Introduction: How to Make a Turk's Head Knot With Paracord
A turk's head knot is a three strand braid that is worked into a continious circle. It is commonly used as a slide for a neckerchief or to decorate tool handles.
If you would like to see how I incorporated the turk's head knot into a a dog leash project, please visit my blog.
The tools that you need are very basic. You will need a woodburning tool, a mandrel (I used a pen) which is used to form the knot and a length of paracord.
Step 1:
Find the center of the paracord with the pen
Step 2:
Complete the round turn.
Step 3:
Wrap the right hand end so that it lies underneath the left hand end
Step 4:
Continue with the right hand strand and cross over the first wrap.
Step 5:
Now tuck the strand underneath the left hand strand.
Step 6:
Lay the left hand strand over the second wrap and tuck under the first wrap.
Step 7:
Turn the pen over so that you are looking at the back of the knot.
Step 8:
Cross the top wrap over the bottom wrap.
Step 9:
Take the bottom strand and thread over the bottom wrap and under the top wrap.
Step 10:
Take the top strand and thread it under the top wrap and have it pass over the bottom wrap. Now gently tighten the knot so that it looks even.
This is the basic Turk's head knot. If you want to add more wraps, take your loose ends and "chase" the wrapped strands that you have made.
Step 11:
Slide the knot off the pen and cut off the excess paracord
Step 12:
Melt the ends of the paracord with the wood burning tool and you're done!
Be the First to Share
Recommendations
Big and Small Contest
Make It Bridge
Game Design: Student Design Challenge
17 Comments
9 years ago
this would make a cool ring
10 years ago on Introduction
I see too many projects like this where the inner strands are left in. I would say like half of the things made with paracord, if not more, come out better or will come out good at all with the inner strands removed. If you made this knot with just the sheathing, it would look nice and tight and not so stupid.
10 years ago on Step 6
This photo of Step 6 is not correct :-(
The description is correct though? The top strand should go over the left strand on the photo and under the strand just below it. I struggled with the knot until I found the fault here.
11 years ago on Introduction
I made one of these as a "woggle" for boy scouts, see here: Turk's Head Knot Paracord Woggle.
A woggle, for those of you that have never heard the term, is a device used to fasten the neckerchief, or scarf, that is worn as part of the Boy Scout uniform. I can remember making these when I was in the British Cub Scouts and was reminded of them when I stumbled upon a really nice step-by-step illustration showing how they are made.
Using the step-by-step illustration previously mentioned, I began wrapping some paracord around a tube to fashion my woggle. The tube I used was actually the long part of a turkey baster - its what I had at hand! After working the paracord as tight as I could get it to form a neatly shaped Turk's Head knot, I trimmed the two loose ends of the paracord, making sure that they both ended up on the inside of the knot. In order to do that I had to slide the woggle on and off the tube a few times, but it easily retained it's shape.
This is the point at which I got a little creative. I poured a small amount of Titebond wood glue into a plastic cup and added a few teaspoons of warm water. I stirred the mixture around until I had a very thin/runny version of glue. Then, while leaving the tied woggle on the tube, I liberally painted the paracord with the watery glue mixture. Once it was well and truly soaked, I left the woggle in a warm place to dry overnight.
The next day I repeated the process, slathering on another coat of the watery glue mixture and leaving the woggle on the tube to dry overnight. When I finally removed the woggle from the tube the next day it felt like a piece of rock in my hand. The wood glue mixture had completely penetrated the paracord and as it dried it turned the paracord totally hard.
12 years ago on Introduction
i am so confused with these instructions,,,,,
12 years ago on Introduction
I've seen this knot before somewhere...
Anyway... good instructable.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
maby it resembles an atom and your memorys foggy ???
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I have no idea.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
It is used to make those shrinking sailors bracelets.
12 years ago on Introduction
Great Instructable!
Hardest Part of a Turkshead knot is after you get the Hang of it,
Teaching others! Will keep this in my Flashdrive "Ditty bag"
A picture of a simple one and two I made into Bracelets
Upper is some low-stretch line I found and Lower is made of
Tarred Marline/seine twine
12 years ago on Introduction
Well explained - this can be a pig of a knot if your instructions are not crystal clear.
The finished knot makes a good woggle as well.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
thanks mr. kiteman, i try very hard to make my instructions easy to figure out & follow.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Yeah :P "Mr.Kiteman" is his father.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
(No "Mr", just Kiteman.)
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
At my last scout meeting one of the activities was to use nylon cord to do tis knot. We also followed it along a few times.
It's amazing what you can make a woggle out of. We also use pvc circles and glue miscellaneous objects to them.
12 years ago on Introduction
awesome instructable! my scoutmaster for boyscouts uses this as his neckerchief slide, and i think it is very cool.
12 years ago on Introduction
Hi! I'm Turkish, and I know this but not all.Only how step 5 is! So the rest, you teach me. Thank you! We call your step 5 as " Kazık düğümü" and use it to keep sth. whithout play somewhere. This is the best way to keep. Thanks agin!!!