Pick and Awl

Next to perma-lock needles, I'd say the knot tying tool that I use the most is an ice pick. Picks are helpful in pulling out strands when tightening a knot like a turks heads. They are used to to work in some space between two strands to insert a needle for pulling an additional strand through a knot. I use the awl above less frequently than my ice pick, but I find that the tapered shaft can be useful for working in space between two strands. It's also a little more stout that the ice pick and can be useful if the cord is stiff or a knot is really tight. At the base of the shaft is tied 4 bight turks head. Over the balance of the handle and partially covering the turks head is a pineapple knot with a 6 bight turks head base.  Take your time if you try something like this. I was little rushed, and you can see some gaps in the knot at the widest part of the handle. I included a picture of my ice pick- Do note that only some of the knot work on that handle is mine. My father did the original covering. I put the two bight turks head and the 4 lead by 3 bight turks head on the base of the pick. The two bight turks head is especially helpful for gripping the pick.

Junior Pineapple Knot Walking Stick

I gave away walking sticks to some friends at the holidays.  Our group of five year old's children expressed some interest in having walking sticks of their own, so this is the prototype.  This is a half-stick of what I usually make with an oil finish and a rubber stopper to keep the end from sliding around.  Around it is tied a type 1 pineapple knot in blue and red that originated from a 4 bight turks head. Up until now I have tied pineapple knots from instructions with diagrams and over-under instructions.  This one I tied without instructions which is an accomplished for me.  If you would like information on tying a long pineapple knot, KHWW has a tutorial.

Tiller Extension 4 Bight Turks Head

This is the tiller extension/hiking stick from our sail boat.  The other week it was accidentially stepped upon and the end was broken off.  To fix it I bevel sanded the remaining pieces and epoxied them back together with a scarf joint.  Scarf joints are fairly common in wooden boat construction and when made with epoxy the joint itself is stronger than then surrounding wood.  I wasn't crazy about aesthetics of the final joint so I decided to put a covering turks head over the joint.  If my count is correct this is a 25 lead by 4 bight turks head.  It was tied as a running turks head which means it was all one piece of line.  If you are interested in tying long running turks heads, I would suggest looking at "Introduction to Turks Heads" by Tom Hall which you can find at KHWW as an E book.  Stormdrane also has an excellent video for a two bight turks head which can be found here.  The 4 bight turks head for this project was enlarged from a 2 bight turks head.