Fancywork

[Vince Brennan]

Aye, it's me and' I'm back again, hat in hand and asking for pics of your fancywork.

On your vessel, stuff you've done, stuff you've bought, but NOT stuff you've picked off the internet, please.

You can see some examples by JOHNB, HUGHMAN, JOEJAPAN, CLYDERIGGED and several others from the Forum at
http://www.frayedknotarts.com/library.html and I encourage all and sundry to poke about and then excoriate me on my lack of knowledge. (artisan@frayedknotarts.com)

If any of us has a 'body of work' I'll be more than happy to devote an entire page to it.

Posted also in "The Bilge"

Vince Brennan
Philadelphia

[Vince Brennan]

Still trollin'...

Also:
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/oneils1.html has just gotten a new coat of paint and a new foundation.

[John B]

Very nice Vince. A small correction to your post above. Its John r who's the clever one , not moi.( right name on the site though);)

[Vince Brennan]

Well, I'm half right....

also half...well, let's not go there.

At least I got it right on the site.

[Clyderigged]

I was looking through some old photos and found a few of some fancywork. Nothing to equal some of the gear I have seen of yours Vince, but hopefully a good yeoman's effort. Here they are:

A couple of a Pussers rum bottle that I made for an auction of the San Francisco Maritime Museum Association in 1995.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1399/1087899308_c6022e41dc_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1046/1087898912_d1439e0383_o.jpg

Here is a Pusser rum bottle made out of tarred nylon seine twine sitting on top of BALCLUTHA's capstan.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1366/1087052397_c4b3d99728_o.jpg

HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh ringing the new ships bell on the barque GLENLEE in Glasgow. I made the bellrope for this occasion.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1282/1087051917_b2a6cb95c2_o.jpg

Another of my bellropes. This one is hanging on a bell in the 'tween decks of BALCLUTHA, several years ago.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1143/1087913554_a3caca32b7_o.jpg

A knotboard I made for the Presidio Yacht Club in San Francisco

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1364/1087052753_82f5d7301d_o.jpg

This is my rigging notebook I use for my notes on various jobs. It is a standard 3 ring binder that I covered in Scottish flax canvas and roped with 3 strand hemp.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1292/1088034544_ae7959a60b_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1220/1088034738_89346715e8_o.jpg

Here is a pic of my rigging box.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1252/1087897234_46f976497f.jpg

Here is a photo of me making up a timenoguy for the barque ELISSA in Galveston back in 1988 - bit more gray in the beard these days

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1168/1087053081_2727dcc643_o.jpg

[Hughman]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pd2899b4d7c44bffbd0966bbb999fe914/e8273000.jpg

http://www.buckleysmith.com/marinart.html

[Clyderigged]

Hughman that sea chest is superb. Nice becket and cleat with the stitched leather. Is the leather "pinked" I couldn't tell from the photo?

[Clyderigged]

Okay, now that the "cat is out of the bag" here is the cat o nine tails made from tarred shroud laid hemp with blood knots.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1435/1087036683_6a49a7e2b9.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1118/1087037039_40f0734f22_o.jpg



http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1116/1087898436_fc2db7a268.jpg

[Hughman]

Hughman that sea chest is superb. Nice becket and cleat with the stitched leather. Is the leather "pinked" I couldn't tell from the photo?

Pinked it is. Thanks for the compliment. I'll post more as they are assembled.

I found some pigskin cheap. Do you have an opinion as to it's utility in rigging applications?

It's not particularly attractive in it's natural state. I'll have to discover colorfast dyes for this stuff....

[Hughman]

Okay, now that the "cat is out of the bag" here is the cat o nine tails made from tarred shroud laid hemp with blood knots.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1435/1087036683_6a49a7e2b9.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1118/1087037039_40f0734f22_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1116/1087898436_fc2db7a268.jpg


Oh, you're a sick puppy. nice job, though.:eek::D

[Vince Brennan]

Hah! Two of my favourite knotters on the same day! Life is good!

Gentlemen, these are magnificent pieces of work and I thank you so much for posting them... DON'T STOP! I'm a fancywork junky and assure you that whatever I learn from your pictures I shall cheerfully claim as my own! (So, something else is new in the world of knotting?)

(Now, how the heck did he get that star to have three concentric colours in it? Ah, wurra, wurra...)

The bellropes are astounding!

[Clyderigged]

Thanks Vince. Here is a closeup of the Glenlee bellrope

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/1088192061_8bcdbd2f4e_o.jpg

[pipefitter]

Wow. Really nice looking stuff.

[ssor]

Vince, On the sewn rings there is a circumferential stitching that is very neat but I can't figure the method. I am presuming that the ring is sewn first and the stitching completed afterwards. Can you/will you please make this clear for me? Thanks.

[Vince Brennan]

Actually not. The ring in question is the work of Del ("Tim") Timmerman, a barber and "Fur Trade Re-enactor" from Iowa. He sits and does that kind of stuff between customers and is considered somewhat "odd" by his fellow townfolk.

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Timmerman/DTgrommet.jpg

The ring is held in place with the thumb while the first few stitches are taken and then the stitching holds the ring as you go around it. There is a pattern, which is to make a loop up and over the ring, down thru the centre and back up thru the loop, over to the next stitch. The regularity comes from many years of practice and keeping the stitches exactly one diameter of the sailtwine or needle shank apart as you go around the ring. It sounds much more difficult than it actually is to do, but the regularity of the stitching is a muscle/eye coordination thing which will come only with time and a few dozen attempts... be ready, the first few will look like a dog's dinner, but the rhythm is quickly learned.

Helps?

[Vince Brennan]

Meantime, here's a couple belts made for a lady in Prague:

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/belts/12-line/vera/100_3225L.jpg

(A very small lady... 26" hips!)

[ssor]

Vince, I Think I've got it. Thanks, Ross

[Lew Barrett]

Vince: all I can say is "the lady loves her earrings!"
Clyderigged: Surely anyone who serves as crew on your boat must surely think twice about sassing the Captain! (Great looking Cat o'nine though!) GREAT WORK ALL!

[ssor]

Sewed a cringle ! Nancy said "it's not as neat as the picture." It don't matter, ain't nobody gonna see it anyhow.

[Vince Brennan]

Sewed a cringle ! Nancy said "it's not as neat as the picture." It don't matter, ain't nobody gonna see it anyhow.

Mozzeltwinkies! The interesting thing about sewing in canvas is that it either come to you or it doesn't. (Ooohh... Steven Wright!) The next one will be neater, and the one after that even neater, and then you'll be makin' them starred cringles, and doin' clews and there's th' end to civilization as we knows it!

Here's a double-ring scenario:

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/SewnRingGrommeting.gif

You get a feel for it and the procedure just becomes automatic. Old time sailmakers could sit and sew a seam while holding a conversation (except in New England*) and have both come out perfectly.

A few more tips: when using a palm and needle, NEVER 'open" your hand to push the needle thru... always keep your grip on the needle until it is almost all the way thru and it's time to grasp and pull. Opening the hand results in a wobbly needle, no control and a spiked leg. I know. (DAMHIKT)

Shove from the shoulder and not the elbow and you will get much less tired. After some practice this becomes almost mechanical with the entire assembly from upper arm to fingertips as a ram and the other hand holding the material taut as the die.

Heavy canvas? Mark and pre-prick the stitching holes! DON'T try to be Old Stormalong.

And like that.

(Come to think of it, just how many chanteys ARE there about sailmakers/sailmaking? I can't recollect of a one!)


The rest of youse is all welcome to kick in here with your tips on doing things...might be a good thread to start on its own. eigh?


(* "Oh, Ayuh." Long oration.)

[ssor]

From Joseph Lincoln, "Ed, you need to sew some reef points in your mouth before the wind carries the top of your head away."

[Concordia...41]

Yet another fascinating WBF thread!

Thanks Vince!

Dear Santa .....

Ah, maybe I should just ask for talent and patience... :rolleyes:

[BillyBudd]

Say, fellows, that's all very exceptional. I'd not a find a place for it, sad to say, on my little 20' sailboat. So, I'd like to request of you that, if you have it, would you be able to put up some photos of "functional" fancywork that would be applicable to small boat builders/owners? My one adventure in this fascinating work was to do something -- cockscombe? with turks heads at each end -- on my tiller's handgrip area. Might you be able to show me more of such doable projects? How about buttons for an oar? Or a fancy constrictor knot on a mast to hold in place a line to the stem?

[Tim Whitten]

Here's a tiller that I did recently,

http://www.marlinespike.com/images/wbf/tiller_02.jpg

[Vince Brennan]

Whuff! That's a VERY nice piece of work! The owner will be so pleased.

[Thorne]

I won't put up a photo of it because I'm a lousy hand at knots, but on my small boat I tied up a 4-strand sennet out of tarred nylon seine twine as a sail gasket for the jib -- looks very 'yare'....if you don't look too close. It closes with a wooden toggle at one end and a loop at the other.

So that might be the sort of thing that allows you to display knotwork on small boats.

Here it is on the bowsprit during last weekend's row on Big River in Mendocino.
http://www.luckhardt.com/brrow07/images/brrow6.jpg

[The Bigfella]

Here's a bit of knot-work done by my father when he was a prisoner of war in Germany 1941-45.

It was originally a grey army blanket that Dad started to cover with scenes of where he had been during the war - the Gateway to India, the Pyramids, etc - along with scenes of the POW camp during different seasons. The centrepiece was finished in a hurry as the war was coming to an end. Every stitch is knotted on the back. Darning needles were fashioned from old toothbrushes, etc. The wool was scrounged and often using cigarettes as currency to buy items from others. It measures 69 x 68 inches. Its now in the Australian War Memorial. (photo courtesy "Historic Australian Quilts" by Annette Gero)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/ped7a0dc97642516b639df4c620bb6819/e81b5caf.jpg

Ian

[John R - Kitenui]

Thought you may like to see some pics I took of a mate of mine doing some mats for the local navy.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/JohnRawson/100247s.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/JohnRawson/100547s.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/JohnRawson/100310s.jpg

One big knot huh
By the way his name is Michael Knight: but don't mention talking cars !

[J. Dillon]

Big Fella , Wow that's great what your Dad managed to do as a POW. It reminds me of the beautiful ivory and bone models that sailors did when they were POW's during the Napoleonic wars.

There must be a great yarn ya can tell about it ....?

JD

[J. Dillon]

Here's a sea chest I did form my grand son. from off the HD shelf pine and Lee valley hardware.

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4373/seachest66tv6.jpg

One of these I'm gonna make a real fancy becket like Hughman and Vince B. makes.

JD

[The Bigfella]

Big Fella , Wow that's great what your Dad managed to do as a POW. It reminds me of the beautiful ivory and bone models that sailors did when they were POW's during the Napoleonic wars.

There must be a great yarn ya can tell about it ....?


JD - yes, its an interesting story.

There's three shots on this sheet (I posted these photos in a separate thread the other day) of different guys making boat models in the POW camp - a bit hard to see in this scan, so I'll try and work them up a bit and do a separate thread at some stage. The boat models are just fabulous.


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p6a11dca62f8c2d52455df35b0cd48474/e81e3023.jpg

Dad was captured during the fall of Crete at the end of May '41 and was liberated in Austria in May '45. He rarely spoke about the war because he said that people just didn't believe some of the things that happened, so it wasn't worth talking about. He said, for example, that after one escape attempt that they lined the men up and shot every second man. He said it was always interesting when the American bombers came over - watching drop tanks bouncing as the German fighters went in. He said he saw the Me163 rocket-powered planes attack the bombers too - they would go straight up through the planes and if successful, get one on the way up and another on the way down. Who knows? All I know is that his nerves were shot - he used to be a very talented painter, but his hands shook that much that he had to give it up.

That photo of the rug doesn't really do it justice - it really needs to be seen to appreciate it. The scenes that Dad darned into it from memory are particularly good. The War Memorial will not put it on permanent display because that would deteriorate it - but they have told me it that it is unique and one of the most amazing pieces of military heraldry that they have ever seen.

Materials were sourced from old pullovers, socks, balaclavas, scarves, towels, etc. He swapped a brand new Khaki jacket for an old red pullover to get red wool.

The rug contains Australian animals such as the kangaroo, koala, emu and kookaburra. Scenes include the pyramids and sphinx in Egypt, Rachael's Tomb and YMCA building in Palestine, summer and winter vistas of the POW camp (Stalag 383) the Roman Catholic chuch in Marburg, the Gateway to India in Bombay (dad was stationed in the red light district as an MP to keep the soldiers out - said he witnessed the worst depravity ever there - babies thrown into the street, etc) and a scene in Crete.

The Cross of St John in the centre was to recognise the brilliant work done by the Red Cross. His diary records the packages he received from them and also other packages from family. There are various floral designs (not many flowers near the camp I guess) and a number of regimental colour patches. The roundels were to recognise his brother who was a night fighter / pathfinder pilot.

I'm going through tins of old photos at the moment looking for stuff for the War Memorial - who want all the supporting material for the rug. Its hard getting decent scans of 2" photos though.

Ian

[J. Dillon]

Big Fella,

That stuff is history . A good conservator should be able to preserve it for future generations to appreciate what soldiers went through so that we can have what we have.

Maybe you should consider approaching another sources to preserve it all ?

JD

[The Bigfella]

That stuff is history . A good conservator should be able to preserve it for future generations to appreciate what soldiers went through so that we can have what we have.
Maybe you should consider approaching another sources to preserve it all ?


You are right JD. I should also take more of it down to the Aust. War Memorial next time I'm in Canberra. They have asked me to put some more stuff together. I know they get overwhelmed with material at times.

I found photos going back to the 1890's yesterday - many unfortunately without names on them. One was inscribed "SS Afric" and had one of my ancesters in a group photo on the deck. Its either my grandmother (who died 7 years before I was born) or possibly one of the prior generations. I thought the name was a mistake - but sure enough the RMS Afric - after a maiden voyage to the US was on the Aussie run. Not sure why she was on board, as she was born here. The Afric was sunk in 1917.

I also have the most fabulous Christmas cards from back in those days. Again - something for a separate thread. Just amazing pieces of work.

Ian

[Hughman]

Something for the tillerman.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p7e56f7e87c167001f80d19556f2c8786/e803a672.jpg

[Paul Scheuer]

I'll throw my tiller in the mix.

Ringbolt hitching, (Ashley's 3605, or so), with Turk's heads.


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid50/p2c638ec1a4124cd0b623911492857578/fca9b223.jpg

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Ill throw in ;)

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m320/fosterhere/Tidbit/IMG_0361.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m320/fosterhere/Tidbit/IMG_0343.jpg

[The Bigfella]

Geez that sheila's got a hairy arm

[Concordia...41]

Well, here's Hughman's Turk's head on a not-quite-so-hairy arm ;)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p3df937c492bfd4ed3960c3a877157fea/e800d57d.jpg

and Vince's dainty work and tremendous gift on my other arm :)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pa9f3c8b5f7f79b2a2b289ab996de96b2/e800d553.jpg

[Paul Scheuer]

Not to offend anyone, but - my mentor-of-things-nautical, Master Chief Benson, senior enlisted man in OE Division lon USS Saratoga, and a former bo's'n's mate, thought that we electronics types should be know some real old-time Navy stiuff. I had shown some interest, and had noodled my way to a couple of decent three-strand turks heads to personalize my coffee cup. His comment was that three-strands were for lubbers, a real salt should be able to whip up a more shippy four-strand, five-bight turks head with his eyes closed. I never got to the eyes-closed level, and I've had to relearn the basic knot several times. I have been able to expand the knot to more bights, if I work at it. Here's a close up of the turks head on the tiller above, and lesson from Chief Benson, that I'll pass on.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid50/p093ec2579c85576d5eadaf0cb9b4b976/fca9b222.jpg



http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p5ecf3ac2fe02506b075b59b8511cb297/fbd47f32.jpg

[Hughman]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p232b78f80b7e0133ff20207b6513e02a/e7f765e7.jpg

[almeyer]

Some really nice work on this thread by some very talented people. Yesterday I made an attempt at some very basic work on my tiller to provide some cushion when the tiller bangs against the rails. Not very fancy, just some simple French hitching, but I can live with it for now until my skills improve. The cordage won't stay white very long, in fact it will probably look pretty grungy after the first day's use, courtesy of my sweat-soaked hands. So do I paint it or varnish it?
Thanks, Al

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p909eef80808290a555e1bd8f67fadada/e7f1da80.jpg

[Hughman]

[quote=almeyer;1643126]Some really nice work on this thread by some very talented people. Yesterday I made an attempt at some very basic work on my tiller to provide some cushion when the tiller bangs against the rails. Not very fancy, just some simple French hitching, but I can live with it for now until my skills improve. The cordage won't stay white very long, in fact it will probably look pretty grungy after the first day's use, courtesy of my sweat-soaked hands. So do I paint it or varnish it?
Thanks, Al

Is it nylon? leave it be, it will age to a nice silver-grey. If it was cotton, I'd shellac it - yellow liiks good, but if you like white, use a product called Bin - shellac with white pigment.

[Hughman]

This one fresh off the bench, just in time for the Windjammer Weekend Festival

http://www.windjammerweekend.com/

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p6d778179687a6c9df1b5239bcff55cc7/e7eaf1e8.jpg

[Hughman]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/pbba33ed106239eaf23389abb4e7646f9/f1b92aa0.jpg

[Vince Brennan]

My turn to ask for some assistance...

I've a correspondent who wants to make up some small paunch mats for the backdrop to a shadow-box display he's making and he asked me how to make one up.

I dunno.

I looked and found the references from ABOK (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/files/Knotbooks) (#2963, #3493), from From "A Textbook Of Seamanship (http://www.hnsa.org/doc/luce/part1.htm)" by Commodore LUCE and from "A Boy's Manual Of Seamanship And Gunnery (http://sailing.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=sailing&cdn=sports&tm=9&f=10&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.pbenyon.plus.com/B_S_M/Preface.html)", three venerable and incomprehensible tomes of obsfucation, confusion and an unending joy to read.

Hopefully someone here can write up a "PDE" (Present Day English) (as distinguished from "DSE" [Dingo-Style-English]) that I can pass along to this guy and continue to at least look like Davy Jones' Brother-in-law's Cousin's next-door-neighbour.

Your forbearance and assistance are, as always, eagerly anticipated and intensely appreciated.

Vince

[Vince Brennan]

Yet more stuff:

http://frayedknotarts.com/Sales/KN1/portrait-coil-L.jpg

Camillus spike knife with a nice little lanyard of faux-Dreadnaught cord. All the diamonds are mirrored.


And a sheath of square-knot work.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/frayedknots/100_3613L.jpg

Gawd, how I love doin' this stuff.

[Concordia...41]

This one fresh off the bench, just in time for the Windjammer Weekend Festival

http://www.windjammerweekend.com/

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p6d778179687a6c9df1b5239bcff55cc7/e7eaf1e8.jpg

Awww grrrr snarl mutter mutter .... I hope it found a good home ...

[davidagage]

Vince that is just amazing. I can barely tie my shoe laces (and not good at that, than god for loafers) You guys are artists. And to boot, keeping a tradition that could easily slip away.

[Vince Brennan]

Again, thanks to all for the compliments... but I can't decide if it's Hughman or Clyderigged I wanna be when I grow up! (Maybe it's Tim Whitten!)

All three of them make me look like a rank amateur when it comes to beautiful work, and, surprisingly, there are others who are as good if not better than they.

You'd think that it's perhaps a disappearing skill, but that's not really the case.

The days of "Iron Men and Wooden Ships" may have gone (except for here, of course!), but there are still a lot of people who do the craft and who are teaching it as well. I just got a call this afternoon from a (I think) Middle-school teacher in Seattle who'd seen the site and had a few questions about sewing up the grommets and making the cringles for a ditty-bag, having been inspired by the picture of Clyderigged's bag (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/sailmaking.html) on my site.

He's got an entire class making one of their own and they'll be turning the cringle grommets out of lignum vitae, bending and sealing their own sewing grommet rings out of small bar stock and learning how to use the palm and needle to sew the bags and sew the drawstring grommets... all in all, a most ambitious project that will teach some basic skills as well as leaving them with a finished product that just may stick with them thru their lives. I'm pleased that I could have been the inspiration for this and that I put Clyderigged's bag on the site for them to ogle and covet. (I covet it every time I look at it!)

They'll also be doing a bag lanyard from Ron Edward's book, "Knots, Useful and Ornamental", which is a great instructional book.

So there's one guy who's inspiring a class of thirty or so to take up the craft, and if we get three out of the class who go on and keep the tradition alive, it's a "good thing".

Much like those who keep building, repairing and restoring the wonderful wooden boats, it sometimes feels like a losing struggle, but if you inspire one other person to invest time and money in the fight to keep wood on the water, it was worth it in the long run.

I also am involved in the fight to keep the old USS ZUNI (ATF 95) (http://www.zunimaritime.org/) afloat and operable so that we can turn it into a "living history" museum and classroom project. ZUNI was a Navy Fleet Tug, 205' long, and she pulled off a couple of interesting feats at Iwo Jima, saving a crusier from turning over, for one. Later, the USCG got her and, as WMEC166 USCGC TAMAROA, she was the cutter involved in "The Perfect Storm" rescues, as well as earning the distinction of being the "Only Submarine In The USCG". She sits at the Inner harbour in Baltimore awaiting a tow down the Hampton Roads for a haul-out andbottom check/repair, preparatory to being moved (hopefully under her own power) to White Point, Va., which will be her final home. We hope to restore her so that she'll be able to travel the ICW and do training cruises for Sea Scouts and Boy Scouts, eventually.

Another losing battle? Perhaps, but - like the rope work and canvas work - if we can inspire a few others to take an interest in the traditions and things of the past, perhaps the history will continue in a hands-on form.

I hope so.

But it's fun for me. I love doing the craft and I love being able to feel like a squid again. (Even if I DO get seasick!)

[Hughman]

Awww grrrr snarl mutter mutter .... I hope it found a good home ...


Stay tuned, Margo, more in the oven...

[Vince Brennan]

And, as we just saw at the 2008 WBS, there sure were!

Say, folks... if you have the time, how's about reposting your missing photos to photobucket and adding them back into the thread? Some of that stuff was far too nice to be lost to a blank post.

(Damn Imagestation, anyway!)

Also, any new work would be greatly appreciated.

here's a 20" bellrope that was made by Jim Coppard (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/bellropes) in OZ from the instructions (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/tutor1.html) and pictures on my site... I hate him.

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/bellropes/others/coppard/dec06-07/IMGP5050L.jpg

An antique (ca. 1850) cosh end. I picked it up on Ebay, of all places!

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Antiques/coshes/LifePres1/vbc4L.jpg

[J. Dillon]

You do nice work too Vince. How about square knotting ?

We used to do it aboard ship using an around the waist lanyard with hook secured in it . It was made from a tooth brush handle.

We secured the work to the pipe berth we slept in. Made quite a few belts that way gave em all away to sweet hearts etc.;) You know I still remember how to do them.

Vince do they still make that "Bellfast " cord ? You could get it along any street in downtown Norfolk VA. along with "tailor made blues.;)

JD

[ChrisBen]

Thanks for bumping this up Vince. You, Hughman,Clyderigged, and the rest do some nice stuff. I hadn't seen this thread before, lets hope the missing links are made good. Here are a couple of things my Father had done in the navy 1956 approx.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/ring.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/ringclub.jpg
Bosn's pipe on a lanyard he made a few years ago.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/bosnlanyard.jpg
Here's a screw driver I did years ago just because.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/screwdr.jpg
This started out as a 7 lead x 12 bight turks, I formed it over the bottom of a bowl and worked the inside tighter and the outside looser till it laid flat on the bowl. Took one of the bitter ends and coiled it in the center to fill in. After a couple of coats of varnish I was able to remove it from the bowl and varnish the rest. I' wish I hadn't used water based varnish now, it makes the bowl look like it is plastic from a mold.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/turksbowl.jpg
Here are a couple pair of earings for my Sister.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/earings.jpg

[ChrisBen]

One of my favorite knots is the turkshead cross.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/ashleys.jpg
It's a mess when you start out.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/Turksheadcrossstart-1.jpg
Once you get the dowels inside, it comes together.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/Turksheadcross3leads-1.jpg
Finished at 4" tall on a piece of walnut.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/Turksheadcross-1.jpg
A smaller one at 1 ½" on a lanyard.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/crosslanyard.jpg
Here's the ends of that lanyard that connect inside the cross.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/endlanyard.jpg

[ChrisBen]

One more cross I started recently for a friend. 1/4" tarred hemp and will finish on 4" PVC, 16" tall and 12" wide.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/bigcross.jpg
Everyone does the cat-o-nine tails.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/cat-o-9.jpg
A simple bell rope. Gotta clean up the bell and hang it someday.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/bellrope.jpg
A pair of beckets waiting for a sea chest.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/beckets.jpg
A few different styles of beckets.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/diffbeckets.jpg

[ChrisBen]

Here's a boat cradle I made for my nephew 26 years ago, got a little bow pudding going there.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/bowpudding-1.jpg
And a small turks at each end of the double paddle I recently made.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/paddleturks.jpg
I love doing this stuff but sometimes my results aren't so good. I'll finish a piece and think it looks perfect, get a couple coats of varnish or shellac on it and then start noticing all the little spots where I could have tightened or loosened here and there.

[J. Dillon]

Your work sure looks good from where I sit Chris. In fact out sanding and inspirational. :DThis winter among other projects will be to make 3 Becket pairs for sea chests I made for grandchildren.
The temporary ones are just a big grommet with stitched leather boarded by Turks heads.

What line did you use Chris ? Is it something one can get on line or locally?:confused:

JD

[Vince Brennan]

JD: Unfortunately, "Belfast Cord" is no longer made and has been unobtainable since the mid- 70's. The Manufacturer was Plymouth Rope and when they were sold to Columbia Rope, then stopped manufacturing the #7 cotton fishing line that Belfast used as it's base.

Most of it was purchased by PC Herwig and labeled as "Dreadnaught" cord. Herwig used to have a store in Brooklyn, first on Clinton St, then on Sand St (which ran right into the Brooklyn Navy yard) which went out of business sometime in the early to mid 70's. They carried everything a knotter could want and much of the squareknotting work in Graumont & Hensel's "Encyclopedia OF Knots And Fancy Ropework" first appeared in Herwig's "Square Knot and Macrame Guides 1,2 and 3". Here's an old catalog (http://frayedknotarts.com/herwig.html).

Also, if you would, check out THIS series (http://frayedknotarts.com/how2belt.html) of pages and let me have your critique of the instructions.

Belfast cord was Herwig's Dreadnaught cord and was job-packaged by Herwig for GEMSCO of Long Island, who then sold it to Navy Exchanges, chandleries and specialty shops all over the US and the world. You could always, no matter what port you were in, count on finding some Belfast available.

No-one that I know of (and I've done some pretty extensive research as well as contacting several manufacturers of rope and line) still either makes or wants to make this commercially. So, we make do with what we can get.

If anyone knows of a manufacturer who would be interested in making some up, I think a nice little business could ensue. "Where can I get some Belfast..." is one of the most common questions I am asked.

Now, as to Ben.

OK, Now I have to decide between Clyderigged, Tim Whitten, Hughman and Ben as to who I wanna be when I grow up.

VERY nice work! I am most impressed by the TH crosses. Dang. Each time I think I'm gettin' ahead of the game, someone shows this quality of work. The bowl is exquisite.

More pics, please?

[Concordia...41]

Hugh's work "in progress" - six strand five bight gold wire Turks head made on my ankle :)

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/WBF2008/margo2.jpg

Huh? Why is that not showing? :confused:

Anyway, this was several hours of Hugh's work with 18 gauge wire.

It could have been a beautiful piece, but the square wire added a huge degree of difficulty to the knot and when we removed the canvas, it was way too sharp against my skin. Hence the addition of the leather shown in the picture (that's not showing :mad:).

We ran out of time (and patience) and the plan was that I'd just work on it in the evenings after I got home, but I ended up untying it instead :(

[Concordia 33]

Chris,

Your father's work is absolutely beautiful as is yours.
What a great idea for a thread.

Sharon

[Vince Brennan]

Hugh's work "in progress" - six strand five bight gold wire Turks head made on my ankle :)

...........http://www.frayedknotarts.com/WBF2008/margo2.jpg (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/WBF2008/margo2.jpg)

Huh? Why is that not showing? :confused:

Anyway, this was several hours of Hugh's work with 18 gauge wire.

It could have been a beautiful piece, but the square wire added a huge degree of difficulty to the knot and when we removed the canvas, it was way too sharp against my skin. Hence the addition of the leather shown in the picture (that's not showing :mad:).

We ran out of time (and patience) and the plan was that I'd just work on it in the evenings after I got home, but I ended up untying it instead :(

Youp. Square gold wire is a bugger to work with as you have to be sure that the flat is always toward the surface and that no "90 degree" turns occur in the entire length. Round would have been much more successful, but even then it would have taken a mort of hours to fair this up to the degree that Hugh would require and that you would be happy with. Shame, but I think you made the only possible choice.

As to the number of hours invested, fancyworkers just look on something like this as a learning experience, not a disaster.... I hope you will too.

[ChrisBen]

What line did you use Chris ? Is it something one can get on line or locally?:confused: JDThanks Jack, I used 1/2" for the core of the beckets then used a combination of small stuff from 1/8" down to waxed sail twine. I've never gone out and bought rope for a specific knot, just used whatever was at hand. I seem to have a strange affliction where I can't stand to see a coil/spool of rope sitting around and I have to do something with it, works with wood too. You can find small stuff on line or buy locally at HD/Lowes, hobby/craft stores. For the grandkids maybe some different colors would be fun.

Vince, Thanks. That means a lot coming from you. I started tying at a young age. My Father owned a sail loft in Mass. from 1960-1987 then moved to NY for a few more years before retiring. There were 5 of us at home so to give my Mother a break I and sometimes another brother would go to work with Dad on Sat. and any school breaks. I'd sit down with Ashley at the sailmaker's bench and all the rope I could hope for at my disposal, (the smell of tarred hemp in the morning). By the end of the day I'd have a whole pile of knots for my father to critique.

Sharon @ Concordia 33, thanks. You have the perfect showcase there for some fancy rope work. How soon does she get wet?

[Tim Whitten]

OK, Now I have to decide between Clyderigged, Tim Whitten, Hughman and Ben as to who I wanna be when I grow up.




High Praise Vince. Thank you. Hoepfully you enjoyed your time at the show - I imagine tent C was a tough location to be stationed in for three hot days.

Here is the view out the back window of my newly acquired a.k.a. rented, "factory store"...

http://www.marlinespike.com/images/wbf/view.jpg

[Vince Brennan]

High Praise Vince. Thank you. Hoepfully you enjoyed your time at the show - I imagine tent C was a tough location to be stationed in for three hot days.

Here is the view out the back window of my newly acquired a.k.a. rented, "factory store"...

(See pic in above post)



Respects well deserved.

No hotter than "A" but conSIDerably harder to see... we got about 1/4 to 1/3 your foot traffic. :rolleyes:

So thats the view from your new place?

OK. I am now officially taking quotes on a contract on Tim. :p

Vince (who looks at a brick wall). :(

[ChrisBen]

I finished up on this one over the weekend. 150' of 1/4" tarred hemp and something over 60 hours total.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/loki59/tcross.jpg

[Tim Whitten]

So thats the view from your new place?



Vince,

That's the view from the "other" new place. The house we moved into in Sunset is not on the water, but I was in downtown Stonington the other day and noticed a space for rent so I took a chance...
The rent isn't exactly cheap but I don't mind too much, going to work in the morning.

[Vince Brennan]

I wasn't aware you'd moved to Maine! Luck with the new house, and with the new store!

(grumble... nobody tells me nuttin'.... /grumble)

[Vince Brennan]

ChrisBen has graciously taken the time to come up with a photo-tutorial which I now have on my website (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/tutor1.html), so if anyone wants to attempt that turkshead cross he showed us a few posts back, go HERE and give 'er a whack. Chris' instructions are very clear and easily followed.

Thank you Chris, very much indeed!

Anyone else who has a photo-tutorial lurking about inside them, drop me an email (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/email.html)! My ambition is to have several dozen of these up by the end of 2010!

[Vince Brennan]

Another tutorial posted, this time on "The Little Lump Knot (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/tutorials/llknot.html)".

Now, I don't really understand all the ruckus about this knot, but dozens of folks seem to love it's complexity and use it all the time for keyring fobs and such.

Don Wright did a nice job on the photos and text.

[Vince Brennan]

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/knives/cases/nynylon/white/BluLanAndWhtPou001med.jpg (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/knives/cases/nynylon/white/BluLanAndWhtPou001L.jpg)

Knife lanyard and pouch in nylon.

[beaky]

being one of the more eccentric brits....

i have this urge to crochet some rope fenders in the shape of

fish

if i get it together, ill post a piccy

doubt it will go down well with the traditionalists though:o

jill

[Vince Brennan]

being one of the more eccentric brits....
i have this urge to crochet some rope fenders in the shape of (a)fish.
if i get it together, ill post a piccy. doubt it will go down well with the traditionalists though:o
jill

(Censored) 'em, then. I'd love to see a fishy-fender!

[Vince Brennan]

Medium size needlecase... will take up to 4-1/2" needles but primarily intended for displays

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/frayedknots/fancywork/100_4379.jpg

[J. Dillon]

Looking good Vince. Outstanding work.:D You're inspiring me to make those beckets for three sea chests this up coming winter.

JD

[Prawner]

Some really impressive work, a real joy of a thread.

Here's a couple of knife lanyards I knocked up during lunch breaks of the last rigging job I had,


http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp343/Nobby_man/DSC00346.jpg


Above is my work knife with sheath

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp343/Nobby_man/DSC00352.jpg

and I use this lanyard either for my pocket knife or the security swipe card that the local marina uses.

[Bob Cleek]

A couple of years back, the old Sunset Line and Twine in Petaluma, CA went out of business. It had a run of probably seventy to a hundred years, though. They made a lot of braid. Their claim to fame was parachute cord, starting during WWII. They even did the chute cord for NASA on the space capsule recovery chutes. Their mainstay was very fine braided fishing line. The machines they used to make the stuff were truly amazing works of art in themselves... beautiful works of Victorian industrial art, they were.

Now, the New England style brick factory building on the river (the only example on the west coast) is an historic site and they are converting it into offices and condos... such is progress, I guess. They say they are going to keep the line works theme, though, and will have some of the machinery on display here and there.

I do agree that there is a market today for Belfast cord. I expect there may not be enough call for it, though, to justify the expense of manufacturing and stocking it. Maybe there's some little line factory in China or India or someplace that would turn out a few containers full and somebody could go into business selling it mail order on the internet?

[Vince Brennan]

Anyone else doing this stuff? Can't believe how long it takes or how sore my hands are!

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Headers/FKAcase2post.jpg

[Lew Barrett]

You guys are just the best, both as craftspeople, and people. To meet and know you both is a treat and an education. I'll have a picture to put up here, as soon as I take it!

[Vince Brennan]

Now I'm starting to feel creative.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/frayedknots/fancywork/combo.jpg

28-line (seven knot) pouch for 4" thru 5-1/2" knife with belt loops, decorative half-hitch, star knot closure and braided catch-string with monkeys fist

22" working length lanyard: star knot wrist closure to coachwhipped lanyard body made in three sections... center section can be removed to shorten or both lower sections can be removed and a small shackle used to attach a knife to the loop for working aloft.

More for ornamental purposes than a working lanyard.

To a customer's request.

[StevenBauer]

Maybe some of you remember the Nutshell Pram my daughter built with me last spring. (http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80582)

Look what just came in the mail for her from Vince:

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Needlecases/AmuletBauer/compositeL.jpg

:D

You are the man, Vince!



Steven

[Vince Brennan]

(I'm STILL not here!)

Here's a picture frame from a friend who lives on Kauai'i, Hawai'i, Skip Hipps.

17 x 12 and with many, MANY variations. I'll post most of them at his webpage as soon as I sober up.

Gawd, how I HATE being upstaged!
http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/hipps/jan-09-stars-LG.jpg


(apologies as to the size, but it's WORTH IT!) Detail of the exterior corners:

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/hipps/jan-09-Corner-DetailLG.jpg

This guy make me NUTZ!

[Sailor]

I think he copied off mine. ;)

[Vinny&Shawn]

http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/vgeorge1/ropework013.jpg?t=1234141170 (javascript:void(0);)

http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/vgeorge1/ropework011.jpg?t=1234141301


http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/vgeorge1/ropework004.jpg?t=1234141415

http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/vgeorge1/ropework018.jpg?t=1234141543

http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp278/vgeorge1/ropework003.jpg?t=1234141585

[Vince Brennan]

Well, THAT didn't bloody work then, did it?


Here's a tiller I just did for a catboat in NYC:


http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/customwork/parkertiller/finishedL.jpg

Owner will bleach and then varnish or urethane it.

"Half-Moku" coxcombing with 7x6 square turks for finials.

[Vince Brennan]

Been a little while, but I just put up a page on my site which is for the guy who did the picture frame in post #81.

Anyone interested, just click the linky (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/skiphipps.html). I'm NOT looking for business off this from the members, just posting it as an example of his work, which I find to be SPEC-TAC-U-LAR!

[Vince Brennan]

Heaving line

Something everyone should have aboard!

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Mine/runninglites/heavinglinegreenM.jpg








Although you might want to have it just a bit bigger than this one.


http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Mine/runninglites/groupM.jpg




(They're running light earrings in monkey's fist and starknot shapes.)


http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Mine/runninglites/starsM.jpg


(I think I'm gettin' good at this ... Stuff.)

[Lew Barrett]

What a continuous joy this thread is!

[PLyTheMan]

Okay, you all seem to be master's at this by the looks of the work in this thread, maybe someone can help me? I was bored this afternoon and figured I'd try to learn some new knots since I haven't played with line in a while. I decided on trying to tie a Chesapeake Bay Lifesaver as instructed over here (http://www.frayedknotarts.com/tutorials/chesapeake/chesa.html). I only made it as far as the crown knot before I got stuck on the 'six strand half round' braid. Does anyone know of a good source for explaining it or have the patience to give me some tips? I'm just using plain colored twine so his explanations of what to do with which colors is lost on me.

For all my googling the best I can find (other than his site) is an example with leather which I still can't grasp and bread, so any suggestions to other sources if anyone knows some would be much appreciated.

[Don Z.]

Not sure if this helps you or not, but the page you linked lists knot numbers for something called "ABOK". This, of course, refers to Clifford Ashley's The Ashley Book of Knots. This wonderful tome will explain in detail how to tie the various knots, as well as demonstrating several substitutions that may also be used. No knot library is complete without it. Try Google Books to see if you can find the specific page, or, go ahead and track down a copy of your own. It's a great piece of work.

[Jay Greer]

H28 "Bright Star" Spectra running back.
Jay
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0d905b3127ccefae532ce992700000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[John Turpin]

This is nothing, compared to the examples in this thread, but this is what I did to my sprits. My first attempt at fancywork.

http://www.svbluepeter.com/lapwing_images/sprits5.jpg

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

This is a repost by me... This mat still hanging in the back cockpit of Vanora...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/nanzep/Vanora/007-3.jpg?t=1280072502

[Vince Brennan]

Does anyone know of a good source for explaining it or have the patience to give me some tips? I'm just using plain colored twine so his explanations of what to do with which colors is lost on me.


Send me a PM with your email. I figger since I wrote that nonsense I can probably explainiate it on ya!

[Vince Brennan]

This is nothing, compared to the examples in this thread, but this is what I did to my sprits. My first attempt at fancywork.

http://www.svbluepeter.com/lapwing_images/sprits5.jpg

John, you have no idea the nasty failed attempts at a "French Hitched Coxcomb" I see or that people hire me to re-do for them: this is a joy to see entirely. Nice, regular hitching, well tightened and quite symmetrical. Don't worry about not getting the things dead-on symmetrical with exactly the same spacing from turn-to-turn... I can't usually do it, either.

Great job, especially considering that sash cord is NOT one of the more friendly items to work with.



PMJ: That is still one of the nicest rope mats I've seen in a VERY long time.

[Vince Brennan]

Boasting rights:

Another knife pouch of 1.4 poly white: this one is actually a two piece, where the flap and back are one and the face is then made and "stitched" onto the backing. Special order for a gent in NY... real P.I.T.A. to do.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/frayedknots/postings/optimnizedGEDC0328.jpg

[John Turpin]

My second attempt at fancywork. I've got a dozen of these to make for prizes for an upcoming sailing event.

http://www.svbluepeter.com/images/lanyard.jpg

I've started taking some lengths of cord with me when I travel on business. I sit there toying with knots while my fellow passengers awkwardly look the other way.

[Vince Brennan]

John, if you continue along these lines, I shall become nervous! Quite a nice little hand-lanyard!

I have taken a new turn into the jewelry aspect of knottiong: actually, "jewelry" is a bit much when classifying this stuff, but ladies do love it for the "pretty" aspect.

Dragonfly barrettes are proving MOST popular among the female population at the shows I do and I can't keep 'em in stock!

Here's a pic of the first eight I made.

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Jewelry/Dragonflies/001dragonflies-firstL.jpg

[ramillett]

My wife made these fenders for our other S&S last Christmas :)

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv332/ramillett/millett/DSC_2792.jpg

[Vince Brennan]

NICE job! 1/2" manilla?

[ramillett]

started with 1" and took it apart . thanks

[John Turpin]

My final knotwork project for Blue Peter. It should be a pleasure to hold that tiller now.

http://www.svbluepeter.com/lapwing_images/tillerwrk.jpg

[amish rob]

Pretty much anyone can do a turkshead or some hitching, after a bit of practice, but some of this work on this post is super human. I am immensely impressed with the knotting abilities of some of you.

[Vince Brennan]

JOHN TURPIN: I see a ring just below the tiller's chin... is that sunk into the wood or spliced on with the fancywork? Either case, a stellar idea, that.

AMISH ROB: Well, I'm glad you like all the work, but I assure you that, with the exception of that AMAZING mat:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/nanzep/Vanora/007-3.jpg?t=1280072502




and the picture frame,
http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/hipps/jan-09-stars-LG.jpg

the rest of it is nothing more than knowing which knot or hitch to use and when.


For the last week I've just sat and done over 300 Chesapeake bracelets

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Jewelry/bracelets/001colorsL.jpg

for a Folk Festival this coming weekend and I assure you it is just all "donkey-work"...

Nothing near as much fun as making something nice like the tillers or a square-knot belt!

[John Turpin]

JOHN TURPIN: I see a ring just below the tiller's chin... is that sunk into the wood or spliced on with the fancywork? Either case, a stellar idea, that.

That's a small padeye for my hiking stick. Already, I've developed a bad habit of sticking my little finger in the padeye as I sail. There may be a broken pinkie in my future unless I break that habit.

[Vince Brennan]

"Somethin's gotta give,
Somethin's gotta give,
Somethin's gotta give!"

[paladin]

That ring is the way I would set the bungee cords to hold the tiller when i was running with the wind powered autopilot.

[Vince Brennan]

Some new colours:


http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Jewelry/earrings/starknots/coreless/2010colorsL.jpg


And some hair barrettes:

http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/Jewelry/Dragonflies/001dragonflies-firstL.jpg

[Vince Brennan]

http://www.anything-sailing.com/images/icons/icon14.gif Guilietta's snap-shackle pulls

Here they are... a little family of pulls.

All 4" overall... they'll allow you to pop open a snap-shackle under strain and NOT kill your fingers!







http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/customwork/Guilietta/shacklepulls.jpg

[Vince Brennan]

More crap:

Here's a belt I designed for a "Fashionista" in NYC... 3/8" "Posh" (Gosh... don't THAT cost a lot of money???) and a brass seeing-eye snap.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa295/frayedknots/postings/P1050004mod.jpg

Ignore the 1/2" at the bottom... it was there for comparison of the whippings.

[marshcat]

I did not have anything to do with this work, but I did take the picture when I was in Gloucester this summer. It is the binnacle of the Thomas E. Lannon.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ez7K-AFOtt0/TOBTmCPN7XI/AAAAAAAAAzE/f6dDthG01hM/s640/IMG_5891.JPG

[Peerie Maa]

Just finished this.
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp164/peerie_maa/DSC01212.jpg?t=1290031071
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp164/peerie_maa/DSC01211.jpg?t=1290031071

Son Duncan stitched the bag, but could not finish it, so I made the handle.
I used 1/8 inch braided cotton cord. Each leg starts with a three strand sennit through the grommets in the bag. These were united into a six strand round sennit. The two short legs were united with a Matthew Walker tied with the short ends. These were then pointed and marled down to form a core for the first few inches of the six strand round sennit of the leg.
The four legs are united by a star knot tied with six strands, two from one leg, then one, then two and one. All of the working strands were then straightened out and served with a fine jute thread to form the core of the handle. The hanging loop was made by braiding a four strand sennit, working two strands clockwise round the loop and two anti clockwise like a braided Flemish eye (done for extra strength and security). This was secured with a Turks head for a whipping.
Then comes another six strand star knot before all of the strands are used for coach whipping the handle, double strands, six left, six right. Again three strand Turks heads were used to break the handle up into two parts, and to whip the end of the coach whipping.
The closing ring was made from a short length of brass pipe covered with another three strand Turks head.

[StevenBauer]

Wow! That is awesome, thanks.


Steven

[Peerie Maa]

Well, I'll live with it for a bit and see. I'm thinking that it might need another Turks head or similar at the top of the handle for balance. Seeing a photo gives you a different perspective.

[Vince Brennan]

Obviously one should check in occasionally to one's own threads!

Nick, mate, you've done a very pretty thing there... most impressive. I wonder if you know Des Pawson? He'd (I'm sure) like to make yours...

Meanwhile, here's the latest in the collection although not IN the collection any longer, d'ye ken?)


http://www.frayedknotarts.com/images/bellropes/CaptMoser2011/MOSER-Side-brite-no-L.jpg

[J. Dillon]

Vince, do you do watch bands ?

JD

[Vince Brennan]

Vince, do you do watch bands ?

JD Not for many years.... they're way too small to be easy (eyesight and dexterity) and I could never figure out how to attach the little buggars to the watch successfully. Not to mention that fine working line is now become a thing of legend only.