You can use them to secure your thread as you sew, or turn them into a decorative embroidery accent.  They can be used to make everything from horse equipment from jewelry.  Humans have been using everything from hair, leather, rawhide and natural fibers since… well, the dawn of humanity to make knots.

I recently came across two very unique ways of using knots to create something decorative and useful at the same time.

The first one is this great tutorial from Threads Magazine, how to make a knotted belt:

The knotting pattern looks awfully complex when you look at this photo, but the tutorial breaks down each step into an easy-to-follow pattern.

The next one uses “paracord”, a thin, incredibly strong cord that’s popular among the armed forces, survivalists and outdoor enthusiasts.   Paracord is knotted into a bracelet that can be worn or carried easily, and then unraveled as needed.

After all, you never know when you might need a little extra rope…

image: Threads Magazine

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All Kinds of Amazing Knots

There are lots of commercial options for pre-made clothing embellishments out there.  You can find everything from fabric roses, elaborate braided trims and beaded fringes.  If you’d like to try making your own clothing embellishments, but aren’t quite sure how to start, I’ve got a few options for you.

image: Threads Magazine

Threads Magazine has a great how-to for making a faux fabric bows, using bias-cut fabric.   The trim gives the illusion of a row of fabric bows, when it’s actually a continuous strip of trim.

image: CraftStylish

Beaded fringe is a fun way to add instant drama to different sewing projects.  CraftStylish has a unique tutorial to create this gridded fringe, shown above.

iShimmy also has some different ideas for making your own beaded fringe as well.  I’ve sewn my own beaded fringe and highly recommend using a good-quality beading thread.  This is not the time to cheap out!  Ask at your local beading shop if you’re not sure what to use.

I’ve shared this link on how to ruche before, but it’s such a good one that I have to share again

Here’s one of my tutorials for creating flowers using mesh fabric, yarn and buttons.  Part one and part two.

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Elegant Fabric Embellishments for Clothing

These two lovely pieces are from the latest shows for Paris Fashion Week – they’re quite different, but both share some similarly shaped flowers:

Metallic gold rose choker from Veronique Leroy.

A seriously chunky rose & chain necklace from Chapurin.

If you’d like try your hand at make your own flower jewelry, I’ve got a few links to get you started.

The first one is one of my own tutorials – I think this may be the world’s easiest way to make roses out of ribbon.  I’ve made hundreds of these over the years, beginning when I was a child.  The roses look great on their own, or use different widths of ribbon to create a unique look.

If you’d prefer a little more realistic rose, then check out this how-to from DuhBe.  They use a technique of cutting fabric, shaping it with a candle and then gathering it to create lovely roses.

images: Zuma Press

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Fabulous Flower Jewelry from Paris

The same is true for all the techie stuff we own. Suddenly, those could be dressed up too! First, there was the cellphone case. A rather bland-looking leather case that was soon replaced by the hi-density foam pocket sleeves. It even came in funky colors with wristlet charms that is just darn hard to resist. Next, you have the ipod case, perhaps its bag, if you also happen to fancy lugging those cute portable speakers that come with it. And then your laptop and camera were also in fashion. The laptop cases are so varied and truly functional, you’d want everything in every color and style to match your outfit or mood. Your camera however, is in for a much better look.

Image: Tidy Mom

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Tutorial: Chic Camera Strap

Then another problem struck: you don’t  have anything in stock to give as your gift. But you love wine, and you have a lot in your cellar! A-ha, there you go.

So how do you package it?

Image: Daisy Janie

Shown above are dfifferent perpectives of the wine paper bag that is being featured up at the Dasiy Janie (love her name!) blog. In her particular post, a step-by-step tutorial will guide you through a careful crafting process. Just be reminded that this project requires ample patience since you are dealing with precision here. But I guarantee that you will not regret the outcome. Promise!

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DIY: Wine Paper Bag

They’re fun, easy and portable craft that has so many different possibilities.  Change the type or the color of cord.  Add different beads or try combining knots to create a whole new look.

There are a few common problems that tend to crop up – most of which are easy to fix!

• The round knotted bracelet isn’t smooth, with one bump on the side – keep even tension on the three bottom strands when you’re pulling up to lock the working strand in.  The problem is the three strands are getting pulled into the knot, instead of just being covered by it.
• The flat knot isn’t flat, it’s spiraling around.  Make sure that you’re alternating sides when you’re starting each knot.  If you always start the knot with the same side, it will spiral around.
• The beaded picot knot isn’t lying flat – it’s rippling.  This is usually caused by trying to fit too many beads into too small an area of knots.  Try adding an extra plain knot between each bead and see if that helps.  You can also gently pull down on the knotted area to smooth the beads flat.  Just stroke down on the knots to move them towards the unfinished end.

*Don’t forget tomorrow is the last day to enter the Generation T contest!*

images: © C Findlay-Harder

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Trouble Shooting Beaded Hemp Bracelets

Before we begin, here are all the links:

• Part one – starting the bracelet
• Part two – round bracelet
• Part three – flat bracelet

You can add small beads to the flat bracelet to make little beaded picots on the side.  I recommend using an “E” bead, or a bead that can easily slide over one strand of the hemp cord.

Start your bracelet like usual, and make two knots using the flat bracelet technique.  Slide one bead onto each of your working cords like this:

Finish the knot as usual.  Keep on knotting by making two plain knots and then adding beads again.  You can also alternate sides as well.

Here’s a finished length of the picot knot:

I’ve made it using the two plain knots, one set of beads and the another two plain knots method.  I prefer to not crowd the beads too much, or they can start to twist and distort the finished piece of jewelry.

*Don’t forget to enter the Generation T contest!*

images: © C Findlay-Harder

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How To: Braided Hemp Bracelets – Part Four

Today, we’re going to make a flat braid.  To make things simpler, I’ve used my extremely rudimentary photo editing skills to color the working strands red and green.

To begin, start your bracelet using the technique from yesterday (the link is just above).  Secure it to your work surface and choose one strand from either side of the bundle of cords and pull them to the sides like this:

I’m going to describe the working strands as left (colored green) and right (colored red) as we go.

Loop your left strand over the two middle strands:

Loop your right strand over the left:

Now go under the two middle strands with the right cord:

Bring the right cord up through the loop that the left cord makes:

And gently tighten to complete the first knot.  This knot is a simple knot, with the two middle strands captured in the middle of the two working cords.

To make a flat braid, alternate sides – meaning that for the next knot, you’ll start with the right cord looping over the left.  If you want to make a spiral cord, always start on the same side.  Every time you knot and add a bead, switch middle and working cords, to make sure you use the cord up evenly.

Here’s a finished section of cord:

images: © C Findlay-Harder

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How To: Braided Hemp Bracelets – Part Three

The first technique I’m going to share is a basic, round knot that spirals around the outside of the bracelet.

To begin, start the bracelet as shown in the last post and secure it to your work surface.  I’ve used tape and clamps to attach my braiding to a table – but my favorite technique is actually to loop the end of the braiding over my big toe.  Sounds funny, but it works for me.

Separate three strands and keep them pointing down.  Lay the last strand (the working cord) over the three:

Now take the working cord and loop it behind the three and through the loop you made with the beginning of the strand.  You’re basically tying a half-hitch knot around the three strands:

Keeping downward tension on the three strands, pull the knotting strand up so that it makes a tight loop against the other cords.

It should look like this:

That’s one knot.  Keep on repeating the process with the same cord, looping it around the three and then pulling it up to lock the knot in.  The knots will start to spiral around and look like this:

Every couple of inches, I like to tie an overhand knot, slide a bead onto the cords and knot it again.

The spiral knot uses a lot of cord, so every time you add a bead, switch working cords, using the longest cord in your bundle.

images: © C Findlay-Harder

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How To: Braided Hemp Bracelets – Part Two

I’ve taught these bracelets in classes for anyone from a single, older woman to a dozen 11 year olds – they’re quick and easy to and there are lots of options to customize your own design.

To begin, you’ll need a sturdy worksurface, a clamp or tape to attach the cord to your work surface, as well as this stuff:

That’s a ball of hemp cord (available from most craft stores), a selection of beads and a pair of scissors.  You can also use embroidery floss or thin cord if you can’t find hemp cord in your area.

To begin, cut two lengths of the cord.  I like to use ten foot lengths for choker necklaces and eight foot lengths for bracelets.

Fold it in half and tie an overhand knot in the middle, leaving a loop at the top.

You need some way to fasten the finished piece of jewelry after you’re done, so our first step is to braid approximately 4 inches.  Just do a basic three strand braid (left strand crosses over the middle, right strand crosses over the middle and repeat) but because you’ve got four strands of cord, just hold two strands together.  Tie another overhand knot at the end of the braid.

Slip a bead over at least one strand of the cord and slide it up to the knot.  Tie another overhand knot, securing the bead in place.  The strands of cord that won’t fit inside the bead can just be laid over top of the bead and knotted in place with the cord that is holding the bead.

All of the techniques that I’m going to share are started this way, although I won’t show it every time.

images: © C Findlay-Harder

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How To: Simple Braided Hemp Bracelets