) These BASIC bracelets are a versatile accessory available in many colors. The fit is adjustable to suit your wrist size, illustrated instructions are sent with each order. See more of these in the BASIC bracelets section of my Etsy shop.

August 3, 2011

hybrid weave turks head knot cuff bracelet 1477

 Double herringbone or gaucho weave edges with a plain weave center make an interesting and complex pattern for this extra wide turks head knot. The material is a high density nylon cord with a smooth braided cover. 
Now available in my Etsy shop. There is only one of these!
The weave design is 2-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-2 which has been doubled as you can see in the photos or 18 x 19 x 2.
This knot required the better part of a 50 ft hank of material and several do-overs before it was complete.
The end view shows the double overlap of the herringbone weave which also enables the bracelet to stretch a little bit more than the plain weave alone.


Size is rather large:
8 5/8" (220 mm) inside circumference
3 1/2" (90 mm) wide
In theory this design can be made smaller by not doubling the weave. It can be expanded by increasing the number of doubled overlaps on the edge from 2 to 4 as well as adding to the plain weave pattern in the center.
design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

August 2, 2011

One of these things is not like the others... can you solve the riddle?

Now who among us can resist a riddle? Alison Ugur offers us a puzzle to solve in One of these things is not like the others... collection. Visit her shop Knitty Turks to find Handmade shawls, scarves, slippers, mitts and more...brought to you all the way from Usak, Turkey.

My guess is that it's the Fortune Cookie Soap Set made by Kasey Hachler from her shop KcSoapsNmore who BTW was an Etsy featured seller who hoo!

OR it could be the Robins Egg Blue or Any Color TV Cabinet... offered by usacreations something old made new again just like many of the furnishings in her shop.

The featured listing in this collection which IS like the other wearable items is the light blue medium turks head knot sailor bracelet made with 100% hand dyed cotton cord. This is one of the many limited edition colors that are offered in the solid colors section of my Etsy shop

August 1, 2011

I want to be under the sea collection now drowning on Etsy

Sing along time "I want to be under the sea...in an octopus's garden in the shade..." and if that's not possible click on this collection by Alexa to see a nautical-themed treasury to celebrate the peace and serenity one may find by the seashore. You should also visit TheNerdsNest where there are all kinds of crazy cute crochet and accessories for humans. (Octopi must wait...)

I once had a shirt made out of an old flour sack of this Grain Sack Pillow made by Leslie has the same repurposed style. Find more Repurposed vintage home goods and jewelry in her shop lesliejanson.

Pure interior decor fun is this Seagulls flock Vinyl Decal by Pat and her design studio team sure to make your summer living space seem like beachfront. There's more in ghettovinyl's shop from kids to chalkboard to spiritual patterns.

The featured item in this collection is the black paracord small turks head knot sailor rope bracelet a recent addition to the WhatKnotShop product line. Para cord is a unique material that is both durable and soft much favored by the outdoor survival fraternity. More colors and styles coming soon.