Saturday, March 15, 2014

Recent projects...

As far as knot projects over the last few weeks, I've just done a few with items received in care packages from both Schmuckatelli Co. and County Comm.

Using spool knitting, I made a wallet lanyard with my favorite Kiko beads. It was a snug fit for the beads with 1.4mm cord worked on a three peg spool.  Loops/lanyard knots tied at each end for attachment points.  Spanish ring knots were added on each side of the beads to further secure them in place along the length of the lanyard, examples tied with 0.9mm cord.

I tied a spool knit bracelet with a Premium Black Titanium Ona Bead, and a pair of Gaucho knots.

I made a long 4 bight Turk's head knot with 0.9mm cord around the stainless steel pocket clip on the limited edition Brass Embassy Pen that County Comm sent me, which arrived inside a tube vault/baby soda bottle.  I also received a nice new international orange Weather Warrior Beenie.  I've worn a black one during the last couple of fall/winters.  

I haven't decided yet what I'll store in the tube vault, maybe a mini survival kit, or a couple of ounces of high octane tasty beverage.  I may coil some spare tether cord around the outside or perhaps add something more decorative with paracord...

Followers on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr, and Google+ may have already seen these photos, as I sometimes post elsewhere first and don't always do a blog post...

13 comments:

Wentworth said...

Stormdrane,
Always enjoy the blog. Can you help me understand how you finished both ends of the wallet lanyard? I'm trying to finish my spool stuff fancier but don't know how you did the ends.
Your help appreciated!

tiki_ink said...

I really like the bracelet. Where do you purchase your small cordage?

Stormdrane said...

@Wentworth, I treat the end strand and knitted section as one length and tie a loop/lanyard knot on the end, work the lanyard knot up against the knitted section, adjust the loop to size wanted, and tuck the remaining length down the center of the knitted section, and trim excess. Then do the same with the other end. ;)

Stormdrane said...

@tiki_ink, Smaller diameter cordage can be found at different sources, some in my links list:

RW Rope
GPJ Rope
Atwood Rope Mfg
ebay - seller mowfugger
Nibrol.com
fixmyblinds.com

You may find some at local stores like Walmart, Michaels craft stores, Hobby Lobby, or stores that sell window shade/mini blinds.

JMAL said...

SD, Seen the new post, some nice stuff. As always it's nice seeing new work. Anyways for the minitube vault storage have you considered adding some rubbing alcohol to it and adding to a B.O.B. so you can use it to fill a penny stove, or other alcohol fueled stove... Here's a URL for what I refer to: http://www.instructables.com/id/Pocket-Sized-Camp-Stove-The-Improved-quotPenny-/

Also on a side note, it would give you a way to carry a "cleaning" agent for small wounds and scrapes as well. Something that rubbing alcohol can be used for also. So it gives you a multi-use container for your B.O.B. Just an idea!

MarkD said...

Hi i would like to have a go at a bracelet like this but how do you fasten the to ends of the spool knitting together? Do you use a clasp or do you hide he join with the bead?

Stormdrane said...

@MarkD, There are several ways you can finish a spool weave type bracelet with the single strand coming from each end, such as a double fisherman's bend which can make the bracelet somewhat size adjustable, or lanyard knot/loop on one end and a toggle on the other, or add any of the many types of bracelet clasps, or safety break-aways...

MarkD said...

Hi Stormdrane thanks for the reply I'll give it a go and let you know how I get on.

jimmyd said...

Hey Stormdrane, my name is Jimmy, and I am from Ky. I have been para cording for about 7 months now, and it has quickly became a passion. I have drawn inspiration from your blog. Your stuff is awesome, and I go thru your posts nightly after work. Keep doing it! Look forward to seeing new posts.

Thanks, jimmy d.

Unknown said...

I'm a new truck driver, doing some coxcombing in my steering wheel. Several questions, best way to clean tied paracord, is there a way to treat it so it so dirt and sweat don't build up and what is best cement help secure the knots?

Stormdrane said...

@Jeffery, I've always used liquid soap and an old soft bristle toothbrush to clean paracord bracelets and lanyards, rinse then air dry, but haven't done that with knot work on a steering wheel.

I've heard others say OxiClean is good to use on paracord, so maybe a spray bottle of that would work. You can spray paracord with Scotchguard or similar products to help keep 'em clean.

I use brush on krazy/super glue to secure ends on some knotting projects, works well for me.

Unknown said...

I'm thinking of trying to use the spool knitting in making a leash,how could you tie the one end into a handle? .....as always thanks in advance for your reply. ...

Stormdrane said...

@Keith, The possibilities are vast, but I'd keep it simple and make a loop and lanyard/diamond knot like I usually do, just with the loop being oversized for the wrist, then knot over that loop as a core strand with a Solomon bar.

You could use any number of possible designs, Turk's head variations to cover that wrist loop strand, or do a braid for the loop before tying the lanyard/diamond knot...

You could just tie the knit end strand back to itself to make the wrist loop, then cover the connection with a gaucho knot, etc... Possibilities only limited by the imagination. ;)