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.

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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.


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 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.

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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.

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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 3 Layout the second warp cord

Making a basket weave rope bracelet Part 3
Layout the second warp cord

Place the fid on the end of the other colored warp cord.

If you don't have a fid, wrap tape around the end of the cord to form a stiff end.

In this example the second warp cord is a teal blue.

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Find the center of the first group of warp cords and create a small space.

Place the end of the second warp cord under the white cord as shown. Place in an over-under alternating pattern. Where the first warp cord is "over" place the second cord "under" the weft cord as shown.

Here you can see the weave as it develops with the opposite over-under moves.

Keep going around the PVC mold placing the cord under and over as before -  but always opposite the first warp cord.

Bury the ends as you did before by placing the cord ends through the gaps parallel to the white cord.

Draw the loop through but don't over-tighten.

Here's what the finished weave will look like.

Don't worry if your colored cords are too short or two long, just place them and bury the ends. You may use additional cords to fill out the weave.

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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.

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 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 visual tutorial overview 3237

 You can make this basket weave rope bracelet like this out of cord segments using a few simple tools.

The process is illustrated in the step-by-step instructions under each section listed below.

Simply click on the links to see the details of each step.

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design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

Part 1: Materials, tools, and layout

Part 2: Layout the first warp cord

Part 3: Layout the second warp cord.

Part 4: Remove slack from the weft cord

Part 5: Remove slack from the warp cords

Part 6: Bind cord ends

Part 7: Trim off loose ends

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

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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

Placing the center strand tutorial part 3

 Continue the placement of the center cord all the way to the end.

The end is the place where the two outer strands meet.

In this photo the fid is approaching the end of the white outer strand. Pull it through all the way and remove the fid.

 Flip the knot over 180 degrees and re-attach the fid to the other long loose end of the center cord.

Place the fid between the two outer strands and draw the cord through to the opposite side in exactly the same way as before. Keep the cord in the center, no twisting, relaxed tension...

 Here you can see the path of the cord across the the knot following the center gap. In the photo the loops have been left slack to illustrate the overlapping pattern.

Continue to place the cord until all the crossings are populated and the colored cord arrives at the end of the white outer strand.

Here the placement is complete and you can see the parallel layout of the cords marked in red. Hide the overlap underneath one of the parts. Keep the cords side-by-side to facilitate the stitching together of the strands.

To see how the ends are kept from fraying and falling apart check out the stitch up tutorial

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design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop