button toggle rope bracelets 4074

 These simple rope bracelets were designed for a custom order and a series were made out of the yellow ochre cord- the custom dye process always require some additional material to test color outcomes…

A heavier four ply cotton cord is used. A small button is secured to the open ends of the cord with  high strength nylon thread.

The loop is formed and secured with a waxed thread coach whipping detail. A second coach whipping is added near the button

 Finished size is 8" (203 mm) inside circumference about right for an adult male wrist.

This versatile design can be produced in a variety of sizes. Button design and color can be matched to a wide choice of dyed cord.

The coach whippings can be made with the traditional wax thread as in this example or cotton floss can be substituted using the same concealed end technique.

Some other designs you might like:

Fishtail braid bracelet

Suede pillow bracelet

wrap bracelet with dragon tooth button

Check the ETSY shop in the toggle bracelets section for availability of this design and other related designs.

design and photographs copyright 2016

double loop rope bracelets made from hand twisted rope 4061

This double rope bracelet is an example of what can be made with a firm four ply segment of handmade rope. The cotton yarns are rigged on the rope machine and held under tension while twisted hundreds of times, then laid (plyed) together using the spreader tool to control the lay.

The four strands are themselves composed of a pair of yarns so the finished rope is made out of  eight cotton yarns. (Spinning a yarn may be slang for how a story is told but it also is the technical description of rope manufacturing.)

Controlling the tightness of the lay so that the finished rope has some stiffness means these little slip on bracelets hold their shape quite nicely. The thickness of the finished rope is about 4-5 mm.

The cotton yarns are compressed evenly so the finished rope is round in section. The overall segment length is about 74". This is a convenient length for my basement workshop, greater lengths are possible with more time and patience.

The finish is a traditional coach whipping detail here made with a pleasing light yellow ochre waxed thread. The loose ends are relayed around the barrel of the whipping and fed through parallel to the rope, then trimmed off.

Look for this and similar designs in the ETSY shop soon.




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

handmade rope double eye bracelet 3835

 Two eye loops created with coach whipping connections interlock to form a simple elegant rope bracelet.

Non adjustable size (the eyes are fixed size)

7 3/8" (187 mm)

Related designs you might find interesting

double loop necklace (adjustable size)

knotted double loop bracelet (adjustable)

grey handmade rope loop bracelet

double loop string bracelet with color

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



design and photographs © copyright 2016

double loop string bracelet with color 3830

Ordinary braided cotton line laid out in a double loop secured with a traditional coat whipping detail.

Two cotton floss accents add a bit of color

 7" (178 mm)

Here are some related designs you might like:

Double loop connected pair of cotton bracelets

Handmade rope double loop bracelet

more handmade rope double loop bracelets

double loop handmade rope necklace

heavy cord double loop bracelet

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



design and photographs © copyright 2016

blue double string bracelets 3826

 Lightweight and colorful these sting bracelets are double loops of braided cotton cord with cotton floss accents. The overlapping ends are secured with a traditional coach whipping of waxed thread.

size is 8" (2013 mm)

some other designs you might like:

beaded string bracelet with coach whippings 

black 14 string bracelet -wider design

two strand red paracord bracelet

two strand string bracelet with navy and bronze

black string cuff bracelet

tangled string toggle bracelet

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


design and photographs copyright 2016

handmade rope double loop bracelet 3646

 This double loop bracelet is made from a piece of handmade rope composed of three twisted pairs of yarn. The rope was part of a demonstration showing how the rope machine works with these hand dyed grey yarns. The cord diameter is 4mm so this has a nice proportional shape.

The coach whipping is tan waxed thread.

 8" (203 mm) circumference

Available here

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

design and photographs © copyright 2015

beaded string bracelet with coach whippings and loops 3624

 Hand dyed cotton cord and traditional coach whipping details combined in a simple multi part string bracelet. Three small glass beads embellish two of the coach whippings. Three closed loops add texture. Design based on traditional sailmaking and rope work techniques.

7 3/4" (197 mm)
2 1/2" (83 mm)
1/4" (6 mm)

Available here




design and photographs © copyright 2015

handmade rope double loop bracelets 3490

 These smaller double loop rope bracelets are made from lengths of hand twisted cord made on a table top rope machine. Six cotton yarns are stretched between the anchor point and the rotating mandrels then several hundred revolutions wind the pairs into three twisted strands. The natural tension in the twisted pairs winds the cord together into a single piece of cordage.

 The overlaps are secured with a waxed thread coach whipping then trimmed off.

Here's a handmade rope necklace of similar design or this handmade rope choker is also made on the machine.
This handmade rope wrap bracelet is made with thinner colored cord while this wrap bracelet is made with heavier yarn for a more substantial outcome.

Lightweight and small enough so they won't slide off a smaller hand, find these in the classic white section of the Etsy shop.

custom requests welcomed




design and photographs © copyright 2015 WhatKnotShop

handmade rope necklace with eye splice and button 3400

 Using a bench top rope machine with some cotton twine and a custom made three hole button this nautical rope necklace project shows off several techniques.

The rope is made from a single piece of #18 cotton twine looped through the button six times (three doubled strands) and wound on the machine.

The button is positioned at the standing end of the rope. The doubled loops hold it securely without extra knots.

 The button is polymer clay made in a countertop toaster oven with three oversize holes to accept the doubled strands of cord.

The eye-splice is a three part overlap  terminated with a coach whipping made from waxed thread.

Inside circumference is 26" fully extended or about 7 1/2" when wrapped three times.

Finished rope is a square section about 1/4"

Made on commission this piece is an example of the handmade rope accessories available through WhatKnotShop

click here to view similar items



design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

three pink grommet bracelets 3402

 Soft laid cotton cord (hardware store variety) hand dyed middle pink and worked into three small grommet bracelets.

Waxed cotton thread is used to create the coach-whipping detail.

 Sizes range from small to small…
5 1/2", 5 3/4", 6"

One went with a custom order, the other two are waiting for a home.

Pink is a classic color that has been appropriated by various causes (breast cancer research, etc.) but remains a popular choice for summer fun.

See more grommets like these here



design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

simple handmade rope choker necklace with button 3294

 A simple three part handmade rope necklace with a button and loop toggle made from cotton yarn on a small rope machine.

Size: 16" inside circumference

Three pairs of cotton yarn were used to make a three ply cord.

 Detail shows how the three pairs of cotton yarn were placed through the eyes of the custom made button. The rope machine creates the reverse twist in the body of the cord. The cord was slightly over twisted to enable the yarn loops to release from the machine and relax to the underside of the button.

The loop is bound with a waxed cotton thread coach whipping.

Various rope lengths can be made up to about 12 ft on this tabletop machine. Length of the necklace is determined by placement of the loop.





design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

double loop handmade rope necklace 3311

 This handmade rope was made in an extended length on the table top rope machine. The extra length allows for a double loop with a generous dimension of 20 1/2" (520 mm)

The rope is a three ply construction in a natural color cotton twine.

 The closure us a three hole custom made poly clay button and loop. The loop doubles the cord and is bound with a waxed thread coach whipping detail.

The cord is terminated with another  coach whipping detail.

Double coil results in a 9 1/2" (241 mm) wrap bracelet, rather large for the average adult wrist...






design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

handmade rope choker necklace with button 3310

 Three ply rope manufactured on a small rope machine out of cotton twine is combined with a custom made three hole button to create this small choker style necklace.

Size is "small" about 14 1/2" (368 mm)

 Three hole button anchors the three pairs of cotton twine. The button is positioned on the inactive end of the rope machine while the yarns are wound up.

The loop is created by a simple coach whipping made with waxed cotton thread.

color is a natural cotton white, button is a "pearl white" poly clay





design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

handmade rope wrap bracelet necklace 3298

 What makes this piece special is the rope is actually assembled on a rope machine from cotton yarns in a two-stage process.

The first stage creates a thin cotton cord from three plies of cotton twine. The second stage uses three of these cords to create the rope shown here.

                 available here

 The handmade poly clay button is placed on the inactive end of the rope winding machine with the cord threaded through the holes in the button.  As the rope is made the button is secured by the natural twist in the yarns

The loop is made with an eye-splice detail with a coach whipping securing the end of the splice. This is a traditional method of creating open loops that can carry heavy loads imposed by rigging on sailing ships.

The extra length creates a four wrap bracelet for a large wrist, five wrap for a small wrist. Two wraps makes a nautical choker style necklace or leave the single loop for an extra long draped necklace.

Color is a natural off-white, material is cotton.



design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

post dyed cotton grommet bracelets aquamarine 3190

slender grommets made from heavyweight cotton cord

waxed thread coach whipping

stretchable and strong

10 minutes in the dye bath for a nice saturated color


              available here



design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

navy blue string rope bracelets 3173

a bundle of post-dyed cotton string bracelets
navy blue

these grommets are made up then boiled in the dye bath for about 10 minutes to achieve a deeply saturated blue

 white nylon coach whipping
heavy weight cotton cord


grey post-dyed bracelets here

white string grommet bracelets here

6 1/4" (158 mm) to 7" (178 mm)


                available here


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop