black beaded slip on cuff 3451

 Black on black...laminated polyester cord with a center ridge of beads forming a slip on bangle style bracelet.

37 beads at the center
8 layers of cord on each side

Part of the new Handmade Artifacts project recalling the heritage of ancient forms re-creating and re-interpreting old ideas in modern materials.

 extra large size 8 1/4" (209 mm) inside circumference; 2 5/8" (67 mm) diameter

lightweight and flexible

available soon in a new venue!

similar designs available here

custom work available





design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

basket weave rope bracelet 3206

 This simple plain-weave cuff is made with 3 mm cord. These pieces of cord are predominantly blue, purple and verdigris with a bright teal accent. The weft is black polyester.

The weave is drawn up to a firm but not tight tension which allows the loops of cord to show the alternating pattern.

 The cords are tied off with waxed thread then trimmed.

Soft and flexible about 8" inside circumference.



           available here




design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

Himba style beaded anklets

 These beaded anklets are made from ordinary black plastic pony beads. The design is modeled after the traditional Himba anklets. The model is wearing a 20 strand layered anklet measuring about 7" wide.

The Himba people live in northern Namibia. Check out this photo gallery or read the National Geographic article here.

These imitation pieces are made with a single piece of multi-filament  synthetic cord to provide strength and chafe resistance. The beads are placed in rows of varying lengths between two pieces of black suede. The cord passes through the suede strip, then through a cinch bead then back through the suede. Each row has an cinch bead. You can see the cinch beads with the zig-zag pattern of cord in the photo at left.

A second piece of cord is threaded through the cinch beads shoelace-fashion then tightened up to provide a snug fit.

The ends of the cords are knotted then buried in the rows of beads.

 This photo shows a pair of 19 strand layered anklets made with metal beads, possibly recycled nuts, and leather strips. The red shoes are perfect.

One of the reasons cited as to why the Himba wear these anklets is the prevalence of snakes. These anklets apparently provide some protection from snakebites.

The plastic beads are considerably lighter than the traditional materials weighing in at a few ounces instead of several pounds. No tests have been done to determine the potential for snakebite resistance...






design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

2 button cuff with beads 3046

 Made with autumn colors of faded red, brown, black, rust, tan hand dyed cord. Large size 8 5/8" (219 mm) circumference. Mold formed with high tensile strength nylon thread edge stitched.

 Glass seed beads are seamed into the cord fabric. Two buttons and loops secure the closure.

              Available here






design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

2 button organic industrial cuff bracelet 3038

 Summer is cooling off and a new batch of assembled designs is waiting in my basket to get published and uploaded to the fiber design section of my Etsy shop. This is an example of industrial organic a contradictory combination of rough beads dark colors and things that suggest a machine made origin.

The cuff is made with the edge stitching technique combining hand dyed cotton with bits of paracord to form a matrix that traps the nugget like beads.

 The closure is a double button and loop toggle that is offset creating a wrap-around effect.

The poly clay beads were made using a screen to produce a knurled texture making it appear that these are nuts or knobs re-purposed from some piece of machinery.

The colors are darker with black and various shade of green accented by blue and grey. The blue glass beads create a mysterious glow.

                       Available here


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

men's wide ankle bracelet blue black beaded design strata series

 Handmade ankle bracelet Design Strata for men. This example is made from mixed fiber blue, green, white and black cords with both blue and black glass beads. Some edge wrapping with blue cotton floss finishes off this casual anklet.

This piece measures about 9 1/4" (235 mm) inside circumference which is comfortable fit.

 Anklet is secured with two loops and small plastic buttons for easy removal. Water tolerant materials can be immersed without harm.

Cords are laid out on a circular mold and edge bound together using four ply waxed nylon thread. Average width is about 2" (51 mm)

 More designs like these are available in the fiber art section of WhatKnotShop on Etsy.










design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

1 button black leather bracelet with handmade paper beads 2934

 This is the fifth in a series of small one button leather cord bracelets. Each has a unique detail that makes it special.

The basic design is four ply leather cord wrapped with a black waxed cotton thread. A 6 mm round wood bead and button connect with a pair of loops to form a secure easy to manage toggle.

This design features four colorful handmade paper beads threaded on the individual strands of leather cord.

 Size "small" about 7" (178 mm)

This design can be made both larger and smaller to fit children, women, and men. The number and style of the paper beads can be varied to create a textured appearance.

These are versatile bracelets that work with both formal and informal attire. The look is understated  with the black leather cord and waxed binding. The focal beads color contrasts nicely with the black framework.

Here's the collection.






                 Available here

design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

1 button leather wrapped bracelet with black glass beads 2933

 This is the fourth in a series of small one button leather cord bracelets. Each has a unique detail that makes it special.

The basic design is four ply leather cord wrapped with a black waxed cotton thread. A 6 mm round wood bead and button connect with a pair of loops to form a secure easy to manage toggle.

This design features a pair of black glass crow beads placed opposite the button and loop.

 Size "small" about 7" (178 mm)

This design can be made both larger and smaller to fit children, women, and men.

All the components in this design are black: the button, the waxed cotton wrapping, and the beads.

Here are more designs you might like:
1 button bracelet with a pair of wooden beads
1 button bracelet with a polymer clay bead
1 button bracelet (plain - no beads)




           Available here.

design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

1 button black leather wrapped bracelet 2932

  This is the third of a series of small one button leather cord bracelets. Each has a unique detail that makes it special.

The basic design is four ply leather cord wrapped with a black waxed cotton thread. A 6 mm round wood bead and button connect with a pair of loops to form a secure easy to manage toggle.

This design features a simple unadorned four ply cord without any beads.

  Size "small" about 7" (178 mm)

This design can be made both larger and smaller to fit children, women, and men.

This simple low profile shape has no added beads the focal point is the button and loop. Designed to layer with other bracelets or wear alone for a subtle touch of boho chic.

Here's a design with 2 small wood beads

Here's a design with a handmade pewter colored polymer clay bead

Here's the same design made with brown wrapped cord.

               Available here.



design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

1 button black leather wrapped bracelet with poly clay bead 2931

This is the second in a series of small one button leather cord bracelets. Each has a unique detail that makes it special.

The basic design is four ply leather cord wrapped with a black waxed cotton thread. A 6 mm round wood bead and button connect with a pair of loops to form a secure easy to manage toggle.

This design features a handmade pewter colored poly clay bead placed opposite the button and loop.

 Size "small" about 7" (178 mm)

This design can be made both larger and smaller to fit children, women, and men.

The poly clay bead has an oversize hole to enable all four of the 2 mm leather cords to pass though. This is an example of the versatility of this design. Other custom made beads can be placed singly or in a group to add color and texture.

Here's a 1 button design with 2 small wood beads


1 button design plain (no extra beads)



              Available here

design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

1 button wrapped leather cord bracelet wood beads 2930

 This is the first of a series of small one button leather cord bracelets. Each has a unique detail that makes it special.

The basic design is four ply leather cord wrapped with a black waxed cotton thread. A 6 mm round wood bead and button connect with a pair of loops to form a secure easy to manage toggle.

This design features two 3 mm wood beads placed opposite the button and loop.

 Size "small" about 7" (178 mm)

This design can be made both larger and smaller to fit children, women, and men.

Almost any type of bead detail can be added opposite the button and loop including custom made beads.

Here's a look at the group of bracelets. You can see the different details including:

four handmade paper beads
a grey poly clay bead
the basic design without any added beads

               Available here

design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

wrapped leather cord button bracelet 2781

 This design is made from 2 mm round leather cord waxed cotton thread a wood bead and a plastic button.

It's a lightweight sophisticated accessory that will add a touch of boho style.

This detail shows the loops and the button closure. The bead adds a little symmetry to the closure system.

The waxed thread is wrapped around the cords securing them tightly. A loop is used to capture the loose end which is then pulled under the wrap then the ends are trimmed.

Soon to be available online.




design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

custom work 13 part bracelet in black nylon 2714

 I don't see a lot of requests for these wider designs but this was a custom color request for a wide slip on style cuff. The design is similar to these:

big black paracord cuff 1747
and
Olive drab paracord turks head knot rope bracelet extra large 1540

both of which were also custom requests...

 This design is made with 2 mm nylon synthetic from a stash of material that came from a KMart store (of all places...) This is made by Wellington and marketed as a "sportsman cord" which might work for a tent stay or possibly a fish stringer...

Comes in 50 ft spools so it's just right for these bigger projects that need about 30 ft of line. This design required a 9" (228 mm) slip-on size. Read about how to measure your hand and estimate your size here: Figuring the fit - how to pick a size that's right for you.

I keep a few of these wider cuffs in stock and can make one to a particular size if needed.

You can also see the illustrated tutorial that shows how these are made from a cotton cord.

If you would like a pre-cut length of cotton or synthetic cord to try your hand at this just drop me an email message or leave a comment.


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

knotted choker style necklace with glass bead 2684

 This is a really simple and popular design for a choker style necklace. It's made with a pair of sliding barrel knots and a small cylindrical glass bead.

The cord is a 2 mm black leather lacing material that can be easily tied. The leather has a natural friction that holds the knots firmly one they have been worked up to a firm condition. Here's a tutorial explaining how to make this knot.

The knots can be made with as many wraps as you want. This is a smaller 13" necklace so the knots have four wraps. Bigger beads and larger necklaces can have 5 or more and still look proportional. Anything less than three wraps risks the knot coming apart.

Adjustment is made by sliding the knots on the standing part of the cord.

Here's a look at a selection of barrel beads that have the correct internal hole size. The glass beads must have a 2.5 mm or larger hole to accommodate the cord. I use beads from India that come in one pound buckets and must be sorted out. Many of them are the wrong size or have internal cracks that cause them to fall apart.

This necklace was a custom design but you can see similar designs here.

design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

two button cuff bracelet with black glass beads 2641

 The third in a series of cuffs assembled from pairs of one-button rope bracelets featuring different types of beads. This design is the widest of the three with a center of 12 mm black glass beads. The contrast between the bright white, ecru, and grey fabric and  the solid dark glass beads creates visual drama.

Read the tutorial here showing how to make the one button bracelets.

 The framing cords are 1/4" braided line which creates a solid edge and provides a place to stitch in the beads. The buttons and loops are easy to pop open if you have really big hands, this is a big cuff measuring 8 1/2" (211 mm) inside circumference so you may be able to just slip it on over your hand instead. Here are the other two like this:

two button ribbed cuff bracelet with wood beads 2644
two button rainbow bead cuff rope bracelet 2643

The edge binding makes the cord fabric stiff enough to hold it's shape. The nylon thread keeps a tension on the fabric and you can see the little dimples where it is placed along the edge of the framing cord.


Available soon in my Etsy shop


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

black and blue one button rope bracelet 2616

 Here's another product of scrap-box diving made entirely of pieces of paracord and other synthetic materials.
The framing cord is black polyester with a brown plastic button. The infill cords are back paracord, blue nylon, some hand dyed blue nylon (the lighter color), a piece of green nylon from REI and a center of olive drab green.

Synthetics seem to be very compressible as in this bracelet which was about 1 1/2" (43 mm) wide when laid out on the mold but came out only 1" (25 mm) wide.

 The colors are quite vibrant with the blue contrasting strongly with the black and green.

When these are made the cord segments are centered and the loop is positioned at the button loop ends and loose ends are gathered and tied up on the opposite end, then trimmed off. I use three or four long needles to hold everything together while the edge binding is done.

Here's another design with different colors.

I filled in the open loops with a couple of small glass beads. These loops open up as the edge binding is compressed during construction.

The construction technique is shown starting with part one of a seven part tutorial.

This bracelet is available in my Etsy shop along with more examples of this unique fiber art work.



design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

black beaded cuff 2515

 This is not an angry frog but a ribbed cuff made with paracord scraps and a tube of opaque black glass beads. The ribs are a charcoal grey hand dyed clothesline cord that reads quite a bit lighter in these photos than the actual piece. I was shooting on a grey background and color corrected a bit too much perhaps. Anyway the overall effect is "black on black"

 Size is a "medium-small" 7" (178 mm) inside circumference when buttoned up. The paracord materials compress quite easily and in doing so impart a stiffness to the fabric. This bracelet started out almost 3" wide and compressed to about 2" after the cross stitching was tensioned.

The ribs are bound together with the stitching that holds the rows of glass beads. the design is based on the ethnic cuffs from Pakistan and Afghanistan  tribal cultures. Look for this item in the fiber art design section of my Etsy online marketplace soon.




design and photographs © copyright 2012 WhatKnotShop