)strata( design cotton fiber bracelet 315

Here's what the )strata( bracelets look like right off the mold, nice and crisp and round. This one has a single small "crow" bead in the rim. The bead is placed where two of the loops reverse direction.

Color is predominantly green with teal blue and blue-grey accents and with some white strands near the center.

This is a better look at the layers with green, white and blue strands showing the reversing loops.
7 1/2" circumference
adult "large" slip-on size
check your slip-on size click here then select your favorite from one of these three online shops:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop
ArtFire: http://www.artfire.com/users/WhatKnotShop
Zibbet: http://www.zibbet.com/WhatKnotShop


design and photos copyright 2009 WhatKnotShop

)strata( design slip-on soft bangle with blue beads item 312

New slip on )strata( bracelet in blue, purple, white, and olive.

A 1" wide weave in hand dyed cords.

Side view showing the three crow beads worked into the fabric weave.

Casual style, irregular shape.

The size is "large" 7 1/2" circumference.

Diameter is 2 1/4"

1" wide (varies)

Construction is with 4 ply nylon thread which makes this very strong.

The blue floss covers the edge cords at the beads which adds drama.


check your slip-on size click here then select your favorite from one of these three online shops:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop
ArtFire: http://www.artfire.com/users/WhatKnotShop
Zibbet: http://www.zibbet.com/WhatKnotShop

design and photos copyright 2009 WhatKnotShop

new )strata( design with glass beads item 402

Here's a new slip on style cotton fiber bracelet made with a collection of blue, green and grey cord segments and glass beads. The red bead is an accent that sets the blue green colors off and adds a nice contrast. The beads are tightly integrated into the fabric but they lie on the surface of the compressed cords. This gives the piece a nubbly texture. It's not all soft and flexible anymore.

This is a look at the bracelet from the side. The cords holding the beads can be seen. Extra nylon floss was used to hold the cord loops so they don't flop around. There's a contrast of the hard cold glass and the tightly bound cord.

The edge on shows how irregular the beads make the whole piece. It's like a tangled piece of fishing line that washes up on the beach with bits of sea glass and other junk all wound up in a colorful mess. Found art that is made by hand....
check your slip-on size click here then select your favorite from one of these three online shops:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop
ArtFire: http://www.artfire.com/users/WhatKnotShop
Zibbet: http://www.zibbet.com/WhatKnotShop


design and photos copyright 2009 by WhatKnotShop

Figuring the fit-how to pick a size thats right for you

Picking a size for a turks head knot bracelet is different than for an ordinary clasp bracelets. Rope bracelets do not have toggle or button closure but are a continuous weave or circular braid that has no beginning or ending. This design makes turks head bracelets especially appealing but requires consideration of the size when purchasing. Since it is impossible to try on for size over the web a bit of measuring must be done. In order to obtain the correct size several factors must be considered:

Wrist size:

This is the circumference of your wrist measured with some clearance for comfort. It can also be considered the final size you want to have with the bracelet in place. Many web sites offer wrist sizing guidance based on age. You can take a direct measurement using an ordinary cloth tape measure.

Slip-on size:

This is the measurement taken at the fattest part of your hand with your thumb squeezed tightly against your smallest finger. This size is usually somewhat larger than your wrist size, sometimes by as much as one or two inches. Slip-on size is shown in all the product offerings at the WhatKnotShop online shops.

Nominal Sizing:

Here is a guide to help you understand the nominal sizing descriptions:

https://whatknotnow.blogspot.com/2010/01/nominal-sizes.html

Desired fit:

This is an individual determination. You may want a snug fit where the bracelet size is slightly larger than your wrist size, you may want a loose fit where the bracelet can slip on and off easily, or you may want something in between. 

For a loose fit imply select a “slip-on” size that is the same or larger than your measured slip-on size.
 
Most of the bracelets will stretch somewhat and most people's hands can be squeezed a little bit so you can pick a slip-on size that is the same or slightly smaller than your measurement and squeeze into the bracelet.

To get a snug fit you should pick a tight slip-on size and then use one or both of these two strategies:

Shrinkage: Many of the offerings in the WhatKnotShop online shops are made of cotton. Some are made from hand-dyed cotton alone or in combination with natural cotton cord. Check the materials listing to find out. Cotton will tend to shrink when wet. The hand dyed cord has been previously wetted during the dying process and will therefore shrink somewhat less than the all natural white cotton. Shrinkage is usually about 10% for natural cotton cord. Repeated wetting can cause more shrinkage as the cotton fibers expand.  For many people a tight "slip-on" size for a cotton bracelet will result in a comfortable fit after the material has relaxed to it's final shape. 

Synthetics will not shrink as much as cotton and will tend to hold the same size over time. Read the product descriptions carefully to find out how much "give" is built into each bracelet. Some are loose and will have considerable "give", others are worked up to a tight shape and will have very little "give".

If you want a nylon bracelet in a reduced circumference from the "slip-on" size you will need to pull some slack from the knot. Read on...

Adjustment:
A few of the offerings in the WhatKnotShop online shops are labeled “adjustable”. This means that the bracelet has been fully completed but has not been tied off or worked up to the smallest possible circumference. Adjustable bracelets enables the buyer to adjust the final size of the bracelet to a comfortable fit by removing the excess slack in the knot. This is known as “working up” the knot to it’s final shape. This link describes how to "work up" a turks head bracelet: https://whatknotnow.blogspot.com/2010/01/working-up-basic-turks-head-bracelet-to.html

This process can take some time as it involves pulling loops of cord around the weave of the knot in a progressive pattern until the slack comes out in one of the two loose ends. Loose made cotton bracelets can be worked up by this method to fit over a large hand and then fitted to a skinny wrist. This is the only practical way to get a custom fit for for a bracelet made with nylon or polyester material.

Visit the online shops to see what is available in your size:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop

If you don't find a pre-made design in your size please make a custom request! Due to the variety of designs not all sizes are stocked but most can be made within a very short time.

blue )strata( fiber bracelet with beads 305

Three shades of blue cord offset with green.

Green and frosted blue beads bound into the perimeter

Narrow design that can go alone or stack with other casual bracelets.

Detail of frosted blue beads

Adult "medium" size in a slip-on design.

check your slip-on size click here then select your favorite from one of these three online shops:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop
ArtFire: http://www.artfire.com/users/WhatKnotShop
Zibbet: http://www.zibbet.com/WhatKnotShop

design and photos copyright 2009 WhatKnotShop

design )strata( cotton fiber bracelet 306

New )strata( design series hand dyed hand assembled cotton bracelet

Bound fibers of cotton cord with two red glass beads worked around a mold. A casual slip-on design that will flex to fit over your hand. The colors are a mix of red and black on one side with blue and purple on the other.

This view shows the compressed fibers folded back and bound together. Frayed edges of the cords are left as-is to soften the look.

Perfect match for those frayed jeans.

Another edge view showing the irregular width of each of these unique designs.

Each one of these requires about 6 to 8 hours of work to create.

Size is adult "medium"

7 1/2" (191 mm) internal circumference

2 3/8" (60 mm) inside diameter

1 5/8" (42 mm) widest point

Bracelet will flex to fit over your hand.

check your slip-on size click here then select your favorite from one of these three online shops:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop
ArtFire: http://www.artfire.com/users/WhatKnotShop
Zibbet: http://www.zibbet.com/WhatKnotShop

design and photos copyright 2009 WhatKnotShop

)strata( design blue, grey with blue glass beads 295

Muted colors, layers, compression give this unique piece a casual but compelling appearance. Unusual and unique these pieces are one of a kind. Each one is different.

The construction is all cotton fibers hand dyed and wrapped around a mold. The individual strands are bound together with nylon thread creating the appearance of layers of geological history. Three blue glass beads have been worked into the construction.

This is a slip-on style design. The piece has some flexibility to fit over your hand.
Slip-on size is adult "medium"

7 1/4" (185 mm) inside circumference
2 3/8" (60 mm) diameter
1/2" (12 mm) widest point

If you are interested in this or other unique fiber bracelets please visit the Etsy Shop

colors are blue, grey, black with scarlet and dark blue accents and blue glass beads

Check your slip-on size click here then select your favorite color from one of the three online shops:


Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop
ArtFire: http://www.artfire.com/users/WhatKnotShop
Zibbet: http://www.zibbet.com/WhatKnotShop

Custom orders are welcomed!

design and photos copyright 2009 WhatKnotShop

Starboard green and white cotton turks head bracelet 299

Made from 3 mm hand dyed cotton cord in natural white and starboard green this is a 17 x 5 x 3 double diamond design. Slip-on size is adult "medium" with some shrinkage expected when/if the bracelet gets wet.

This design is available in a variety of colors including blue, turquoise, red, grey, sand/tan, and lavender.

Black Turks head bracelet with red beads

Beading is a huge craft phenomenon with thousands if not millions of people all over the world creating unique craft objects. Knotting is another ancient art and it's relationship to beading is probably just as old. Combining these two traditions to create new forms is part of what makes the exploration of craft expressions so much fun. At left is a bracelet that combines both a Turks Head weave with glass beads to produce a simple high impact look. Black cord is worked in a 17 x 5 x 2 pattern with red glass pony beads. This and other color combinations are available through the online shops listed below.


check your slip-on size click here then select your favorite from one of these online shops:
WhatKnotShop on Etsy
WhatKnotShop on Zibbet


design and photographs copyright 2009 WhatKnotShop

Part 7: Finished 5 part by 29 bight by 2 strand Herringbone weave bracelet

<-- part 6

7.1 The finished bracelet worked up to an even tension.

7.2 The loose ends have been left in place.

7.3 Edge view shows the paired strands and the over two-under two pattern.

7.4 Ready to be stitched and trimmed.

pre-made herringbone rope bracelets are available in these online shops:
WhatKnotShop on Etsy
WhatKnotShop on Zibbet


start over

Part 6: Working up the complete knot

<--part 5
6.1 The knot has been removed from the tube and most of the big loops have been worked out. This process is the same as illustrated below. Keep the cords parallel and even as you work.

6.2 As you work up the knot keep an even tension on the cord.

6.3 Here the slack loop is on the right set up to pull through to the left side. A starter loop has been made with the fid.

6.4 The slack loop has been pulled most of the way through the knot to the left.

6.5 The loop is pulled through to the left and a starter loop has been made on the right.

pre-made herringbone rope bracelets are available in these online shops:
WhatKnotShop on Etsy
WhatKnotShop on Zibbet

6.6 The slack loop has been pulled most of the way through the knot to the left.

6.7 Work the loop from side-to-side around the knot. Each time take a small amount of extra slack out to the weave. The pull through loop will gradually enlarge as you work it around.

6.8 Since this is a 5 part knot there will be 5 trips around the circumference for to reach the end.
part 7 -->

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Part 5: Working to the ends of the cord

<--part 4
5.1 Follow the original lead around the tube until you run out of slack.

5.2 When that happens, reverse the tube placing the slack loops on your right. Begin from the point you stopped and remove the slack by pulling the loops through one at a time until you reach the end.

5.3 Continue following the original single lead keeping parallel and on the same side of the cord. Keep working back and forth round the knot until the two leads are overlapping each other.

pre-made herringbone rope bracelets are available in these online shops:
WhatKnotShop on Etsy
WhatKnotShop on Zibbet

part 6 -->

start over