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In this quick article I offer a tip that can make your turk’s head knots look even better.
Those that are familiar with whip making may recognize the technique of using a leather collar under your fancy knots. It makes the knot more oval/square shaped. If you did not use such a collar, the knot would lay flat. So a collar in this sense is something that you put under a knot to make it look more bulky.
Although this may not seem like a big difference to many, it is quite a big one! So first, let’s see the difference in image form: A flat turk’s head, no collar was used. The same knot with a leather collar underneath.
Two knots using leather collars underneath.
So, what is a collar?
Traditionally, a leather strap was wrapped onto the object we are dressing up with a turk’s head. It is important not to make your collar too big or the knot will not fit well onto it.
It can then be secured using glue, a couple of stitches or simply tied on using an inner strand of paracord. The knot is then transferred onto the collar and tightened neatly.
A leather strap you can use to wrap around, cut from a leather belt I was not using.
A collar can be attached using an inner strand of cord. Stitching or glue can also work.
Where to find leather?
Although you can buy scrap leather, this is usually not needed. You can easily find used belts cheaply or you may even have some leather belts laying around which you can finally find use for :).
Naturally you can use a variety of other materials as well, but I stuck with leather for now, since I do have quite a few belts I do not use.
Making beads?
I think using a collar (leather or maybe a piece of a metal tube) can also be used to make fine looking paracord beads. Finding nice looking beads is sometimes hard and expensive, why not make your own? A few experimental beads can be seen below!
The knot I used on these beads is the 3 pass headhunter’s knot.
If you would like to see more on this technique, there is also a video version available:
Hi Mark!
Thank you for your tutorials! I’m just a beginner but I’ve learned so much from you. When I’m baffled by a certain knot and how I should tie it, I can always count on you to help me figure it out.
Thanks again.
You could also, although it would take longer use a smaller knot instead of the leather strip.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your tutorials. I have learnt a lot.
Can you please tell me where I can buy a lacing needle like the flat one you use in a lot of your tutorials.
Thanks Trevor
Hey!
The lacing needle is made by Geoffrey Morgan (GeM Paracording Workshop). He can be found on Facebook.
Mark