Tracym Report post Posted November 22, 2013 I think it's a miracle, after many failed attempts, I finally achieved a turks head. I think the instructions I used were from Gail Haught. So I have a 6 bight Turks head. But, it isn't big enough for the sliding knot I need, I want to put another one over the top of it. I was thinking of using another 6 bight with an interweave - that should make it big enough to cover the first one, right? I guess I like the gaucho interweave, although I'm not too picky now - but all the instructions I can find are for a 4 bight. Can anyone point me to some instructions, or give me a pattern? I seem to be able to understand the over 1 under 2 sort of thing, but I don't see to do as well with the grids. Thanks! (oooh and this knot stuff can become addictive, I can tell) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXAG Report post Posted November 22, 2013 (edited) I've found this guy's videos very helpful....(The Hought books -- not so much...for me, anyway)... http://www.youtube.com/user/isainakazin He never responds to comments or questions though, so...I don't know...I think they're easy enough to follow (and I hate grids too, btw)... Edited November 22, 2013 by TXAG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted November 22, 2013 Your best bet might be to tie another one 4 bight with paracord and practice interweaving that until the pattern of it starts to click. After you start seeing the pattern of how to do it making it bigger is just doing more of the same. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted November 22, 2013 I can see how its done, on a 4 bight one. But I couldn't figure out how to adapt it to the 6b. The pattern I saw on the 4 bight some something like under 1, over 1, under 1, over 2 - then under 1 over 1 under 2 over 2 - then under 1 over 2 under 2 over 2. But the problem I have is, I have more strands to start with, so can't figure out how to adapt that. Since I have found one knot I can manage to make, I was hoping to exand on that instead of starting over. Plus, haha, I'm trying to finish the dumb knot so I can use it tomorrow - nothing like a little time deadline for inspiration... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted November 22, 2013 Maybe one of those videos is it - he's calling it 11 bight.. I'm going to try Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXAG Report post Posted November 22, 2013 Yeah, he has several, so check them all...he does some based on a 5L x 4B...some based on 7L x 6B, etc...hopefully there's one you can use. Even if you had to start a new one, if you follow his videos, it won't take long. If I can do it, I am sure you'll be fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted November 22, 2013 Thanks. They do look like good videos. I'm still not sure how many l (part?) I have, but I know its 6 bight. Fingers crossed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted November 22, 2013 The thing I try to get to is not caring about the over under as such. I want to learn the pattern so looking at the knot tells me how many over or under. It is way hard to learn all of the progressions of how many over and under. On the other hand once you learn what you are looking for / at you can tell where to go. Does that make sense. Oh and if you can tie the 7/6 knot you have already tied a 5/4 one. You just do another set of passes to move it up from 4 bight to 6. Good luck those videos look like they cover what you want. Now if you can follow them you will be set. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXAG Report post Posted November 22, 2013 I think I finally deduced from Hought's Romal Reins book that she was referring to a 7L x 6B when she says "a 6-bight turkshead". I thought calling it that was very ambiguous...in the other book, she only calls it a 6B turkshead, leaving it open to all sorts of interpretation. I got the impression she didn't really care about the ambiguity, but... Anyway, she mentioned the 7L x 6B in the Romal Reins book as being "the most common" base knot...for whatever that's worth... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted November 22, 2013 *happy dance* I did it! Right as I run out of string too. Yay! Thanks all for the help. I suppose I didn't make my life easier by learning on 1/16" kangaroo, but hey, that's what I needed to use. Now, to get the critter relocated to where it needs to be and tightened up - s/b another adventure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
megabit Report post Posted November 22, 2013 Nicely done. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted November 22, 2013 Thank you. I really am excited - this has eluded me for quite a while, and suddenly 'clicked' today. I really look forward to learning some different variations next. I could see the pattern easily, once I got started. I needed to get that first step - which the video provided. I did follow the video, but it was obvious once I got going. At least I think so haha, we'll see if I can do it again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXAG Report post Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) Glad the videos were helpful and you were able to finish your knot. Yeah...what I do with his videos is get to the first part, then pause it and build that part...then let out play for a bit, pause again, etc. Now I've gotten to where I just write the o / u pattern in a small notebook. Don't really care about memorizing twenty (or more) different knots and interweaves right now. Edited November 23, 2013 by TXAG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted November 23, 2013 Thanks. Yeah, I was thinking of writing down the pattern also. Although once I had the first bit, it was easy to see the logic of the progression Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bucksnort Report post Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) As a general rule, once you have your turkshead base, for a pineapple you come up to the right of the standing end & follow it. Every time you come to a pair you split the coming out the same as the strand your following (under if it's under, over if it's over). Same for a guacho except you come up the left side of the standing end. You'll hear the rule of thumb a lot which is "always split pairs". Once you figure that part out, it doesn't matter how many bights you have, although an even number of passes will throw it off. Hope that doesn't just add to the confusion. keep up the good work. Buck Edited November 23, 2013 by bucksnort Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted November 23, 2013 That does make sense, thank you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sovran81 Report post Posted November 23, 2013 Congrats. I have never had any luck using a mandrel and transferring a knot. As soon as I try to tighten it, the knot shrinks in height and slips off the foundation. Grrr. Instead I learned to weave the knot in place without pins fairly snug. After making the first complete knot, I shift around any strands that are out of place then add my interweave which tightens the knot to rock hard. Funny thing is that before the knot is complete I cant say what the part and bight count will be. LOL Anyway I learned using Bernie46 vids on youtube and http://www.turksheadknots.com/?author=1 The vids in that link does a pretty good job of explaining when to split pairs and when to go under or over that work on any size knot of that type. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted November 23, 2013 Thanks, I'll check out that video. I didn't use any pins, but did use the mandrel. I wouldn't say mine was tight after adding the interweave, but I deliberately kept it a bit loose. I wanted it to become basically a ball, but it 'behaved' quite well moving and then being tightened into that shape. I was careful with the tightening though - actually tightened it a bit one pass, then went through again and made it actually tight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXAG Report post Posted November 24, 2013 (edited) Tim George uses 2-part epoxy putty to fill in the gaps on his foundation knot...makes a nice, smooth, round base to go over... Edited November 24, 2013 by TXAG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted November 24, 2013 What a great idea, that would probably be perfect for my sliding knots. I'll have to try that. Now, I just need to figure out an easy knot to put as a foundation, that would be as round as possible. I've just used ring knots, or a ring knot with a turkshead over it, but I would like to try to streamline the process so I can just make one knot if possible. And omg, that tiny fiddly string he's using - I'd sure need that contraption on his head if I tried that! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted December 2, 2013 OK, I think I'm doing ok with turks heads. I can figure out the (gaucho) on a "square" knot, i.e. 7l 6b. Watching a herringbone (pineapple) interweave video makes sense on the more "square" knots. But I haven't figured out how to adjust the pattern for a longer knot. I have a 4-bight turks head knot, I think 7 parts, that I want to add a herringbone interweave to. It is working best for me to make this knot in place, so I'm not using pins, and I'm really not having trouble with it slipping. Can anyone point me to a video, or guide, or something as to how to do this interweave? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXAG Report post Posted December 2, 2013 Do you have any of Gail Hought's books? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted December 2, 2013 No, on my Christmas list. I'm trying to get one of these done soonish, in the next day or two, if possible. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXAG Report post Posted December 2, 2013 Can you send me your email address via PM please? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracym Report post Posted December 2, 2013 Done Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites