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.

How to Make a Hands Free Dog Leash With Paracord

This is a useful leash to have if you are a jogger that likes to run with their dog. If you don't know how to tie the knots to make this leash, they're very easy to learn.

Supplies

You will need; Paracord (or a similar kind style rope) two leash snaps, one O-ring, a measuring tape, a pair of scissors and a lighter.

Remember to preshrink your paracord in hot water. Paracord loses 10% of it's length when it gets wet and when you are walking a dog it IS going to rain at some point.

Step 1 - Measuring Your Waist

Loosely measure your waist. This measurement should be comfortable enough to that you can walk, but not loose enough to slide over your hips.

STEP 2 - Measuring the Paracord

Add your waist measurement to however long you want your leash, in inches. To that number, add a 20 inch allowance for the knotting of the paracord.

STEP 3 - Fastening the O-ring

This is the first step for making the "belt" part of the leash. We are going to use the Surgeon's Loop Knot.

Using the measuring tape, measure off your waist measurement PLUS 5 inches. Slide the O-ring thru the paracord to the measurement and fold the rope. Now form a loop in the end of the line

Make an overhand knot with the O-ring.

Make another overhand knot with the O-ring

Now tighten up the knot that you have made.

STEP 4 - Adding the First Snap.

You will find that there is a long and short end of paracord. The SHORT end is forming the belt part. Attach the snap to the end of the paracord with the Surgeon's Knot as illustrated in step 3. Try the belt on for size, making sure that it is comfortable. If it isn't, undo the knots and start over until it is to your liking.

STEP 5 - Adding Knots to the Dog Leash

While you are out and about with your dog, you might face a situation where you have to control him quickly. This is where a few knots in the leash will come in handy. We will be tying Double Overhand Stopper Knots to accomplish this.

With the leash on you waist, mark the spot on the leash to where you can comfortably extend your grasp.

Wrap the end of the rope round itself.

Wrap it again.

Now pass the rope through both turns.

Tighten the knot. Make as many knots as you feel necessary to make a good leash to grab onto. I made two knots.

STEP 6 - Adding The Second Snap

Now you are knotting the snap for the dog's collar onto the leash. Use the Surgeon's Loop Knot from step 3

STEP 7 - Finishing The Leash

All the is left to do is trim the loose ends of paracord.

Cut the paracord, leaving about 1/2 inch of excess. You will need a little extra since the knot has not fully tightened from dog walking

Take your lighter and melt the end to keep it from fraying in the future.

Karen Friesecke is the author of Bloggie Stylish a new blog dedicated to recipes and free projects for dogs. Please visit Hands Free Leash to see this tutorial, complete with pictures.

How to Make a Paracord Dog Collar Using the Seesaw Knot

Paracord is an awesome cord to use for braiding! It's tough, lightweight, washable and virtually indestructible! This tutorial will show you how to make a "manly" collar for your dog using the seesaw or zigzag knot.

Supplies and Tools You Will Need

You'll need a few basic tools to make this project. A C-clamp, hemostat clamps, scissors, a lighter, a flexible measuring tape, a 3/4″ plastic snap and D-ring and paracord.

Preparing The Paracord

You need to preshrink the paracord before you use it. To preshrink the paracord, soak it in hot water for 5 minutes and then hang it to dry.To determine how much paracord you will need for your project, take the neck measurement from your dog and multiply by four. A sample neck measurement will be 18″ X 4 = 72″. So you will need TWO strands of paracord that are EACH 72″ long.

STEP 1 - Putting The Cords and D-ring on the Snap

Fold the cords in half and run each of them through the end of the snap that has the single slot. Now run the D-ring through the cords and place close to the snap. You will now run the loose ends of the cord through the loops of cord that are sticking out of bottom of the snap. Pull the cords tight

STEP 2 - Clamping the Snap

Clamp the snap down onto a steady surface like a table. This will keep the snap steady and you will be able to put tension on the cords when you are knotting.

STEP 3 - The First Knot

To make the seesaw knot, you will be knotting alternating half-hitch knots. Take the first set of cords, bring it behind the second set of cords and through the loop that you have just created. Gently tighten up your knot. Don't tighten too much or your knot work will begin to twist.

STEP 4 - The Second Knot

You will now take the second set of cords and make a half-hitch in the OPPOSITE direction. To keep going, take the first set of cord and make a knot in the same direction as you did with knot 1. Keep knotting in alternate directions until you make a knotted cord two inches less than your final measurement. Don't forget to take the snap into account when taking your measurement. Stop knotting at 16″.

STEP 5 - Attaching the Loose Cords To The Snap

Run the loose cords through the double slotted end of the cord and leave a one inch length of cord from the end of your knotting work.

STEP 6 - Finishing The Cord Ends Part 1

Take one cord from each set, run then around the front and through the top of the loop that you have created on the back side of the collar.Lay the cords that did not make the knot flat against the backside of the collar. Tighten the knot as much as it will go.

STEP 7 - Finishing The Cord Ends Part Two

Find where a set 1 cord passes under a set 2 cord. Pass the hemostat clamp underneath the set 2 cord, grasp the set 1 cord with the hemostats and pull through. Repeat this with the second set of cords. Do this "back knotting" one more time. Now stretch the collar out with your hands and trim the cords as close as you can to the collar.

STEP 8 - Melting The Cord Ends

*NOTE* hot plastic is dangerous and can burn you very badly! Use caution when melting the cord ends!!

Take your lighter and place the flame as close as you can to the cut cords. You really need them to get nice and hot. When the cord ends turn brown and get bubbly, take the flat side of your scissors and press the hot cord onto the collar. You might have to have another pass with the lighter if the cords haven't fused properly.

Once the melted ends of the collar have cooled, you can put it on your dog.

Karen Friesecke is the author of Bloggie Stylish a new blog dedicated to recipes and free projects for dogs. Please visit Seesaw Knot Dog Collar Tutorial to see this tutorial, complete with pictures.

How to Braid an Agility Training Tab With Paracord

Agility Tabs are a "mini" leash that is used for training a dog for running an agility course. They are primarily used during the early stages of off lead work, when the handler needs a little handle to quickly grab their dog to get it back on course.

This tutorial will show you how to make an agility training tab using a four strand braid method and then finishing the tab with a terminal turk's head knot.

Tools And Supplies

Tools that you will need are; scissors, a C-clamp, hemostat clamps, a wood burning tool, paracord and a small leash snap. If you don't have a wood burning tool, a lighter to melt the cord ends will suffice.

Paracord will shrink when it gets wet, so it is VERY IMPORTANT that you preshrink the cord before you start to braid. If you don't, the first time that you walk your dog in the rain, your leash will get all misshapen and lumpy.To preshrink the cord, soak it in hot water for about five minutes and then hang it to dry. You can toss it in a pillow case, knot it closed and dry it in the dryer as well, it's your choice.

I am making an eight inch agility tab To determine how much paracord that you will need, break down the length of your project into inches and multiply by four. 8" X 4 = 32" so I will need 2 separate paracord strands that are EACH 32" long

STEP 1 - Arranging The Cords

Thread the cords through the eye of the snap, laying them side by side. Clamp the snap down to a steady surface like a table. This will prevent the cords of twisting during braiding, which can be frustrating for the novice braider.

STEP 2 - Braiding Move One

A and B are the first strip, while C and D are the second strip. Now take A and cross over B. D lies to the left of B while C lies to the right of C. Keep a constant, light tension on the strands.

STEP 3 - Braiding Move Two

Now cross D behind B and cross over A.

STEP 4 - Braiding Move Three

Now take C and cross behind B and over D. To continue making your leash, cross B behind D and over C. Remember that the new strand that you will use to keep making the braid will always be the topmost strand.

STEP 5 - Arranging The Cords To Start The Turk's Head Knot

While you are making your knot, plug in the wood burning tool since it takes a little while to heat up.

Grasp the end of the braid with the loose ends poking through the top of your fist and arrange the cords in an X pattern. Cord 1 goes over Cord 2. Cord 2 goes over cord 3. Cord 3 goes over cord 4 and cord 4 goes over cord 1.

STEP 6 - The Turk's Head Knot Part Two

Gently side the knot off of your thumb and tighten it up. Take the hemostat clamp, poke it through the center of the knot. Grasp cord one, sliding it under cord two. Continue this process until all the cords have been pulled through the center of the knot. Pull all the cords tightly so that the knot appears even.

STEP 7 - Finishing The Turk's Head Knot

All the cords are now poking through the top of the turk's head knot. Trim the loose cords very close to the top of the knot. Gently melt the cord ends with the wood burning tool in a sweeping motion until they are flush with the top of the knot.

Your agility leash is now finished and ready to be used for your next training class!

Karen Friesecke is the author of Bloggie Stylish a new blog dedicated to recipes and free projects for dogs. Please visit Agility Training Tab Tutorial to see this tutorial, complete with pictures.