making small segments of cordage on a bench top rope machine part 1

This is a small rope machine built from hardware store parts. This view shows the four strand winders on the left and the traveller on the right with yarns rigged and ready.

This demonstration shows a 4 x 2 setup. Four (4) strands of two (2) yarns each.

The machine is set up with dark cotton yarn in preparation for creating a short segment of twisted cotton cordage.

 In this closeup view the four rotating hooks engage the yarn loops. The device on the left is a gang-crank that turns each of rotating hooks once for each turn of the crank a 1:1 ratio.

Once the yarns are placed the lengths are equalized so all four pairs are at the same initial tension. The pairs are looped around all the hooks so they can be adjusted easily.

Then the gang crank is turned several hundred times with a few pauses to keep the twisted pairs separated.

During the initial twist the yarn's length is naturally reduced by the twisting action. The traveler takes up the slack with a counterweight holding tension on the yarn as it is twisted.

The yarn pairs are now tightly twisted (+300 turns) together and the rope is ready to be made.

 On the other end is the traveller which is a single hook on a rotating spindle with another crank. This is the business end where the cordage is twisted into shape.

The initial twist has been completed and we are ready to wind.

The ball shaped object on the left is a separator made from a large cork (taken from a bottle of tequila) with a pattern of guide grooves. Each of the four yarns runs in it's own groove as the traveller takes up the wind.

 Another view showing progress. As the traveller crank is turned the separator retreats down the length of the yarns and the rope is formed.

The traveller is riding in the white track (borrowed from a bi-fold door) as the counterweight holds tension on the system.

The separator is now at the end of the wind next to the four hooks. The four pairs of yarns are almost fully wound up into the cordage.

The separator is disengaged and the rope is almost complete. A piece of tape will be applied to secure the four parts and prevent unraveling.

See what cool stuff this machine can produce in the kits+supplies section of the ETSY shop.

part two -->

design and photographs copyright 2016 George Hutchinson

wrap bracelet handmade rope dragon tooth button 3867

 A length of four ply handmade cotton rope terminated with a special dragon tooth design button and loop toggle creates a handsome multi-wrap bracelet.

The rope is made on a small rope machine with eight strands of hand dyed cotton yarn threaded through the button then twisted to form the rope.

A double whipping loop engages the button. Five (5) wraps at 6" or four (4) wraps at 8"

You might also be interested in :

Three wrap rope bracelet or necklace 

 knotted multi-wrap bracelet or necklace

handmade rope wrap bracelets

handmade rope multi-wrap bracelets or necklaces

These and other unique bracelets can be found online WhatKnotShop on ETSY


design and photographs copyright 2016

colorful cord and bead spacer bracelet 3863

 This colorful little bracelet is made from a heavy braided cord with spacer beads and cotton floss. The beads are a somewhat random size that lends a casual playful shape to this design. The cord is a hand dyed grey cotton.

This bracelet is flexible but not stretchable so it fits like a soft bangle without a clasp or button.

This is a smaller size similar to this beaded spiral bracelet in design and color.

 about 7" (178 mm) inside circumference

This one was made-to-order, you might also like:

Three button toggle cuff bracelet

 earth tone red and tan beaded cuff bracelet 

traditional turks head knot bracelet with beads

wide three button beaded cuff bracelet

collection of three button bracelets with beads

These and other unique bracelets can be found online WhatKnotShop on ETSY


design and photographs copyright 2016

hand twisted grey rope bracelets 3852

These soft grey cotton bracelets are made from hand twisted rope. The rope is made on a small bench top rope machine out of hand dyed cotton yarns. The multiple loops look like a small stack of bracelets.

Three plus two strands with two coach whippings, about 7" (178 mm)

 Two strands with a single coach whipping, about 7" (178 mm). You might also like these designs:
 Loop hinge knotted rope bracelet

Beaded adjustable loop bracelets

Handmade rope double eye bracelet

Double pair of rope bracelets

Double loop string bracelets with color

These and other unique bracelets can be found online WhatKnotShop on ETSY





design and photographs © copyright 2016

His 'n hers rope fabric cuff bracelets 3850

 A pair of matched cuff bracelets made from hand dyed cord. The button and loop toggle is easy to manage and secure. The light olive and taupe tones recall the sun washed landscapes of deserts.

An illustrated tutorial explains how to make these bracelets using a variety of materials including paper beads and a non beaded designs using other colors . A wider more dramatic wood bead cuff uses the same basic techniques as does this playful lima bead bead design.

The large bracelet is 7 1/2" (191 mm)
The small bracelet is 6 1/2" (165 mm)

You might also enjoy this wood bead bracelet or this wider design using two rows of glass beads.

Edge stitching technique uses a high strength multi-filament thread to compress the individual cords into a soft lightweight fabric.


These and other unique bracelets can be found online WhatKnotShop on ETSY




design and photographs © copyright 2016

beaded adjustable hemp cord bracelets 3848

 Deceptively simple geometry, just a piece of cord with two overhand knots this design uses the inherent friction of the beads to hold the size of the bracelet constant.

Polymer clay beads are oversized with a walnut pitt exterior texture.

Hemp cord is a hand wound four by two (4x2) rope made on a small rope machine. About 4 mm diameter.

 To enlarge the bracelet slide the beads together and pull the cord through to increase the size of the loop.

To adjust the bracelet simply reverse the process and tighten up the cord.

Size range is 5 1/4" (133 mm) to 10 1/2" (267 mm) so "one size fits most" is an accurate description.

Beads available in a wide variety of colors shown here in tan and dark brown

You might also like these fiber wrapped bracelets or this leather bracelet with poly clay bead or this tribal style bead necklace made with polymer clay beads.

These and other unique bracelets can be found online WhatKnotShop on ETSY


design and photographs © copyright 2016 WhatKnotShop

twisted hemp rope bracelet prototypes with bead and loop toggle 3845

 Hand twisted hemp cord is a versatile material used in this prototype series with an oversize wood bead, dark waxed thread, and a button. The button connection is not very robust in this design...

The hemp is a material that can be tensioned into a four yarn lay rope as in this example and it holds a nice firm shape. The hemp is ordinary craft store variety stock that comes on those 20 yard balls. Lays up on the rope machine to form a 60" length of stock about 3.5 mm diameter.

Beads have to be reamed out with a drill to accommodate this heavier cord.

 A single overhand knot and a textured poly clay bead make a good toggle design that rests securely inside a loop to hold the bracelet together. The bushy end of the knot gets trimmed off. The waxed whipping has an up-and-down pass to hold it tightly together.

Being polymer clay the center holes can be made as large as necessary. Texture is made with a de-husked black walnut.

Another variation with rounded toggle beads and loops, extended whipping and a squared wood bead. Two sizes (him and her) with similar but non-identical design (everyone is different right?)

Poly beads are cut with a plastic core from a dental floss dispenser and cored with a straw.


design and photographs copyright 2016