turks head tutorials and DIY materials

Classic three part rope bracelet - There are any number of tutorials showing how to do this most basic design. Here are a few that I like:

Jan Brett's Sailor Bracelet site is a nice simple single page illustration of how to make a classic three part rope bracelet. 

Alan Folsom's page is another great source for instructions on tying turks heads. How to Tie a Turkshead will get you started. (click on the link then select from the list on the left side of the page)

This Panda Hall site is one of many that show the process using a satin cord to make a low profile three part bracelet:
How to Tie a Sailor Knot Friendship Bracelet with Only One Rope

If you need materials this kit will provide a 10 ft piece of cotton cord and my one-page published instruction sheet:
DIY rope bracelet kit

A slightly more complex four part turks head knot is shown in this illustrated tutorial:
11x4x3 turks head knot tutorial

For those of you advanced knotters this 13 part tutorial will challenge your hand-eye coordination:
building a 13 part turks head bracelet


If you are looking for a more unusual design try this herringbone weave tutorial:
Making a herringbone pattern bracelet



These bigger projects require more cord that the basic kits so you may want to order in bulk. This listing offers a choice of colors in longer lengths suitable for the 13 part and herringbone projects or as a way to economize for a knotting party.

bulk cotton cord

design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 7 Trim off loose ends

 Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 7: Trim off loose ends



Once the cords ends have been bound together with the thread you can trim off the loose ends. I like to use a pair of diagonal cutters. This tool can be found at hardware stores.

View the ready-to-wear collection here

Trim the cords as close to the edge as possible.

Work around the edge removing the loose ends.

And you are complete!





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design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 6 Bind cord ends

 Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 6: Bind cord ends.

Slide the bracelet off the mold. It should have enough stiffness to hold it's shape while you finish it off.


View the ready-to-wear collection here

 Line up the cords using the smooth nose pliers. If there are any loose or slack loops re-work the tension to get everything even.

 Prepare a needle and nylon thread. You will need about 72" length of thread. In this example the thread has been doubled through the needle creating a strong four-ply thread.

You may also use a pair of regular pliers to place the needle through the cords.

 Align the cords you buried and sew them together with the needle and thread. Make three or four passes to get the thread on the same side of the cord.

Repeat this process on all the groups of buried cords. The more colors you use the more of these groups you will have.

Tie off the threads with square knots.





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design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 5 Remove slack from the warp cords

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 5
Remove slack from the warp cords

The warp cords are the dark blue and teal cords that run around the circumference of bracelet.

Using the round nose pliers grab the teal cord somewhere near the center and pull a small loop snug. Move to the next loop and draw the cord through adding an even, firm tension each time.

View the ready-to-wear collection here

Continue working the loop around the mold. Gradually remove the slack as you move around the mold until you reach the end. Keep an even but firm tension on each loop as you pull it through.

As you go the slack loop will grow in size.

Do not over tighten.

Draw the slack through the buried end. Go back to your starting point near the center and work the teal cord the opposite direction to the other end.

You will notice the loops that are loose and those that are firm.

Repeat this process with the blue cord. Work both ends from the middle until the tension is even around the entire circumference

Draw the slack through both ends. When complete the bracelet will have some shape and all the cords will be evenly tensioned.




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design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 4 Remove slack from the weft cord

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 4:
Remove slack from the weft cord

We'll start by tightening up the white weft cord that was placed first. Use the round nose pliers like the ones shown in the photo to grab the cords. Much easier than trying to use fingers….

Round nose pliers have no serrations so they don't tear the surface of the cord. Find them at a craft supply store.

View the ready-to-wear collection here

Rotate the mold and find the loop opposite the loose ends. Grab the loop with the pliers and gently tighten.

Work the cord from the center to the ends. Pull just enough tension to settle the colored warp cords together. Don't over-tighten at this point.

As you work around the white cord loops will pull free of the rubber bands.

Continue around until the slack reaches the end. Pull the cord end through and leave the tail hanging.

Then start again in the center and work the other way.

You will end up with two long tails of white cord. Leave them under the rubber bands for now, don't trim them off yet.

The bracelet will be loose on the mold but should stay put with the tail ends holding it in place.

This shows the rather loose weave of 8 loops. As discussed before you can make 10, 12, or 14 loops on your mold . The tightening technique is the same for all of them.



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design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 2 Layout the first warp cord

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 2:
Layout the first warp cord


Place the fid on the end of one of the colored cord pieces. This will be the first warp cord.

If you don't have a fid, wrap tape around the end of the warp cord to stiffen the end of the cord so you can feed it through the gaps.

View the ready-to-wear collection here

 Place the cord 90 degrees to the white weft cord in an over-under alternating pattern as shown. Note the white cord ends are paired and treated as a single cord.


Continue around the PVC mold placing the cord parallel to the original cord until you reach the end. Leave a 1" tail.

When you get near the end place the 1" tail of the warp cord under the running weft cord right next to one of the white cords as shown.

Tape up the other end of the warp cord so it can pass through the gaps.


Go back to the other end and resume placing the warp cord in the same over-under pattern keeping exactly parallel to the original path of the cord.

When you get to the end place the running cord under the weave as shown. Leave it relaxed  for now.



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design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 1: Materials, tools, and layout

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 1
Materials, tools and layout

Materials needed: a 36" length of white cord, a series of colored cords various lengths.

Tools:
- PVC pipe coupling 8 5/8" circumference
- two rubber bands
- wood fid (use a length of tape)
- Round nose pliers
- needle and thread for finishing

View the ready-to-wear collection here 

Place the rubber bands on the PVC coupling as shown, place one end of the white cord under the rubber band. Place a loop under the other rubber band.

Keep placing the loops under the rubber bands working around the PVC coupling.

Spacing should be about 1/2" between loops. When finished you should have about 8 loops on each side of the PVC coupling.

Make the loops evenly spaced. You can make 10 or 12 loops if you want a tighter weave. Use a longer piece of weft cord to place as many loops as you like.

Locate the loop opposite the end of the cord as shown. This will be the starting point for placing the colored warp cords.



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design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

two strand red paracord string bracelet 3188

bright red 650 paracord
rugged soft lightweight

 white waxed thread whipping

made-to-order please provide size




                        available here



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

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

Can you feel it? new collection on Etsy

Essence Aflame's collection can you feel it? asks the question and the answer is "soft". Visit her shop essenceaflame to find a collection of candles which are poured individually and with extreme care and finesse.

To go with a scented candle you will want this Soft Musk - Cold Process Soap with Coconut Milk and Olive Oil made by Janine the addicted soap maker from Belfast, Maine. More "Wicked Good" Bath & Body Stuff! in her Etsy shop  WickedScentuals including bath bombs (don't these make a huge splash when they land??)

I like the color and design of this Friendship Bracelet MADE TO ORDER by Michelle L from LA. See more of her colorful line of friendship bracelets in her shop MichellesGoodies.

The featured item in this soft collection is this white cotton soft bangle part of the GEOmetry series of minimalist cotton cord jewelry available exclusively through WhatKnotShop. More designs here including the double bangle clothesline cord cuff or this wedge bangle clothesline cord bracelet. If you like the design but want a custom size made please contact me to make your request.

black string cuff bracelet 1386

Extra soft black polyester cord is mold wrapped with the finger interlock weave pattern to form this 13 strand string bracelet. Slips on comfortably then you forget it's there.

No stretch design, no shrink material, no nonsense black.

Available here.



design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

The greys have it

 This micro collection is made from four different turks head rope bracelets made out of four different variation on grey.


This example is a blue-grey braided cotton cord worked in a herringbone weave design. This item available in the Etsy shop where you can find other solid color handmade rope bracelets in a variety of colors. (1325)

 This wider design is also blue-grey made in a plain weave pattern with a soft lay cotton-polyester blend cable cord. This one is available in the ArfFire shop where there is a larger collection of this medium width plain weave design and a variety of the herringbone patterns as well. (1072)

This is a blend of turquoise blue and grey soft lay 100% cotton cable cord. The center strand is a light turquoise blue, the outer two strands are light grey. This bracelet is available in the Zibbet shop where you can find other blended color rope bracelets in a variety of interesting combinations. (1077)

Here is another herringbone weave made from a very soft cotton cord with a relaxed braided cover. The variegated color reflects the cord materials which are not as tightly woven as other braided cords. Find this one on Etsy. (1327)




design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

cherry strawberry grape cantaloup soft bracelet 1267

 Colorful soft cotton floss is used to wrap this multi-part flexible cord bracelet to create a splash of color. The core is made from braided  cotton cord (clothesline). The loops are formed on a mold and the ends are bound together with high strength nylon thread. The cotton floss is then applied to the loops. The result is this stack of soft bangles connected together.

 The inside circumference is about 8 1/2" (191 mm) making is a medium to large size. There is no clasp or toggle to get in the way. Everything is technically waterproof but long term immersion is not recommended.


A similar design was posted back in November and is available in the fiber wrapped jewelry section of the ArtFire venue.

Find this item now listed in the Etsy shop.


Custom sizes and colors can be requested from the Etsy shop. Click here to go the shop page then click on "request custom item" from the menu on the left margin.


design and photographs © copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop