Introduction: How to Tie a Paracord Gaucho Knot
This video tutorial will show how to tie a Gaucho knot using a length of paracord. This Gaucho knot starts off with tying a 5 lead 4 bight Turk's Head knot, then working from that into a Gaucho knot.
This decorative knot can be tied onto a cane, walking stick, hiking staff, used as a neckerchief slide/woggle for a scout, added to a flashlight, knife handle, sheath, fishing pole, etc. As with other Turk's Head knots and their variations, you may find yourself looking for many different things to tie them on and around...
If you've got the hang of tying this knot, you can give the three pass Gaucho knot a try. :)
More knotty stuff on my blog: Stormdrane's Blog
16 Comments
10 years ago on Introduction
Hi,
I'd like to start by saying that I love your videos. I really appreciate how much effort you put into these and how kind it is for you to share them with the world.
The question that kept recurring in my mind is what would happen if you doubled the base Turk's head knot? Would it double the finished Gaucho knot?
Thanks.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Doubling the 5 lead 4 bight base knot will offer starts to other variations, like the Hansen and Gaucho Fan knots. If you just want to double the Gaucho knot, you'd tie the single pass first, then follow the original lead around again.
There are many variations that can be explored, but they can be a bit on the advanced side for many. ;)
11 years ago on Introduction
I don't know about everybody else but if the knot tiers would slow down or pause a bit in between moves it would be simpler for any of us that are learning the new knot, to stay caught up. No need to show an instructional video on how fast you can now tie any knot. I guess the videos are to show your speed of a well practiced knot and not for instructional purposes for us new want a be knot tiers. By the time I reach for my mouse to pause video you are already past my problem area one to two moves. I then need to look at my knot figure out where i lost track go to video rewind a bit ( many times )hopefully stopping at exact spot, then start video, look back at my progress fix problem and by then you are three to four moves ahead again so I again have to rewind to get caught up. I think the videos are a great asset for all new knot tiers but just to fast to learn a NEW tricky knot. I need a foot controlled mouse so I can pause, rewind and play video with out looking away for mouse or my knot.
Reply 5 years ago
The easiest I have found to avoid this problem is to not try to watch and work at the same time. If you pause the video after every step then complete that step and repeat. This way you never have to rewind more than a few seconds and you always know where you're at in your knot because you're never too far behind the video.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Have you tried writing down the pattern of over-unders? In the case of a complex knot like this one, I find that it helps quite a lot. You could also try reading up on knot theory a bit, so that upon hearing (or seeing) "Tie a 5 lead 4 bight turk's head," or something similar, you don't even need to look up.
10 years ago on Introduction
Couple questions I can up with along the way. How many bights should the gaucho have if you start with a 4 bight TH? Does the number of up and down passes change with the length of the initial Turks Head? Thanks for your help.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
I do the same number of ups/downs when tying the Gaucho on longer knots, so the number of bights would stay the same as on the smaller Gaucho.
There's a lot more 'technical' info on tying Turk's head variations, that is beyond the easier knot work that I know how to tie, but you can find out more from the knowledgeable folks on the forums at khww.net and igkt.net. :)
Tom Hall has a couple of knot books that are frequently referenced by some of those folks in the know, although I do not have them, they are on the *wish* list... ;)
10 years ago on Introduction
hey Storm. I am going out of my mind right now. Here is the situation,. I started out with your youtube on the long 4 bight turk. Finally got that down but I had to use the mandrel. I want to turn it into a gaucho in the same manner you turned this turk into a gaucho. I just can't figure out the pattern though.I don't want to use the grid maker method because that would require 8 bights from the get go. Four is so much easier. Any chance you can help me out or if you know of a tutorial already out there. Google has turned up nada.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
After you make the initial 4 bight, like the smaller Gaucho, you'll go over the standing end then start doing the under one over one up to the top of the knot where it's over 2. Then back down, and you'll do a similar over/under to the small Gaucho, but you'll see where you need to 'split pairs' with the longer knot you've made, with ending up doing the over two at the bottom of that row, then back up with the under one and so on...
I don't know of a tutorial showing this on longer knots, because the exact over/under sequence is going to vary by the leads in each knot, but when you try it, the pattern becomes visible if you're familiar with the smaller Gaucho. It's the same kind of thing with other Turk's head knot variations, like the pineapple, once you learn the smaller base knot, you can figure out the longer ones with some practice. Hope that helps. ;)
10 years ago on Introduction
I wish I could find a print-out of the gaucho knot that takes it from the very beginning. I had a recent knee replacement that needs to be re-done. I have picked up the hobby of knots. I have a long way to go. I think I have bought from you on ebay. However, I am not sure.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
The Gaucho knot starts with a 5 lead 4 bight Turk's head knot, and then is worked into a Gaucho knot from there. ;)
I've not sold knot work on ebay.
11 years ago on Introduction
Nicely done video.
Makes an otherwise complicated knotwork LOOK very simple, and actually BE not TOO difficult!
I know I've seen the making of the paracord clamping threading needle thingie somewhere but my memory, and search-fu escape me.
any chance someone reading this can link?
Tying this can be done without it, but you spend a LOT more time tightening when you're done.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
There are a several instructables on making your own 'lacing needles', here are three:
One
Two
Three
I often use a simple 'clay stylus' as a 'marlinspike' to tighten up knot work, and it has worked well enough for me, especially with smaller diameter cord.
If the lacing needle you use is long and sturdy enough, you can also use it to work the knot, to tighten it up. You can use anything similar like an awl, ice pick, metal chopstick, tips of hemostats or forceps, etc...
Some pocket knives have a built in marlin spike, but those are generally a bit larger for use with thicker rope sized cordage. And there are at least a couple of models of Swiss Army knives that have a marlinspike built in(Skipper, First Mate)... :)
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
thanks. Your search-fu is superior to mine.
the first one was the ible i was thinking of.
11 years ago on Introduction
Fantastic video Stormdrane! I've been trying to work this one out for months, and thanks to this I've now got it. Once again you've made something that was giving me fits into something easily understandable. Thanks!!!
11 years ago on Introduction
I'm an Assistant Scoutmaster for my son's Boy Scout Troop. Every week I try to wear a different paracord neckerchief slide. I usually get my ideas from Tying it all Together on youTube (check it out if you haven't already!), but I'll by tying this one tonight or tomorrow and wearing it on Monday. The Scoutmaster is struggling with the Turks Head, so I know this will definitely impress him! THANKS!