simple marsala bangle upper arm bracelet stacking bangle 3459

simple thin bangle stained marsala red
hand carved and finished
lightweight rugged
stackable

These bracelets are part of the Handmade Artifacts project that explores the inherited forms of design with modern materials. The materials are pvc plastic that has been stained a deep marsala red.

 shown here with carved bangle 3458

Available here on the ArtifactSite

chieftain cuff
small marsala cuff
bone bangles


design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

carved bangle 3458

Solid pvc plastic bangle style bracelet stained Marsala red. Neo-primitive design incised before the staining process so the color penetrates all the surfaces. Interior edges are sanded smooth for comfort.

This is one example of a piece that is part of the Handmade Artifacts project which re-imagines the inherited forms from our history into new objects made with contemporary materials.

 Size extra large 9 1/4" (234 mm) inside circumference
3" (72 mm) inside diameter
3/4" (20 mm) wide

will fit a larger wrist or upper arm perfect for stacking with a collection of bangles

Available here

Similar designs you might like:

chieftain cuff
small marsala cuff
similar white bone bangles 


design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

small Marsala cuff bracelet 3457

 Simple form made from pvc thermoplastic and stained Marsala red color. Open back and oval shape allows this cuff to be placed over a smaller wrist.

Elemental form simple shapes evoking the cultural heritage of ancient design. This is part of the Handmade Artifacts project re-creating simple powerful things using modern materials.

 Relaxed size 6 1/2" (165 mm) inside circumference
1 3/8" (33 mm) x 2 1/4" (57 mm) oval

1 3/16" (30 mm) wide

Available here


carved Marsala bangle - larger size


similar white bone bangles 


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

1 button red orange fiber cuff friendship bracelet with polymer clay button 3065

 This colorful cotton one button cuff bracelet is made from hand dyed cord inspired by the color of sugar maple trees in autumn. The brilliant reds and oranges light up the darkening sky. Unlike the falling leaves this color can stay with you and brighten up the winter months.

Read more about the construction technique for these bracelets here.

 Shown here with the other two bracelets in this small collection this is one of three experimental designs made using custom handmade poly clay buttons.

Read about the green beaded bracelet here.

Read about the red-black bracelet here

The polymer clay buttons have holes sized for the heavier cords enabling a simple stylish toggle closure detail.


                     available here



design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

2 button cuff with beads 3046

 Made with autumn colors of faded red, brown, black, rust, tan hand dyed cord. Large size 8 5/8" (219 mm) circumference. Mold formed with high tensile strength nylon thread edge stitched.

 Glass seed beads are seamed into the cord fabric. Two buttons and loops secure the closure.

              Available here






design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

lighthouse red rope bracelet 2822

 Sometimes the simplest thing is the strongest design like for example this lighthouse red turks head knot bracelet made from 3 mm cord.

The weave design is a 12 bight double diamond pattern so the work up process produces a nice symmetrical shape without having to compensate for cord diameter. This example is a "small" size 6 3/4" (172 mm) inside diameter. Like most of these designs this one can stretch out to about  7 1/2"

read about how to measure your hand for size

 The five part weave is wider and is further emphasized by the three strands of cord  resulting in a full 1 1/2" (37 mm) width.

To find out more about knot terminology here



This cord material is a smooth braided cotton product that takes the dye evenly and retains it's soft texture when dried out.

More color choices are available in the solid color section of my Etsy shop.

Most colors can be produced in small medium and large sizes by request.




design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

chocolate and cherry cotton turks head knot bracelet 2717

Two nice colors together in a traditional plain weave turks head knot bracelet. The brown color is the stock cord from Darice made with polyester and the red is a custom dye bath made with RIT scarlet dye. The white 3 mm cord is immersed for about 2 minutes. More on the dye process here.

I buy the cord from JOANN Fabrics (always use the discount coupons)

This five part design is started with the brown cord built on a mold in a 17 bight double diamond pattern. The red cord is added once the knot is complete.

Here's a glossary of terms for these knots.

Here's how to add the center strand.

This design is a "medium" size about 7 5/8" (193 mm) inside circumference.





design and photographs © copyright 2012 WhatKnotShop

soft bangle with beads 2660

 Soft cotton hand dyed cord scraps and a few glass beads are used to build this casual slip-on style bracelet. Unlike the one button designs this one is a "squeeze to fit" bangle measuring a generous 8 5/8" (219 mm) inside circumference.

One 12 mm lavender glass bead and five smaller red beads are tightly integrated in the fabric.

This is the latest in a series of similar designs:

green fiber bangle bracelet with beads 1448

cotton fiber bracelet red & orange with beads 468

three new )strata( designs

orbit beaded soft bangle bracelet grey design )strata( 631

orbit beaded soft bangle blue design )strata( 630

Colors are brown, rust, natural, scarlet, with a verdigris accent.







design and photographs copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

hardware cloth bracelet with beads 1478

 Conceptual bracelet made with green vinyl coated hardware cloth and red glass beads.


Slip-on bangle style design.

Garden chic, garage fashion, farady cage grunge.

 Glass beads have very small holes enabling the wire to be crimped over to hold them in place.

Could be made to size with 1/2" increments.

Size "medium" 7 5/8" (194 mm) no stretch to this one, it's made of coated steel.






design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

blue beaded two button bracelet 2630

 This one has nothing to do whatever with knotting per-se but appears here anyway as an exercise in beadwork. The glass beads are a random collection predominantly reds and oranges but with a few blue and green and a couple of black opaque beads too.

In the correct lighting the beads glow with color as you can see in this photo. It's a nice effect.

The cord structure is very similar to the one button fabric bracelets. The framing cords are a 1/4" braided nylon hand dyed blue with two buttons and loops. Instead of edge binding the cords as infill the beads are placed between the framing cords and threaded on the four ply nylon. You can see the exposed stitching on the outside edges.

Size is medium-small measuring 7 1/4" (183 mm) inside circumference when closed.



                 Available here


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

one button beaded cuff red and tan earth tones 2618

 All cotton cord of various textures from the braided clothesline cord, the traditional cotton cable cord, and a loose braided cotton are used to build this warm earth-tone color combination. Like the other bracelets in this series the materials are all from the scrap (er...resource!) box. These days I have to battle the cat for possession as he thinks this is a box of cat-toys.

The construction technique is shown starting with part one of a seven part tutorial.

 Two offset rows of glass beads are worked into the pattern a dark purple alongside the brown cords and the brighter red in the center of the red cords.

Size is a medium 7 1/2" (191 mm)

Construction is typical edge stitching using the four ply nylon thread and compressing the cords to make the firm but flexible fabric. A brown plastic button connects to the stirrup loop for a simple closure.

Find this bracelet listed here and more in the fiber art design section of WhatKnotShop on Etsy.

See other one-button designs here:
simple one button rope bracelet 2577
black and blue one button rope bracelet 2616
blue grey one button rope bracelet 2615
seaweed one button rope bracelet 2611



design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

red and grey beaded primitive tribal cuff bracelet 2483

Highly textured cotton cords bound tightly together with rows of seed beads forms this contemporary interpretation of tribal style. The framing cord is hand dyed a medium cool grey which offsets the red center cords and the red beads sewn in around the edges. Dark blue and black accents highlight the reds for a bit of contrast.

The cotton materials are soft and comfortable. Size is a "medium" about 7 1/2" (191 mm) inside circumference when closed.

 A pair of loops and buttons makes a secure but easy to manage closure system. The bracelet is made from up cycled segments of hand dyed cotton cord that are arranged on a mold then sewn together with four ply nylon thread. Glass beads are worked into the edges in the seams.

The nylon thread stretches during the construction and holds tension on the fabric so the bracelet has as semi-rigid form and inherent shape.

This piece will be offered in an upcoming boutique sale. Check Finch's Holiday Time Boutique for details, place and time or visit the fiber art section of my Etsy shop to see some other designs similar to this one.

design and photographs © copyright 2012 WhatKnotShop

red beaded rope bracelet 2481

 This beaded cuff bracelet is made with bleached clothesline cord a couple of plastic buttons and a handful of glass beads. The outer two rows are a mix of red and clear beads with a few mixed colors that look like cat's eye marbles. The center is a collection of orange, amber, and purple. All these are real glass so they catch the light.

 The design has this offset loop and button closure system which you can see in the photo. This makes it easy to take on and off. When closed the size is a "medium" measuring 7 1/2" (191 mm) inside circumference. The large number of glass beads makes this a nice hefty weight which you will notice when you are wearing this cuff.

Construction is with four ply waxed nylon thread so everything is secure but flexible to wear comfortably.

This piece will be offered in an upcoming boutique sale. Check Finch's Holiday Time Boutique for details, place and time or visit the fiber art section of my Etsy shop to see some other designs similar to this one.


design and photographs © copyright 2012 WhatKnotShop

by the bay

Three of the classic white 100% cotton turks head knot rope bracelets made by hand in Jamestown photographed on location at the Dumplings.

Lighthouse red 100% hand dyed cotton turks head knot rope bracelet. In the background is Clingstone the house on the rock built by a relative of Joseph Wharton in 1905.

Two of the teal blue hand dyed cotton turks head knot rope bracelets made with smooth braided cotton cord.

design and photographs © copyright 2012 WhatKnotShop

colorful grommets

A colorful collection of grommets made from 100% cotton hand dyed cable cord.

These are finished off with waxed cotton whipping twine using a concealed loop to hide the cut ends.

Colors in this collection: green, navy, tangerine, red, pink, and white. Find more like these at  WhatKnotShop on Etsy.

design and photographs © copyright 2012 WhatKnotShop

red beaded cotton bangle 1823

In this design the red glass beads form a continuous layer between the cotton cords.

This is a very narrow width. High strength waxed nylon binds the cord matrix together laterally and vertically though the beads. Possible design variations include black or other color cord, alternate color beads, and a coded sequence of beads.

8 1/4" (209 mm) inside circumference

          available here



design and photographs © copyright 2012 WhatKnotShop