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 continuous circle. It is commonly used as a decorative knot that is used to decorate a hiking staff or as a slide for a neckerchief. This tutorial will show you how to make a turk's head knot easily and quickly.

Tools & Supplies

You will need a piece of paracord, a mandrel (this can be a wooden dowel, pen or the item that you wish to decorate), a wood burning tool and a pair of scissors. To determine the amount of paracord that you will need, wrap the cord around the item that you wish to decorate four times.

Making the Turk's head Knot

STEP 1 - Find the center of the paracord with the mandrel.

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 mandrel 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.

STEP 11 - Slide the knot off the mandrel and cut off the excess paracord. If you are putting a decorative knot on a staff, don't slide it off.

STEP 12 - Melt the ends of the paracord with the wood burning tool.

Karen Friesecke is the author of Doggie Stylish Blog a new blog dedicated to crafts and free projects for dogs. Please visit Turk's head Knot to see this tutorial, complete with pictures.