I added a length of CoolGlowStuff! glow cord, around the center of the mat.
I followed the instructions in 'Knots' by Gordon Perry, for this Ocean Plait Mat, which "can be used as a table decoration, step tread, or wall hanging."I still need to work a little more slack out of it as seen in the photo. Finished size is about 13" x 7", using 3/8" rope from the sporting goods section at walmart. Working the slack out seems to take the longest time after getting the basic shape laid out.
I tried to make this mat a year or two ago and just got aggravated with the tangled mess and put the rope in the closet and went on to other things. For some reason, when I have trouble with a knot, I stay away from it for awhile until I have some time to sit down and give it another go, and something 'clicks', and I figure it out.
So, I pulled the rope out of the closet this morning and tried it again, and what the hey, it worked this time. The amount of rope used can be deceptive, I think I started with a 40 or 50 ft length, but the final amount used is less as the slack is worked out.
I also made a much smaller ocean plait using about 10 ft of 2mm cord. I'm not sure what I'll use such a small one for though. Maybe a coaster for a couple of shot glasses, attached to the front of a hat with a couple of safety pins for 10 ft of useable cord, or attached to a hair barrette(for a girlfriend/wife, mother, daughter, etc...). Drops of super glue, spread around the inside of the barrette, will keep the cord together and help hold it's curved shape....as a barrette.
...and using 550 paracord in navy blue/orange for Auburn colors. War Eagle!
*I've added this link(original link hijacked so I removed it) to this blog post to show a photo from the KHWW site, showing how these types of mats, were and are still, actually used on ships to protect the wooden decks.
15 comments:
The ocean plait mat looks great. I fooled with these while I was at BSA Summer Camp with my sons troop this year. I finally got it done, but I was using the "Knots and Ropework" book that is in the picture a couple of posts down with the lite green book mark. Those directions are hard to follow, it seems that there is a step missing, and I think the knotter ties left handed. Compare the two sets of directions and let us know what you think.
I did compare the two books' examples of the ocean plait. The Budworth book started the plait at the end of the cord and had nine photos where the Perry book started the plait at the center of the cord and just used four diagrams. I actually found the Perry book easier to follow for the ocean plait, and compared it to three other of my knot books and I still preferred the Perry example, just for that particular plait though.
I've learned from all the knot books I have and since they show many of the same knots, the different perspectives do help to figure some of them out. Of course there's enough info online with a persistant search, to learn a lot without even using any knot books.
There are also some good tutorials on the Knot Heads World Wide website for some more, what I'd call advanced knotwork.
Love the ocean plait. I am looking to make one for my front door. Probably do it out of manilla rope.
Make sure to use a thick cord, like 1" diameter or larger, for something like a doormat when finished. The 3/8" rope size I used made the finished plait barely large enough for use as a table placemat.
Those turned out really nice. :)
A friend of mine has one of those as his door mat, but he bought his. Even though he sails, he's not quite that handy with decorative knots.
I like the barrette. That's a cool idea.
FYI orange and blue are the colors of the Mighty Gators! :-) Thanks for such a great site, I have learned so much and I am hooked and grateful.
Little tip
next time use a piece of card board or an old box and tape a copy of the diagram to it.
Then use large golf tees to help form the mat it help keep the form also copper wire staples made from romex are really handy too
hope this helps.
p.s. cool site ya got me knotting again after 15 year hiatus
Thanks for the tip, I'll have to try that. The larger size rope and longer length made it a bit aggravating trying to hold the form of the mat with one hand and feed the rope thru with the other.
I haven't played golf in a while, this will give me something to do with all the tees in the bottom of my golf bag. I'll just have to resist using the golf balls for monkey fists. ;)
I want those barrettes!
wow
my son is a scout, why doesn't he make things like this for his mom?
I haven't tried to make one of these yet but I want to. I'd really like to make the hair barrett for my wife but wouldn't the edges collapse. It looks like this knot only works as long as its laid out flat. Also, how do you end it?
After making the mat, you can shape it for use as a barrette, and then you can use super glue on the underside of the mat, to hold that shape.
You can also buy barrette clips and glue them to the back of the mat, or use a wooden dowel...
The start and end cords are hidden on the back side of the mat, which can be held in place with whipping, sewing, or super glued in place.
Another thought to turn it into a barrete, sew it onto a piece of leather. It will make it even more elegant and help it keep its shape! Mine came out awesome! Thanks Stormdrane for the idea! I have ignored that knot for sooo long as pointless for me! I just learned otherwise!
As a kid, I remember either my mom, or one of my sisters having a leather barrette with a knot pattern stamped into it.
I don't doubt that a cord version was done before someone made a leather one, and both have probably been combined in the past as well. ;)
i fell in love with this ocean plait mat..... it was love at first site. Ariba jalisco!!!!! y un saludo pala fruti banda.... but someone should write the steps cause i want to learn how to do it.....
Google brings up several online instructions for the 'Ocean Plait Mat'.
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