Fancy knotwork
Bone up on your knot-tying skills with a few out-of-the-box fun and useful projects
Flat braid
This flat braid could be used as a key fob, shackle pull or a somewhat utilitarian bell rope. You can adjust the size by using different size line or making more loops.
1. Begin with a loop of line about 24 inches long. For a lanyard you start with the knot shown, but the knot can be formed around a key ring and the entire length of the long loop can covered in knots. Start by creating a U-shaped knot by extending the left end the line out straight and making a loop (crossing under) with your right hand. Make a U shape (this will be the length of your braid), crossing under the main line from the left then make a loop over it and under the U, pulling it through the loop on the right.
![](https://sailingmagazine.net/images/Technique-flatbraid-1.3223.jpg)
2. Draw the knot up tight, and begin braiding by crossing each end of the line through the other, with one size passing under the U and the other passing over the U.
![](https://sailingmagazine.net/images/Technique-flatbraid-2.3225.jpg)
3. Continue braiding, alternating the side of the braid that goes under or over the U each time.
![](https://sailingmagazine.net/images/Technique-flatbraid-3.3226.jpg)
4. Once the braid is the desired length, pull the tails tight, cut them and melt them in place.
![](https://sailingmagazine.net/images/Technique-flatbraid-4.3227.jpg)
You can combine these two knot skills into one by leaving the ends of a monkey’s fist longer and drawing them up into a flat braid tail.
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