Long Turks Head Knot With Solomons Bar Strap for Walking Stick

What does your perfectly functional but unadorned walking stick need? Stuff. Stuff wrapped around it and tied and stuff. Or in this case, paracord. I can't tell you why you need this but you do.

Step 1: Objectives and Objections

I had already done a bit of paracord wrap on my walking stick but as I got a little more accomplished I added a little bit more. Accomplished with paracord. I'm still just as clumsy walking as ever. I decided I wanted a strap to help with retention or just to be able to use my hands along the way without dropping the stick.

Step 2: You Will Need...

I decided I wanted to combine a tied strap with a long Turks Head Knot for the sort of strap found on 'ski pole' style walking sticks. I already knew how to do both separately but I wanted this to be all one piece for aesthetic reasons. And while I was at it I thought I'd try to write it up for you all!
You will need:
-Walking Stick
-550 paracord (about 32 feet)
-measuring device (yard stick, etc.)
-scissors
-lighter
-paracord fid
-smooth jaw needle nosed pliers

Step 3: Measure Twice, Cut Once.

-Start with at least 32 feet of paracord.
-Fold in half to find center.
-Measure 14 inches of cord from center, doubled. I arrived at this figure by measuring around the thickest part of my clenched fist and adding a couple inches. If you have bigger hands add more length to this step.
-With your center loop at bottom center, fold the two sides into two 'peaks' at 14 inches.
-Fold left working end over the center.
-Fold the right working end down over left, around the back and up through the loop formed on the left.
-From there it's a regular Solomons Bar for 14 inches.

There are other how-to instructions that can tell you how to do this better than I can. In fact, I learned this particular part from a video made by YouTube user Bored Paracord on a bracelet seen in the recent Mad Max movie.

This starting knot with the 'peaks' is important in a later step and makes the whole thing work.

Step 4: Endings and Beginnings

-When you get down to the center loop both working ends need to pass through the center loop. The working end that has passed back and forth across the front of the work should go across and DOWN through the loop. The working end that went back and forth across the back of the work should go across and UP through the loop.
-The end that went DOWN through the center loop should now go DOWN through the loop on the other side.
-Pull snug. This is essentially an overhand knot tied through the center loop and will keep the previous work from sliding off the end of this loop.

Step 5: The Reach Around

-Curl the ends of the strap to meet. Using a fid, thread each working end through the loop formed by the starting 'peak' on that side.
-Pull snug. Okay, that was the easy part!

Step 6: The Long Turks Head Knot

I've been helped along tremendously by YouTube videos made by a professional called The Paracordist. Please search out his video on Tying the Long Turks Head Knot for DUMMIES.
-This is a mandrel for tying a long Turks Head Knot. These are available ready made but I improvised.
-Where I differ from the video cited above is for this knot I'm shortening the mandrel and only wrapping each step around one half time instead of one and a half. All other institutions from The Paracordist were followed for a four bight knot.
-Secure the strap to the mandrel to avoid the cord being twisted while you work with the mandrel. I use painters tape. A lot.
-Tie the knot with one working end then secure the slack line out of the way. I threaded it through the center of the mandrel and wrapped it around the other end with a rubber band. This can be either working end because the other end will be used in the next step.

Step 7: Doubling, Trebling, Quadrupling?

-Using the second working end chase the first end all the way through the knot. Keep exactly side-by-side with the previous pass. I went ahead and chased through the knot once more with each working end for a total of four passes. So that would be left-right-left-right (LRLR) or one-two-one-two (1212).

Step 8: Predestination

-Figure out where you want this knot to stay.
-Remove the pins from the mandrel so the knots can slide off of the mandrel.
-Place the knot in its forever home. Be careful with the knot because it can be somewhat floppy when off its mandrel.
-Once it's in place, secure it so the strap is in the desired position on the stick. I used painters tape. It's one of my favorite things. Because of slight curves and feel in the hand I had already determined this stick has a 'front' and 'back'. I placed the strap on the back.
-Using the fid again thread both working ends under the knot and through to the other end. This hides the ends and secures them under the knot.
-Tighten the knot little by little pulling the slack all the way through the knot and out the end. The Paracordist explains this better, I swear!
-Because I was running two working ends through to make a total of four passes, I treated the pair as 'one' and tightened them as one.
-Double check everything again. Things are about to get a little bit more permanent!