To Knot, or Not to Knot

My interest in Celtic patterns initiated my curiosity in knots and how to tie them. I spent a lot of time watching many YouTube video instructions on tying them. The demonstrations ranged from tying knots for specific uses to decorative ones.

I marveled at the ingenuity and complexity of knots. The Turks Head and variations of the Solomon knot that are used in bracelets really caught my eye. I wasn't really interested in making a bracelet but only learning how the knots were tied in making one. The videos made it look so easy. One could watch each move and twist as the demonstrations showed from beginning to end how to wind cord, around, over and under repeatedly to create a bracelet.

Silver and gold wire can be used to make Turks Head bracelets, but 550 Para cord which comes in many colors was generally used in the YouTube videos. Para cord is lightweight nylon parachute cord rated for 550 lbs of weight.

I decided that a Turks Head bracelet, which looks like there is no beginning or ending, would be my first project. I didn't have para cord so I used knitting yarn. I thought anything you could tie a knot in would work until I had a chance to buy Para cord, but I soon found out working with string or yarn was not going to be easy.

Para cord has the diameter of clothesline rope and the thin wraps of yarn were soon tangled, making me lose track of the 'overs and unders'. Even when I was able to weave one circuit, I would lose the trace and have to start all over. Using Para cord would have made it ezpz, but with yarn, it took me three days of trial and error before I could make them without watching a video.

While learning about the different knots used in making bracelets, I discovered Survival Bracelets. They can be taken apart and the inner strands of nylon can be joined and used as rope if necessary. There is a tiny steel plate, a substitute for flint, that can be used to start a fire with some raveled string that is woven into the bracelet.

Here are some links for great how-to demos:
[editor's note: some of these videos have ads]

Scribd.com Celtic Art Tutorial

Youtube.com Endless Turk's Head Bracelet

Youtube.com Pineapple Knot

Youtube.com Survival Bracelet

Youtube.com Using a Survival Bracelet to make a fire

Yarn Bracelets