walnut taupe seasonal color collection 3061

 Fall season refers to the action of black walnut trees in my neighborhood. The ripe walnuts drop from the branches and I have to compete with the grey squirrels to gather them up.

Read more about this annual ritual in this posting.

Find out how the dye process works in this posting.

This collection is made from genuine organic locally harvested black walnuts that have been processed into a colorfast dye then used to make this handsome cotton cord.

Here's three three-part traditional sailor bracelets made in sizes large, medium, and small.

Above is a wider five part weave size small.

DIY kits are also available and for a limited time larger quantities of hand dyed cord are also available by special order.

Check my Etsy shop for these and other seasonal designs.


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

black walnuts are in season - hand dyed cord back in stock

Summer got a late start here in Minneapolis but the hot weather  has finally arrived in late August and with it a crop of black walnuts.  There are several trees along the alley behind the house which have been shedding nuts. There is also a small grove in the corner of a park several blocks away. The squirrels are fierce competition but the harvest is underway.

Here's a look at the first batch scooped up from the ground.

These are about the size of paddle tennis balls and as you can see un-split and therefore safe to handle.


So the important thing about this is that these little green nuts make a very nice dark dye that is used to make a once-a-year special colored cord.


Read more about the process of making hand dyed cord here. 

And here is a finished hank of dyed cord ready to use.

Read more about finished rope bracelets made from this special dye here.





design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

knotted adjustable rope bracelet 2575

 This knotted rope bracelet design uses several old-school marlinspike techniques to produce an adjustable rope bracelet. This design is made from a piece of cotton cord that has been hand dyed in a backyard recipe of black walnut hulls. These are the annoying green and brown shards that squirrels leave behind to stain your driveway or sidewalk with their pungent and powerful dye that leaches out during rainstorms.

Here's one made in white cord.

On one end of the cord is a 2x2x2 monkey fist knot tied without a core. A larger version of this knot is often used to make a weighted heaving line that can be thrown across a gap between ships and then used to haul a heavier piece of line across the gap.

There are a pair of sliding barrel knots on either side of the reverse loops that secure the adjustment with a high friction grip. You can draw the running part thought he knot but it requires a bit of effort so this knot will hold the line in position where you leave it.

The third technique is the brown waxed whipping that secures the loop and the loose end of the monkey fist. The whipping has a concealed loop that buries the live end under the whipping making it appear that there are no loose ends. The extra length has been trimmed off to preserve the illusion. Here's a link, scroll down to "method 2" to see how this one is made.

Find a selection of these traditional rope bracelets here.
design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

Beautiful Gifts under $30 collection shopping now on Etsy

Finding handmade holiday gifts is easy when you get help from Sam Jones. She has picked out Beautiful Gifts under $30!! making it easy for everyone to support handmade. Her shop sundaysam features wall art, pottery, and more.
Speaking of pottery there are several handsome mugs in this collection all sold by now but visit splitfirepottery and see more of Bill Perrine's work or try TheCeramicsGallery for a more eclectic sensibility.

Jewelry is a traditional holiday gift including these Birds Nest Bangle - Set of 6 Gold Plated Bangles with 3 Birds made by Allison Mooney. She offers free shipping and a discount deal too. Or for a more folk-art look try this Ugandan wrap bracelet made in Africa and offered through Michelle Miller's shoptoadopt store.

The featured item in this collection is this black walnut taupe turks head knot sailor rope bracelet made out of cotton cord that has been hand-dyed with locally harvested organic black walnuts. This one is a medium size but there is enough cord available to do some custom orders or alternative sizes. Message me with your requests or visit the solid colors section of my Etsy shop to see more of these classic designs in a variety of colors. 

Black walnut earth tone dyed turks head knot bracelet 1522

This bracelet is made with cotton cord that has been dyed using black walnuts harvested from a neighborhood tree. The color is dense earth tone taupe which is somewhat lighter than the dyebath which was a real black.

The outer husk of the walnuts was mashed and mixed with a small amount of water then boiled according to this recipe from Practical Primitive then used to create a limited amount of black walnut cord. Size is 7" (178 mm) inside diameter.

design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop