mixed bag of rope bangle bracelets 3988

Backfilling sold items in the shop produces leftover pieces of cord in random lengths and colors following a production run.   Here is a collection of little rope grommets made from these pieces.

Grommets are a traditional form of rope craft made by reverse twisting individual pieces of cordage in a circular form. The ends are secured with a waxed thread coach whipping.

Top to bottom:
Navy and tan with black 6 1/4"
plain white braid with white 7 1/4"
pink and orange with tan 7 1/4"
white cotton 7 1/2"

Detail of the pink and orange grommet bracelet showing two coach whippings necessary to secure the two overlapping colors.


Similar bracelets are available please visit WhatKnotShop to see what's available

design and photographs copyright 2016

five fiber bangles from reclaimed rope 3987

This collection of handmade bracelets is constructed from reclaimed bits of rope found on ocean beaches. Ragged segments of damaged rope were deconstructed, sorted, and worked into simple grommets.

The fibers have a worn discolored and stained quality that blends together in the group. The materials are all synthetic plastics that have acquired a softer natural quality during the pounding and stress of the water and sand.

 The construction is the same as other grommets with groups of fibers twisted together in a circular form. Overlapping ends are secured with waxed cotton whipping.

Extremely lightweight.

Detail showing the mixed blue and white fiber mix and the pair of whippings that secure the loose ends.






design and photographs copyright 2016

really big rope grommet bracelets 3842

This pair of grommets is made from salvaged mooring line that washed up on a winter beach. The frayed texture of the distressed rope is quite soft.  Despite the size these actually have some flexibility (but not much!)

Unravelling the tangle produced several segments of the material that were long enough to make these bracelets. Each one re-creates the natural state of the original piece of rope by working an individual strand back around into the three part twist.

 The overlapping ends are secured with a whipping detail made from hemp line.

The larger one is 9 1/4" (234 mm)
The smaller one is 7 1/4" (184 mm)

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



design and photographs © copyright 2016

grey mix color rope grommets cotton bracelets 3641

This collection features grey cords with a variety of added colors and coach whipping details. Made from shorter segments of cord from my cut-off box the reverse-twisting of the cords is terminated with the coach-whippings. Some have two others three or four of these which serve to bind the loose ends and keep everything together.

 Grey and a light green with white whippings

All about 6 1/2" (174 mm) circumference

Green and purple grommet collection 

Mixed color grommet collections

Darker shades grommet collection 

grey and a dark taupe with black whippings

Available here WhatKnotShop


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



design and photographs © copyright 2015

mixed cord grommet collections 3631and 3632

 This collection of grommet bangles comes from one of the many piles of cord ends and odd bits of color that accumulate during the making of rope bracelets. This group is a mix of colors made with multiple coach whippings. Using multiple colored cords in a single grommet entails securing the extra loose ends. Three colors of waxed thread are used individually and in mixed combinations.

This group (3632) is all about 8" to 8 1/4" in size.

Find this grey collection here.

In this group there are both the twisted cotton cord and the smooth braided cords used to create a range of color and texture. The coach whippings are tan, brown, black and white.

This group (3631) is about 7 1/2" in size

An illustrated tutorial showing how grommets are made here.


design and photographs © copyright 2015

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

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

Eight strand grommet braid rope bracelet

This is an eight strand grommet braid made with 1/8" nylon. The squares on the background are 1" so you can get an idea of the size. This would fit a medium size wrist.

Visit the online shops for more like this:

WhatKnotShop on Etsy
WhatKnotShop on Zibbet


design and photographs copyright 2008 WhatKnotShop