Tuesday, November 08, 2011

The Sailor's Cross Knot...

A couple of recent posts by 'skyout' on the KHWW.net forums, showing 'The Sailor's Cross Knot', had me revisiting the knottool.com page, that I've had in my links list for a few years, to see Don Burrhus' tutorial (pdf link).

I missed an over/under on my first attempt, untied it and started over, getting it right with the second and third attempts shown in my photo.

I used around 3.5 feet of orange tether cord for the smaller cross, then did another with 4.5 feet of olive drab ungutted paracord, but you may use more or less depending on how loose or tight you work the cord, or if you want a longer loop out the top, or add a bead at the bottom with a knot to finish, etc...  I've used fishing swivels for past projects, so I had a few stashed away to use with these, and probably a few more in a tackle box somewhere in the garage...

I didn't have any bobby pins to use as shown in the instructions, so I just temporarily lashed together a couple of my paracord lacing needles with 0.9mm cord to knot over, and just pulled them out when required.  The paracord version looks to be just the right length to insert a small firesteel in the vertical section, for survival use on a zipper pull.

Another made without a swivel, attached to my Victorinox Silver Alox Lumberjack.


And one made with two colors, for use as a bookmark and shown with 'Strength for Service'.

8 comments:

  1. Thanks Stormdrane.

    I wondered what Skyout was talking about when he mentioned the Sailor's cross knot, now I know. Thanks for the link. I will have to give this one a try.

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  2. My son is in the 45th out of Oklahoma. He is stationed in afghanistan. I'm planning on making some of these to go back with him. He was almost killed by an IED. His cross that he would normally wear, he gave to his dad. Thank you for posting this Cross!!!

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  3. Very nicely done. Thanks for giving it a try!

    -Don B.

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  4. Thank you for this one. I used extra cord, Then ran it out the top, at the end I tied a Chinese cloverleaf so that I now have a bookmark. Great xmas presents for family. I will try to get pictures soon.

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  5. How did you incorporate two colors

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  6. @Anonymous, Loosely tie it with one color, then follow that strand from start to finish with a second color, tighten it up and trim/tuck the ends that you don't use for attchment.

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  7. Did you use a needle? From what I been able to figure is you have to have a happy medium on tightness when building. Thanks for the post.

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  8. @Anonymous, I use my Perma Lok lacing needles when tying these. It makes it much easier/faster than without. Hemostats can also help if you don't have any lacing needles.

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