Knotty Sean

Wrapped eGo PV batteries

2012-12-10T16:15:00.001-06:00

I've been vaping for a couple of years now, and thought I would tie some Long Turks Head knots on my batteries. I was inspired by a guy who ties spiral Cobra Stitch knots on batteries with gutted type-2 paracord at a local vape shop for $10. (Thanks Eddie!)

I've attempted to tie these Turks Head knots before, using Stormdranes older tutorial, with little/no success. SD recently made a newer video tutorial that was easier to follow than his previous one.

Knotty Sean Shop now open!

2011-10-24T19:49:00.001-05:00

For your convenience, I've opened the Knotty Sean Shop. There isn't much available yet, so check back for new items coming soon!

To get to the shop, click the link at the top of the blog.

CES 2012 is approaching...

2011-09-29T09:27:00.001-05:00

CES 2012 is in January, and I'm once again offering to tie up some conference badge lanyards! If you're interested in one, please hit the paypal button to order one. I'll be selling them for $20 for two colors, and $25 for three colors.
Make sure you put your color selections in the field at checkout, also indicate if you would prefer black or silver NiteIze S-Biners. Shipping is $6 for US orders, if you're outside the US, I'll need to calculate the shipping after purchase.

Update: I realized I made the mistake of only offering these lanyards for CES attendees. If you want one, order one; regardless of your reason!

Announcement: thekruser has Landed!

2011-06-25T00:47:00.000-05:00

Hello, my name is thekruser...and I am a knot-aholic. There...the formalities are done.

I suppose I should start by explaining a couple of things. I have always been intrigued with knots. Ask my younger bother and sister! I used to tie them up when we were kids. Before you start judging me, no...I was not some sort of serial-killer in training, I was just an older brother who liked to torment his younger siblings. Jeez. Like you were any different.

I have been tying knots for as long as I can remember; however, all of the knots I knew and tied were for function. It wasn't until about a year or so ago that I started making things with rope. One day, I saw a friend of mine thank some guy on twitter for making him a lanyard for his name tag for a certain convention that I wanted to go to. I decided to check it out.

What I found was an intricately woven series of knots (well, more of a weave) that formed a lanyard. I wanted one. So, I contacted the guy about making me one. After a few exchanges, I decided I would try to learn how to make one, just to see if I could do it. The guy agreed to help me. As I learned, a new passion emerged. I was hooked. I have been making things with rope (mainly paracord) ever since.

So, who was the guy? You guessed it...Knotty Sean. Without his help, I never would have gotten started. I can honestly say that it is because of him that I make things today. Thanks for your help, Sean!

Recently, Sean asked me if I would like to post things I have made to his blog. How could I say no? After all, he got me started!

From time to time, I will post my creations with as many detailed "how-to" instructions as I can. However, sometimes I just kind of goof around and something comes out of it, like the piece above. I make no guarantees, but I will try to explain as much as I can as often as I can.

I hope you enjoy!!

King Cobra Dog Collar

2011-06-20T15:37:00.000-05:00

My sister's boyfriend wanted me to tie him a collar for his pitbull Wedo. Wedo is a 4 month old pit who outgrew his little leather collar and needed something a little tougher looking. I had initially wanted to do a "Wide Solomon Bar" since it would finish out fairly wide. I got about 5" of it finished, before I scrapped it and started over. I didn't see the finished product holding up to daily pitbull abuse. I decided to go with the classic King Cobra/Doubled Solomon Bar for the collar. Recalling issues getting the sizing right when making bracelets for friends/customers, I decided to do the collar in two knotted pieces. One large section and one shorter section that can be cut off and retied longer if needed. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the process, but I plan to make another soon, so I'll do process pics then. Overall completed length: approx 9-10" (I'll measure it when I think about it later.)

Supplies:

"Long" section:

15' of black 550
17' of red 550

"Short" section:

5' of black 550
6' of red 550

1x 1" side-release buckle
1x 1" steel ring

Getting back into this thing

2011-06-01T22:06:00.001-05:00

Ok folks, after a loooooooong absence from this blog, I'm finally going to try and start this thing back up. I started tying knots again, so now looks like as good time as any to get the word out. Stay tuned for some new stuff, and I'm thinking about trying to start making some vids on how to tie some of my more popular items. Sound off in the comments if that sounds like something ya'll would like to see, and I'll see what I can put together.

WES2010 is over...

2010-05-03T21:40:00.000-05:00

I wanted to thank all of the people who purchased a lanyard from me to use at WES this year. I was satisfied with the number of them I saw walking around at WES, but I would love to see more next year! I had lots of people ask me at the conference if I brought more to buy, and unfortunately I did not. I will start tying them now for next year, but due to the demand on my personal time, I’m going to be charging more than cost. I’ll start the prices out at $15 for individual orders, and will consider bulk purchase discounts for vendors or people who want to wear one a day (matty). I will adjust the price based on demand (or lack thereof).

Thanks everyone for a great WES 2010!!!

Pricing Update and Tri-Color offer

2010-04-16T09:35:00.003-05:00

Due to the fact that WES2010 is only a week away, I am raising the price of the lanyards to $20. I have plenty of work to do to prepare for WES, and it makes it hard to tie lanyards. If you think this is ludicrous, then check my previous post for a how-to on how to tie one yourself. :)
After the Conference, I will keep the price at $20 indefinitely. The $9 price was a WES conference special price!

Also, I figured out how to tie a 3 color lanyard. so if you want one with 3, I can hook you up. (thanks BBQueen!)

I hope to see you all at WES, and I will bring some cord along to maybe tie one onsite, if there is time!

Thanks everyone!

Two-point lanyard how-to

2010-03-04T22:04:00.002-06:00

These two-point lanyards are of my own design. I figured some folks want to know how to tie these lanyards, so I put together a how-to….

You will need the following:

Two 9’ lengths of gutted paracord
Two Nite-Ize S-Biner size #1 hooks
Lighter
Sharp knife or scissors
Hemostats (to keep your place)

Take your gutted paracord and middle them over one of the S-Biners, ensuring that all the ends are the same length. Arrange the cords so they cross over each other, forming an “X”. You can tie some floss or a twist-tie around the cords just below the hook to keep the cords in place.

Double Matthew Walker Knot (MWK)
The MWK is a “stopper” knot. To tie a MWK, begin with a Wall knot where each strand is passed round over its neighbor and down. Continue passing round the neighbor cords till it crosses thru itself.

Once you’ve tied the double MWK, work out the slack of the top loop, so the knot is as close to the hook as possible. Dress and tighten the knot as tight as possible, leaving the cords the same length.
4 Strand Round Braid (plait)

Next, hang the hook on a sturdy point that can take some pulling. You will need to pull the cords as you braid them to keep the braid tight.

To start the braid, cross the middle two cords (of the same color). Next, bring the far left cord behind two cords, back around and over one more cord. Grab the far right cord, come behind two cords, back around and over one more cord. This may take some getting used to.

Keep doing this pattern of behind two, in front of one until you have 6-7” remaining untied.

I like to put a twist tie/floss around the end of the braid section, to hold the cords together for the final MWK knot.
This will be removed after the knot is tied.

Feed the cords through the last hook in such a way that you end up with an alternating pattern of cords to tie.

Double Matthew Walker Knot (MWK)
Once again, tie the MWK knot starting with a Wall knot, and continuing to pass around the neighbors till it crosses itself.

At this point you can remove your twist tie/floss from under the knot.
Once you get the knot dressed and tightened down firmly, proceed to clipping the tails and melting the ends down to finish the lanyard.

Thanks for checking out this how-to! If you want me to tie one for you, please hit the donate button and let me know!

Good news, bad news…

2010-02-16T17:17:00.004-06:00

I just wanted to thank everyone for the donations and the attention I’ve been getting regarding my #WES2010 lanyards! I never imagined they would become this popular! Today I received my first corporate order for a vendor who will have a booth at WES this year. (Thanks Andrea!) I’ve ordered the colors they want, and will get started on tying the 6 custom lanyards as soon as I can. Some folks,*cough* @drm2blv *cough*, have even gone and ordered several for themselves, and aren’t even going to WES!

Unfortunately, due to receiving so many requests, I’m going to have to bump the donation amount up to $9 each. This is still a far cry from what I would typically price one of these one-of-a-kind lanyards. I just need to recoup a little more for materials than I originally anticipated. Hopefully no one is deterred by this increase, and will continue to request my work. I love tying knots and whatnot, and have no trouble fulfilling the orders placed.

Anyways, thanks again for the visit!

Here are some of the colors to pick from, if you would like to place an order:

WES2010 Lanyards (Cont.)

2010-02-10T22:19:00.002-06:00

Hey guys, just wanted to post a quick update. I have gotten 10 lanyards completed, for those who wanted them. I snapped a few pics and thought I'd let everyone see how they are look!

When I first started these, I was just middling the cords and starting into the round braid, and finishing with a Matthew Walker Knot (MWK). I figured out that if I tie a MWK at the beginning, then finish with the MWK, the lanyard will look more symmetrical. My OCD likes this... :)

After tying the final MWK, I trim the excess cord off, and melt the ends into the base of the knot. This makes the knot more permanent, and is quite secure.

Yes, I realize my business card has been blurred, but I only wanted it in frame for scale, not so teh inturnets can hassle me at work. :) If you need to contact me, find me on twitter @sean_armstrong.

If you want one of these, I'm still accepting orders! They are only $6(+shipping if you aren't going to WES2010 to meet me) and I'll be raising the price after WES is over, April 29th. Get yours ordered now!

(The ideas and opinions expressed on this blog are not the those of Dell/Perot Systems, but my own.)

WES 2010 Lanyards

2010-02-05T17:01:00.003-06:00

Here is something new I'm trying out for my WES friends this year. If you want one of these fun lanyards to spice up your WES conference this year, I can whip one up! I have many different colors to pick from, and they will all have Nite-Ize #1 S-Biner's included, to attach the badges. I am accepting $6 donations thru paypal, to recover the cost of the materials. Just click the button at the bottom of this post, and give me your Name, BlackBerry PIN (for contact), and the colors you want.

For those interested, it begins and ends with a Matthew Walker Knot, and is a 4-plait round braid neck section. :)

(This one I made for Howie (HDawg) of Port3101.org)

Another neck lanyard with matching bracelet...

2009-03-11T20:54:00.001-05:00

I made this set for a co-workers wife, and I'm almost finished tying a red/black one for him.

I believe this Matthew Walker Knot is the best finish for these ID badge lanyards so far.

I discovered that if I apply some super glue to the clipped ends before I melt them, they won't scorch the neighboring cords.

Glow in the dark king cobra bracelet

2009-03-11T20:18:00.003-05:00

I picked up some GITD cord from coolglowstuff.com and tied a king cobra bracelet. I like this stuff, it glows super bright when "charged." I believe this is the 3/32" cord. I have also made some monkeys fists (5 passes around a marble) for keychains using the 1/16" glow cord. Pretty snazzy stuff.

Here is a comparison shot next to a paracord cobra stitch bracelet.

Small monkey's fist...

2009-03-05T18:08:00.001-06:00

Here is a small monkey's fist I made out of white Type-I paracord. I think this is my favorite one so far! I really like this cord, and curious to find out what else I could make with it.

Watchbands

2009-03-03T15:57:00.003-06:00

I have made 5 or 6 watchbands so far, and I have to say that the "alternating half-hitch" is my favorite style. Tight but flexible stitches, wide enough for my watches, lays flat without being too bulky. Below are some example bands on my watches.

I made my first watchband (actually first paracord anything) after seeing SD make a watchband that was "woven about three warps". I liked the look of that one. however, I couldn't get the ends tucked in well enough to satisfy my perfectionism.

Through my different iterations, I decided I didn't like how the "arms" of the bands would want to pull up due to my decidedly tight knotting (especially on my very thick Citizen Navisail). It is because of this, I changed how the cords would run under the watch face to counter this effect.
Below is a couple of shots to show the comparison.

All cords go over the pins.

Outermost cords go around
pins in an underhand fashion.

"Tatted" Neck Lanyards

2009-03-02T09:24:00.002-06:00

I had found StormDrane's posting about "Double Tatted chain" bracelets/watchbands, and I figured I could make a neck lanyard using a single-tatting for the neck section, and then finish it with a double-tatted section. The double-tatted section looks good initially, but doesn't hold up well under daily use. It begins to spread the upper section under stress.

The finishes I've used have undergone many variations. I am still looking for one that I like.

The best one so far has been using single-wall+single-crown, then a tripled (or so) MWK (Matthew Walker Knot) over the looped section. I think this one is the strongest so far, I just need to work on a better way to seal the ends. This version also makes it narrower than the king-cobra stitches I've also tried..

Suggestions welcomed... :)