A Nylon Keeper, plus some Horn Knots

I had a request for a Keeper that had the ability to be size adjustable. I started with a four strands 6 feet long, found the middle of each strand and started a four strand round braid. I made the four strand round braid about and inch and a half. Then I folded the braid to create an eye, then started an 8 strand round braid. The 8 strand round braid is done for about 16 inches. I then tied a constrictor knot to secure the braid in order to tie a stopper knot. I tied a 4 strand diamond stopper knot, then doubled it with the remaining 4 strands. Now that the stopper knot can be pressed through the eye, with a little force, I wanted to make sure it can be strongly secured. So, I tied a Spanish Ring Knot, tight enough that it wont come undone, but loose enough that it will slide nicely. I then tied a couple more Spanish Ring Knots down the braid from the stopper knot. This will make the size of the Keeper adjustable. In other words you can make the loop of the keeper have smaller diameters.

The cord I used is 1/8" Solid Braided Nylon. A total of 26 feet were used.

I went ahead and included another picture of some horn knots I finished.

Full view of the Keeper

Diamond Stopper knot followed by Spanish Ring Knots

Round braid eye followed by a Spanish Ring Knot

7X8 THK with Gaucho Interwave, used for Horn Knots

The horn knots are tied from 3/32" Solid Braided Nylon.

Piggin Strings

My latest work has been tying a bunch of piggin string to sell. Each of these is tied with the standard 550 paracord. I used nearly 50 feet of cord for each string. I started with a four strand round braid, created a loop, then continued an 8 strand round braid for a short length. I tapered off this 8 strand round braid to continue on with a 4 strand round braid. The total length of the piggin string is 6.5 feet. I finished it off with a square sinnet and a four strand diamond stopper knot. This wasn't a very difficult project, it just takes a bit of time. If I guessed I would say each of these takes about an hour.

More Halters

For the past two weeks or so I have been working on making more halter of all different colors. This is the same style of halter that I previously posted, only difference is the colors.

Again I used 4 & 8 strand round braids, Spanish Ring knots, and Crown knots.

Here are some pictures, hope you like it:

Newest Lead Rope for Halter

This weekend I finished another lead rope for the next halter. This one was done just like the last except for the finish. I used a 4 strand round braid to make a loop into an 8 strand round braid. I braided the lead rope for about 8 feet. Then I finished it with a 4 strand diamond knot which I then doubled with the remaining 4 strands.

The color of paracord I used has a special name, but I can't remember it. It is lime greenish with a black camo breakup. The total length of cordage used is about 115 feet of 550 paracord.

Neck Rope

The latest project I finished is a neck rope for my brother. I used regular 550 paracord that was blue camo with a reflective tracer added. This was a very simple project which started with a four strand round braid. I then looped this braid and used the eight strand to make an 8 strand round braid. I worked this for a total length of 3 feet. I ended the braid with a 4 strand diamond stopper know, which I double using the remaining 4 strand.

I added some Turk's Head knots in order to keep the rope in place while being used. I tied two 3X5 Turks Heads towards the end of the neck rope. I also tied a 5X4 Turks head close the the loop to serve as a tightening mechanism to keep the loop from sliding around.

Halter Part 1

So my next big project that I'm currently working on is a horse halter for my brother. He chose the type of paracord which is a blue camo with a reflective tracer braided through it. The reflective tracer actually works and is pretty cool in the night.

Part 1 of this project entails the lead rope portion of the halter. I started with a four strand round braid and worked it about 2.5 inches long. Then I folded it back on itself and continued the length of the lead rope with an 8 strand round braid. Without a core this part ends up working itself into a square/rectangular shape which is pretty cool.

I braided the rope about 7 feet or so until I got to where I wanted to end this part. So next I split the 8 strand round braid into two 4 strand round braids. With each of these 4 strand round braids I tied a diamond stopper knot with two cords, then took the other two cords and doubled it.

In the end it came out real nice, and I will continue to follow this type of process for the main part of the halter.

Flashlight Shape Up

I had a couple of flashlights hanging around so I decided to spruce them up a bit.
The red Maglite has a long 4 bight Turk's Head coupled with two Spanish Ring knots. You can see how to make both of them here (credit: Stormdrane) and here respectively.
The silver flashlight is one I had in my desk that a manufactures rep gave me. The blue knot is a 7X6 doubled Turks Head knot coupled again by two white Spanish Ring knots. The loop was done with a diamond stopper knot in the middle and two white 3X4 Turks heads on the either side.