Page 26 - Lindsey Philpott "The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots"

20 THE ULTIMATE book of dEcorATIvE knoTs

I have one last piece of advice about the ends of MEASUREMENTS
cords and lines. Once you have faired your piece Another frequently asked question is: ‘How much
and are preparing to apply sizing or a clear finish line/cord/string do I need to make this?’ We have
or to mount it in a shadow-box, you will have at the perfect answer. It depends! For some knots it
least two ends of which to dispose. Do not simply is possible to provide you with a formula (yes,
cut them off. If the piece is such that you can work some mathematics!) that enables you to compute
these ends back in underneath something already the precise length of cord needed (though most
tightened and fair, then that is preferable, provided people will pad or increase this number with a bit
you do it so that the ends cannot be seen or picked of extra length). But for most works, the length of
out of place by little fingers. The best way to do the cords you use will be determined by the type of
this is to make a bight in the end of your cord, and knot you’re making and the style of knotting, as
slide a piece of fine doubled wire underneath where well as the materials from which you wish to
you want the cord hidden, starting its travel at the construct it.
point where you will cut the cord. The wire should However, there are some knotting types for
be clean and snag-free. Tuck the bight of the end which approximate cord length measurements are
of your cord into the wire loop and pull the wire useful:
loop back through, dragging the cord with it. Give
a small but firm tug to the cord to stretch it just a
little. Then, using the sharpest scissors you have, Macramé: about three or four times as long
place the scissors flat on top of the work, blades as the length you want the finished piece to be,
each side of the cord to be cut, and snip. As the depending on the knots used.
cord relaxes the tension it will suck back under your Netting: about twice as long as the finished net,
already tight work (you might even give it a shove). depending on where and how you measure it.
When done properly, this technique will cause your Sinnet: about four times the finished length,
ends to all but disappear. depending again on the knots used.
NOTE: This wire method works well when you
are making a solid sinnet, braid or globe; it will not
work on a flat knot. Following is the best advice I can give you for
Other methods of hiding ends include splicing measuring how much cord you need.
them into a prior cord, sewing them together with
whipping twine, covering them with glue and Covering Cylindrical Objects
holding them in place until the glue dries (I find that When you are covering something with your work,
either a 75/25 mix or a 50/50 mix of white glue and such as a rail or a rod, knot up a sample length of
water leaves very little trace on the finished piece about one inch or so in your chosen cord and style.
and that a hot glue gun can be very helpful), or Mark the beginning and end on the cord used
simply taping them in place. The important thing is (assuming you have used the appropriate tension),
to determine what kind of exposure your cord ends then take it apart and measure how much cord you
will have. If this is to be a doormat, you will want used. Multiply that length by the length or diameter
to splice or sew the ends in place. A display piece of the thing you wish to cover. If you used fourteen
behind glass may need no more than a piece of tape inches of cord to create one inch of knotting, for
or some light glue that will not mark the finished example, and your rail is twenty inches long, you
cord (be aware that some CA glues will leave a will need 280 inches (20x14) for working and
yellow mark on white cord). Also, if you are using coverage. Last, add a foot or so extra to this figure,
an inorganic line, it may be possible to melt the ends so that you’ll have a bit of breathing room when
back into the other cords. creating your piece.