Page 387 - Lindsey Philpott "The Ultimate Book of Decorative Knots"

projects 381

The beaded hemp cord Mother’s Day gift – I hope your mum enjoys the one you make for her!

Method: Start your bracelet by getting an idea of a drawer at your house. If so, it is entirely likely that
how big your mother’s wrist is. Ask her if she has a you may have inadvertently stabbed your fingertips
favourite bracelet and then measure that or simply with the sharp metal spikes from time to time. If
ask her to measure her own wrist (maybe you can not, let’s hope that you do not get to experience that
do it for her) with a cloth tape measure. Make sure feeling! This old-fashioned comb hanger is revived
that what you make is long enough to fit around her from the days of square-rigged ships and takes only
wrist and not so long that it will fall off. We start moments to make, yet keeps those little spikes out of
with cords that will be about four times as long your fingers and always accessible.
as her wrist measurement. Choose her favourite
colours and cut the cords, being sure to tape the Line: Manila or sisal
ends. The cords you use should be silky smooth or Size: 12mm diameter, about 75 cm long
at least made of something that does not scratch! Time: About 1 hour
If she has some favourite beads, you might try to
add those in here also, although they are not always Method: Find the centre of your line and make
what she might want. You could ask her if she likes a temporary mark there with tape. This will be
wooden beads and try to get a small packet of those, removed later. From the centre, measure 8 cm in
or maybe she likes plastic pony beads. Here, I have each direction and again mark with tape. Bind the
chosen to use hemp cord, which is very soft and gets two parts of the line together at the 8 cm marks,
softer as it gets older. I chose some metal beads that using a Flat Seizing or a Constrictor Knot. Unlay
look golden and have a nice pattern on them. The the strands only at this point, so that you have six
starting loop must be slightly larger than the end strands (or eight strands if you are using four-strand
bead, so that the bead will slip inside the loop. line) and lay them out over your hand, ready to make
Using the Solomon Bar, I doubled my first the knot. Tie all six parts into The finished
cord and then tied an Overhand Knot around the a Footrope Knot (Chapter 10) comb hanger.
loop to make the loop the right size. Then I made or a Bo’sun’s Lanyard Knot and
square knots over the inside pair of cords, just like tighten it very firmly, being sure
it shows for the Solomon Bar. When I had made to twist each of the strands
about the first 3–5 cm, I added a bead to the two so that it follows its natural lay.
inside cords and then carried on square knotting on Tease out the strands that are
the other side of the bead, so that it is tightly woven left sticking out of the Footrope
in with the rest of the cords. After another 8 cm, I Knot, so that you have a whole
added another bead and then completed the square hairy mess of curly yarns –
knotting for the rest of the length I needed. Then remember that the yarns
I tied an Overhand Knot in the end of each of the are the pieces that make up
outside cords, slipped the larger bead over the inside the strands and that the yarns
cords, and tied two Overhand Knots over that bead are made of fibres. Soak the
and cut off the extra cord. yarns in hot water for a few
minutes under a running
Pet Comb Hanger water tap or, if you prefer,
A comb used to untangle a pet’s fur may be stored in soak the strands for a few