Decorative Fusion Knots Read online

7. Hook the rope on the left up through the front of the left loop.

  8. Flip the piece upside down.

  9. Drop the right running end down over the lower right loop.

  10. Hook the left running end under, over, and under the ropes of the right loop.

  11. Weave the other running end up under, then over…

  12. …under, and over the ropes to the left. Flip the knot to see the Pagoda.

  Section 6

  Popular Paracord Ties

  Solomon Bar

  Also called a Cobra Stitch and Portuguese Sinnet, the Solomon Bar is great way to bundle a lot of cord for later or emergency use. The firm strap created also makes it a popular tie for necklaces and bracelets.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Begin by tying a Cow Hitch around a ring. Lower the ring to the…

  2. …desired length of the bar. Insert the running ends into an upper ring.

  3. Hook the right running end back, left, and over the left running end.

  4. Hook the left running end right and through the right crook.

  5. Hook the right running end left and under the left running end.

  6. Hook the left running end back, right, and through the right crook.

  7. Continue forward repeating Steps 3 and 4, and…

  8. …Steps 5 and 6 until you reach the lower ring.

  9. To finish the bar, carefully snip off the running ends…

  10. …and singe their ends to fix them in place.

  Wide Solomon Bar

  The Wide Solomon Bar is one of my favorite Paracord ties. Arguably the most durable and attractive looking strap a person can make; it is twice the width of a standard Solomon Bar. It also makes a great dog collar or stylish belt.

  Knot Components: Solomon Bar+Crossed Cords

  1. Begin by tying three Cow Hitches side-by-side around a ring.

  2. Hook the right most rope left and under the third rope to the left.

  3. Hook the third rope (to the left) back, right, and over the crook of the right most rope.

  4. Hook the third rope right. Then hook the right most rope…

  5. …under it, around the back, and over the crook of the third rope.

  6. Hook the left most rope right and under the third rope to the right.

  7. Hook the third rope (to the right) back, left, and over the crook of the left most rope.

  8. Hook the third rope left. Then hook the left most rope…

  9. …under it, around the back, and over the crook of the third rope.

  10. Cross the two parallel ropes in the middle, right over left.

  11. Repeat Steps 2 through 10 until the desired bar length is achieved.

  12. To finish the bar carefully snip and singe the running ends.

  Single Genoese Bar

  The Single Genoese Bar is what happens when you tie alternating Half Hitches around a doubled rope. A simple design that forms a strong strap, it is sometimes confused with the Double Genoese Bar tied with alternating Clove Hitches.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Branch a single strand of Paracord into two side-by-side bights.

  2. Hook the right running end left over the doubled rope…

  3. …around the back and through the loop created. Tighten.

  4. Hook the left running end right over the doubled rope,…

  5. …around the back and through the loop created. Tighten.

  6. Repeat Steps 2 and 3…

  7. …and Steps 4 and 5…

  8. …until you reach the desired length of your bar.

  9. To finish the bar carefully snip and singe the running ends.

  10. Cow Hitch the bar’s loop to connect it to a bag or zipper.

  Trilobite Knot

  The Trilobite Knot is a tie most commonly used to create a key fob or a grip for a zipper. Tied in hand, the knot can be difficult to complete. But tying it off a hook, as shown below, makes it easier.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Create an M-shape with the rope, two bights with a trough between.

  2. Loop the tops of the bights over a hook (left over right).

  3. Hook the right running end left and under the left running end.

  4. Hook the left running end back, right, and over the right crook.

  5. Circle one running end around the rope above it.

  6. Circle the other running end around the rope above it.

  7. Extend the left running end back, right, and over the right crook.

  8. Extend the right running end left and under the left crook.

  9. Repeat Step 5…

  10. …and Step 6…

  11. Continue forward repeating, Step 7…

  12. …and Step 8, then Steps 5 and 6, back and forth until…

  13. …you reach the desired length of your knot.

  14. Then unhook the knot…

  15. …and pull its bottom loop taut until firm.

  16. To finish the piece carefully snip and singe the running ends.

  Section 7

  Petals of the Flower

  Flower Knot

  The Flower Knot is sometimes called the Clover Leaf Knot. The technique used to create it can generate a variety of knots with loops or “petals” branching off a woven square center.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Make a Z-configuration of two opposing bights along the rope.

  2. Bight the lower running end over and through the bight above.

  3. Now bight the running end over and through the bight created.

  4. Hook the running end over and through the last bight created,…

  5. …through the bottom loop, and through the last bight created again.

  6. Carefully adjust the knot until firm.

  Double Looped Knot

  The Double Looped Knot points out an important fact regarding the “petals” of the Flower Knot: you can make as many or as few as you’d like. So although the following shows how to size the knot down, you can just as easily size it up.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Make a Z-configuration of two opposing bights along the rope.

  2. Bight the lower running end over and through the bight above.

  3. Hook the running end over and through the last bight created…

  4. …through the bottom loop, and through the last bight created again.

  5. Carefully adjust the petals…

  6. …until the knot is firm.

  Cross Knot

  The Cross Knot is essentially a Flower Knot with its petals pulled off. It can be used to fix the orientation of a whistle or pendant with an attractive cross or woven square, depending on which side of the knot is shown.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Hook a bight around the rope beside it.

  2. Circle the dangling rope up, over and around the bight.

  3. Wrap the running end of the bight…

  4. …around the dangling running end and through its crook.

  5. Carefully adjust the knot until firm.

  6. Flip the knot over to see the woven square.

  Winged Cross Knot

  Branching off a single length of rope rather than two ropes in parallel, the Winged Cross Knot adds flare to an otherwise simple Cross Knot. Only one word of caution, apply “wing” tension equally, or the knot will collapse.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Hook the running end up and over a bight.

  2. Insert the running end into the crook of the bight.

  3. Hook the running end down through the back of the lower right bight.

  4. Then hook it through the lower left loop and back through the bight.

  5. Carefully adjust the knot until firm.

  6. Flip the knot over to see the woven square.

  Section 8

  Rolling Out the Barrels

  Barrel Knot

  The Barrel Knot is also called the Blood Knot because it was hi
storically tied into the ends of cat-o’-nine-tails floggers. In contrast to its gruesome past, the knot also makes a clean, tight bead for decorating a necklace cord.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Coil the rope three to four times around your index and middle finger.

  2. Slide the coils off your fingers, while holding them in place.

  3. Insert the right running end through the middle of the coils.

  4. Insert the left running end through the middle of the coils.

  5. Gently pull the running ends in opposite directions until…

  6. …a tightly wrapped bead of rope forms.

  Bloody Knuckle Knot

  The Bloody Knuckle Knot is what happens when you fuse a row of half hitches with the Blood Knot. The hitches make knuckles and the Blood Knot (or Barrel Knot) pulls the tie together, resulting in an unusual but attractive design.

  Knot Components: Barrel Knot + Half Hitches

  1. Make a counterclockwise loop (right rope over left).

  2. Then make a second counterclockwise loop to the right of the first.

  3. Place the second loop behind the first.

  4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3…

  5. …over and over again…

  6. …until you have five loops lined up in front of one another.

  7. Insert the right running end through the middle of the loops.

  8. Insert the left running end through the middle of the loops.

  9. Gently pull the running ends in opposite directions, and…

  10. …carefully adjust the knot until firm.

  O-Ring

  The O-Ring is a quick way to make a sturdy decorative loop. Its convenient shape also makes it an ideal handle for a drawer, box lid, or tether.

  Knot Components: Overhand Knot + Opposing Coils

  1. Make an Overhand Knot, the right running end weaving over the left.

  2. Tightly coil the left running end around the loop, stopping at the top.

  3. Repeat Step 2 for the right running end.

  4. Pull the left and right running ends until all the coils of rope are tight.

  5. Tie an Overhand Knot to lock the piece in place.

  6. Carefully adjust the ring until firm.

  Door Knocker Knot

  An actual door knocker helps people outside a house alert those inside of their presence. Despite its name, the Door Knocker Knot will only let others know of your knot tying prowess.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Make an Overhand Knot, the right running end weaving over the left.

  2. Rotate the loop of the Overhand Knot right over left.

  3. Drop the right running end down behind the upper and bottom loop.

  4. Circle the right running end through the bottom loop,…

  5. … and up through the top right loop.

  6. Then, circle the running end through the bottom and top loop again.

  7. Repeat Steps 3 through 6 in reverse…

  8. …until the left running end…

  9.…circles through the top left and bottom loop twice.

  10. Carefully adjust the knot until firm.

  Padlock Knot

  The Padlock Knot is a clever way to achieve the look and function of a padlock. Still it should be noted, the knot is useless for protecting valuables. But then again, since the advent of bolt cutters, so are most padlocks.

  Knot Components: Opposing Ps + Opposing Coils

  1. Make a counterclockwise P with the descending rope on top.

  2. Make a second counterclockwise P facing the first.

  3. Stack the first P on top of the second.

  4. Circle the right running end around the ropes below it.

  5. Circle the left running end around the ropes below it.

  6. Repeat Step 4...

  7. …and Step 5 until…

  8. …both running ends coil around the ropes four to five times.

  9. Hold the top loop and pull the running ends down to tighten.

  10. To finish the knot carefully snip and singe the running ends.

  Triple Barrel Knot

  The Ashley Book of Knots describes the Triple Barrel Knot as merely one form of a variety of double looped knots. However, I feel the elegance of the knot’s design deserves more specific attention, so I’m showing it here.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Make a counterclockwise P about three inches down below the bight of the rope.

  2. Then make a second counterclockwise P facing away from the first.

  3. Cross the left running end over the right.

  4. Insert the rope on the right through the front of the right loop.

  5. Circle the rope around the right loop three times.

  6. Insert the rope on the left through the back of the left loop.

  7. Circle the rope around the left loop three times.

  8. Make a counterclockwise loop with the top rope.

  9. Then make a second counterclockwise loop on top of the first.

  10. Insert the right running end through the back of the coils above.

  11. Insert the left running end through the front of the coils above.

  12. Flip the knot upside down and carefully adjust it until firm.

  Section 9

  Other Asian Inspirations

  Button Knot

  The fundamental purpose of a Button Knot is its use as a button. However, this fact is occasionally sidestepped and its symbolic associations with good luck and the cyclical nature of all existence are emphasized.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Make a clockwise P.

  2. Drop the running end down behind the P, holding it in place.

  3. Hook the other running end up, weaving it under, over,…

  4. …under, and over the vertical ropes above it. Then hook it down,…

  5. …weaving it over, under, over, and under the horizontal ropes above it.

  6. Carefully adjust the knot until flat or a ball (flat configuration shown).

  Maedate Knot

  A maedate is a crest worn on the front of a samurai’s helmet. Although most maedates were constructed of metal or horn, a handful of the earliest were constructed of rope. The Maedate Knot emulates their appearance.

  Knot Components: Handcuff Knot + 180 Degree Rotation

  1. Make a counterclockwise loop (right rope over left).

  2. Then make a second counter-clockwise loop over the first.

  3. Rotate the overlapping edges of the loops 180 degrees.

  4. Pinch your thumbs and forefingers through the front and back loops.

  5. Grip the rotated loops and pull them apart.

  6. Carefully adjust the knot until firm.

  Pipa Knot

  The Pipa Knot’s shape evokes the image of a Pipa—a stringed instrument dating back to ancient China. Greatly respected by Tang Dynasty poets, the Pipa was often praised in verse for its refined look and delicate tone.

  Knot Components: Historical Knot

  1. Make a clockwise loop (left rope over right).

  2. Loop the rope on the left up around the back of the clockwise loop...

  3.…and then back down across itself.

  4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3, stacking each loop until…

  5. …only a peephole remains in the center of the last loop created.

  6. To firm up the knot, insert the running end into the peephole.