Unique Ropecraft: 2011

Unique Chinese Talisman

For my final knot design this year, I thought I would tie a lanyard for my rear view mirror in hope that it will bring me good fortune next year. The lanyard is tied with three Chinese knots, the Good Luck Knot, Butterfly Knot, and the Snake Knot. The Good Luck Knot is used on monk's garments or drapes in temples signifying good luck. The snake is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese horoscope. It is regarded as bringer of good fortune, and also the guardian of treasure. If you subscribe to the notion that "it can't hurt", then continue reading to view links to the tutorials and books that I used to tie this lanyard.

Unique Knot Working Fid

I might get corrected with the title of this article, but from my understanding of what a marlinspike is supposed to be, this fits the bill (in some ways). As you might have guessed, I debated on what to title this article because it might also be called a fid. For lack of a better term, I am going to call them "knot working tools" for the remainder of this article.
If you are just beginning your journey into tying knots then you may not know what purpose these tools serve. I use one of these almost every time I tie a knot to get the proper tension. These can be made from different materials, but I chose a ready-made tool that only needs a handle to be a perfect knot working tool.

Unique Earth Tone Key Fobs

A year or more ago, I came across an advertisement that included lanyards, bracelets and key fobs. Though I don't remember the site or where it originally appeared, there were two key fobs in it that I really liked. I had totally forgotten about the key fobs until the other day when I was thinking of what type of key fob I wanted to tie to replace an old worn out fob.
For some reason in my mind, earth tones go hand-in-hand with winter so I used three colors to tie these designs (black, olive drab and coyote brown).

Unique Ladder Rack Knot

The Ladder Rack Knot is easy to tie and though it may be known by other names, it is tied basically the same way.
This is a great design for someone who is just beginning to learn to tie knots, or anyone for that matter. In other words, if you tie knots, this design should be in your knot library.

This design is the first of two posts that I will show how this knot can be expanded and the ways you can use it.

Unique Turk's Head Lanyard

I have been tying this design for a while now and I debated on whether or not I should post it because others already have. But, I feel that Turk's Head knots are looked over by novice knot enthusiasts because they think the knots are too hard to tie. This knot can be tied by anyone who can moderately understand how to tie a knot, it just takes a willingness to try, and that is why I felt this knot deserved to my next post.
If you follow the information in this article you should be tying these lanyards without instructions in no time.

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Unique Celtic Cross

If you follow my blog you may have noticed that I haven't posted many new posts lately. Recently I experienced the loss of my sister and though I have been tying a few knots here and there, I just didn't feel up to the task of publishing any of them.
I decided I would get back to publishing in hopes that it will help in this trying time. That's when I decided that my first post would be honor of her.
This knot is called the Celtic Cross and is really an attractive Cross. And though it may look challenging, it is really an easy design to tie.

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Unique Crimson Tide Paracord Gear II

With all the hype approaching next weeks big game, I decided to get into the spirit as well. This was a post that I intended to do prior to to the season, but I wasn't able to get everything together until now.
For those who don't know, college football is king here in the south and you are born a fan. And if you couldn't already tell, I am lifelong fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide and going into next week, the U of A will play what should be the biggest game in college football this year.
With all of that said, I know that some of the readers are fans of that other in-state team and I don't want to appear one-sided, so should they pull off a miracle and beat Bama in the final game, I will make a Paracord Gear post in their honor.

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Unique Paracord Bracelet Display

Recently while building a Paracord Tying Jig for a customer, I thought of a design idea that would be great for displaying paracord bracelets. I merged the design of a gun rack into the piece, but I tilted the curves so that the bottom rack sticks out past the top rack, it reminds me of a sword display.

(Please excuse the left part of the rack that looks like it's leaning, there was something underneath the bottom of display and made it tilt inward and I didn't catch it while taking the photos.)

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Unique Quick Deployment Lanyard System

ITS Tactical created a tutorial on their Paracord Deployment Lanyard which is a great way to have a lanyard that holds extra paracord and can be unraveled in seconds. To deploy the lanyard, hold the coiled section in one hand and give the loop a firm tug, once it comes out, keep pulling until you have one long strand of paracord.
I found this design really easy to tie and is really easy to use, but if I was going to be tying many different length lanyards, it would need to be more uniform than tying it in hand.That's when I thought about using one of my Paracord Jigs to tie this design. I found that in tying a longer length lanyard, it would require more than two dowels for the loops to look right. I then decided to build another type of jig that would work for tying this design.

Unique Camera Bag

I first saw this tying design on Stormdrane’s blog where he created a pouch and a koozie using this method. Ever since I first saw it, I wanted to create one of my own but I never had a need for it until I purchased a new camera.

I needed a new camera for better photos for the blog and had been looking at the Nikon CoolPix for a while so I bought it. I received a good deal on the camera, but with every good deal there are drawbacks, the price didn’t include a camera case. It didn’t matter because I knew I wanted to make my own anyway.

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Unique Striped Solomon Bar

The Striped Solomon Bar is a regular Solomon Bar with gutted strip of paracord weaved through the center of the bracelet in a straight line. It's pretty easy to tie, just weave the gutted strip in as you are tying the Solomon Bar.
For the bracelet I used eight feet of black paracord and about eight inches of white paracord. For the buckle I used a 5/8" contoured side release buckle that was purchased from Creative Designworks.

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Fusion Knots

The Fusion Knot tying technique was created by JD of TyingItAllTogether and the designs shown in this post are all his designs. I saw most of, if not all of these designs on the TyingItAllTogether Facebook page. At the time I tied these, he hadn't yet presented tutorials on the designs and I enjoyed the challenge of trying to tie them myself.
In this article, I will show four designs that I really like and I hope you will as well.

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How to Build the Compact Paracord Jig

A jig is useful for tying many types of paracord bracelets and other designs. I first discovered a jig in use from a video by Dave Canterbury. The video showed Dave’s wife Iris tying a Solomon Bar bracelet at great speed. It really got my creative juices flowing; I thought that if the jig would measure and accept many different buckle sizes and alternatives then it would make my life much easier.
The Compact Paracord Jig is the third revision of the original design. It started with the large version, and then came the better design. The second design was a great design but when using it; I found that it was just a bit too long. That is why I created a third version of the jig that should be long enough to tie any length of bracelet you need while still being easy to use and store.

This article should answer many questions about building one of these jigs and I will explain how to create the sliding slots.

Unique Emergency Solomon Bar

If you have searched the internet for a "survival paracord bracelet" then chances are that most of the results were for a Solomon Bar bracelet, and that's fine but I wouldn't want the task of unraveling a Solomon Bar bracelet while in a survival situation. I would want a bracelet that can go from bracelet form to one long strand of paracord in less than a minute.
With this tying technique you will end up with a bracelet that is very similar to a Solomon Bar but it can be unraveled in seconds.

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Unique Monkey Fist Tying Tool

The Monkey Fist Knot was originally tied at the end of a rope to serve as a weight, making it easier to throw. Nowadays it serves for more of a decorative knot but can be used in many different ways such as a weapon.
With this post I decided to show how I tie a Monkey Fist Knot using a tool that anyone can make.

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Unique Paracord Bracelet/Necklace Tying Jig-Revisited

I decided to redesign the bracelet tying jig because no matter what I tried, after I painted it, when I would try to reposition the slide, it was always stuck and I would have to pry it up with a screwdriver to move it.

The main difference in this design is the ruler and ruler guide, I was going to put a ruler on last time but the design wouldn't allow it.

For complete instructions on how to build this jig using only five cuts and less than fifteen dollars, click the Continue Reading button.

My First Instructable

I just completed my first instructable (tutorial for those who aren't familiar with the website). The tutorial I decided to use as my first instructable was to show how to tie the Unique Germ Grenade which I posted previously.
So if you're interested in viewing the tutorial, this is the link.

I posted the tutorial to enter a contest that they are currently having for tying paracord. If you have a tutorial for tying paracord then you should enter it, who knows, you might win.

UPDATE: My Instructable has been chosen as a Finalist in the Paracord Contest!

Unique Sniper Hogs Tooth Necklace

These Hogs Tooth necklaces are a tribute to our brave United States Marines. The Hogs Tooth necklace is given to a Marine Scout Sniper upon graduation of Snipers School which certifies them as no longer being a PIG (Professionally Instructed Gunman) and becoming a HOG (Hunter of Gunman). The bullet is symbolic of being the master of your own death since the bullet is the one meant to take your life, and now you hold it.
Two of the necklaces are a variation of the Rune Stone Knot and the other is a replica of a Hogs Tooth necklace with the bullet coming from my .270 and not a .30 round.

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Unique Paracord Survival Series-Episode II: Chain Sinnet

Unique Oblong Knot Tutorial

This is a knot that I really like, this being the second time I have posted this knot, I want to make it clear and easy for anyone to be able to tie it, although a clearer tutorial is available in The Complete Book of Decorative Knots. In my previous post I included a diagram to tie the knot, in this post I have shown each step in tying this knot. I would suggest for the first timer in tying this knot to pin the cord down exactly as I have in the illustration, the tighter you pin it together, the easier it will be to snug it up in the end.
Click the image for a larger view.

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Unique Survival Fishing Kit

Dave Canterbury has a video showing his pocket fishing kit in action which gave me the idea of creating of my own. The kit fits conveniently in your pocket or tied to your belt loop using the Bottle Sling Knot that I tied on my version.

For a complete list of materials and how to put the items together, click the Continue Reading button.

Unique Germ Grenade

With all the germs floating around nowadays, we all need to keep one of these on hand. The Germ Grenade has been floating around the internet everywhere but usually only for sale.
The hand sanitizer I chose to use was made by Purell and can be picked up in the checkout line at your local Wal-Mart for less than $2.00 so go grab one and tie one of these for yourself to keep in your vehicle or on your person.
I found a tutorial for tying the Solomon Bar design at ITS Tactical.

Thanks to a collaboration with Stormdrane I created what I think is a better looking grenade. I tied it using West Country Whipping, I used this tutorial to tie the grenade but a tutorial really isn't necessary other than getting started because this is one of the easiest designs to tie. Most of the time spent tying this grenade will be spent adjusting the cordage once it has been tied, I used my trusty knitting needle (a tutorial for creating this needle will be available later) which although it has a sharp point, it won't damage the paracord. Just keep adjusting until you reach the desired design.
If there is enough interest in this design I will include a tutorial for creating this type of grenade.

For more grenade images and grenade tying techniques, click the Continue Reading button...

Unique Paracord Survival Gear-Episode I: Ripcord Sinnet

The first in the Survival Gear Series is one of my favorite survival bracelets, the Ripcord Sinnet. JD @ TyingItAllTogether has a video showing the tying technique and the unraveling process so I won't get into that other than to say that this bracelet can be unraveled in less than thirty seconds leaving a single 8 foot strand of paracord ready for survival use.

Click the Continue Reading button for more variations on tying this knot.

The Paracord Survival Gear Series

In the coming posts I will be building on the theme of my last post by creating a series of survival gear made using lightweight nylon kernmantle 550 paracord.

To add a knot to the Survival Gear Series, once the knot is tied the user must be able to unravel the complete knot quickly without using any tools other than what the average person may carry.

So stay tuned and if you have any survival knots that you would like to see in this series, as always please let me know.

Unique Survival Fob

This keychain can be unraveled and ready for use in less than thirty seconds. In the images below I will show how easy this keychain can be deployed without cutting the paracord or using any tools other than your hands.
This knot can be tied as bracelet, necklace, or in this case a keychain. This fob holds twelve feet of paracord ready to be used for such things as lashing a survival shelter or removing the inner strands for fishing line.

Click the Continue Reading button to view the unraveling process...

Unique Wide Solomon Bar Keychain

The Solomon Bar is probably the most common knot tied for key chains, fobs, bracelets, etc. The Wide Solomon Bar is an extension of the knot.
I wanted an earth toned key chain to swap out for my Alabama Monkey Fist key chain (until football season starts anyway). I had watched a video by JD @ TIAT that showed how to tie a Wide Solomon Bar bracelet with buckles and I thought that it would look great as a key chain.
This knot is fairly simple to tie if you have conquered the regular Solomon Bar, if not then it's easy to learn, might as well start now. (Click the Continue Reading button for the remainder of this post...)

Unique Backbone Bar Keychain

This key chain is modification of JD's Backbone Bar. For those of you who haven't yet visited JD's YouTube channel, you really don't know what you're missing. Somehow he manages to come up with a unique knotting project almost every week. As for me, I really appreciate his dedication to the knot craft.

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Unique Paracord Bracelet/Necklace Tying Jig

Recently I came across a video by Dave Canterbury that showed a woman tying a paracord bracelet blazing fast by using a homemade jig so I decided to build my own since I've been getting so many requests for bracelets, this should make my life easier.

For directions on building this jig click the Continue Reading button.

Unique Tactical Flashlight Mod

While researching my next knot tying project, I came across a video by KipKay that explained how to modify a cheap AA flashlight and turn it into a bright Police-type Flashlight for around ten dollars. Though I went slightly over budget, I was able to build nice flashlight for under $20.

Click the Continue Reading button for more images and a complete list of the materials used in this project.

Unique Key Fobs Part II

Here's my attempt at a "King Knut" Monkey's Fist by Monkey Knuts. Their ad states that it has an adjustable "crown knot" that allows the twisted cord to be stretched and compressed to relieve stress and anxiety. Though with mine I added a "Knife Lanyard Knot", it can still be stretched and rotated all the way up to the loop and back.I also added a Solomon Twist key chain to the mix of acceptable fobs.

(Continue to the remainder of this post by clicking the Continue Reading button...)