Turks Head

General Discussion
1

I was at a Boy Scout camp out last weekend and met a man with a unique walking stick. The stick had a Turks Head with maybe 10 bights in it, maybe more. Could someone tell me what book to buy that would have this information in it? The information needs to be simple enough for a six year to understand. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Jerry

2

Des Pawson’s Knotcraft shows how to make long turk’s heads…it is an excellent book!
amazon.com has it

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0713654414/qid=1123655411/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-7857116-7415826?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Eric Franklin
Turksheads the Traditional Way - £1.50

the IGKT sells this great little book:

http://www.igkt.net/publications/index.html

…there are some IGKT members who make
canes and walking sticks…??..

Dan-Alaska

3

Thanks for the information. Would there be another book that has the same information with more knots in it? Does this book have more knots than just the Turks Head? I would like to learn a few decorative knots. Thanks for your help.
Jerome

4

Jerome,

The Ashley Book of Knots by Clifford W. Ashley has a chapter on Turks Heads, as well as other decorative knots. This is an excellent reference for all knotting. The Turks Hed chapter shows how to make diagrams to make long and tall Turks Heads, as well as standard square Turks Heads.

When you want to try something a little more interesting, go to www.khww.net, and download some free templates (under Knot Tutorials) to tie complex Turks Heads. These are simple patterns that tape to a toilet paper tube, and have the grid and pattern already laid out for you. The Pear Shaped Turks Head (PSTH) and the Closed End Turks Heads are great for covering knobs and balls. The knot might be complex, but with the template, it is easy to tie!

If you live near Seattle, Washington, come to the Fall Fisherman’s Festival around the first weekend of September. I will be at the IGKT booth, and I will show you how to tie a Turks Head in hand, and increase it to as many bights as you want.

Pat Ducey

5

Jerome,
there are a lot of Turks Head Knots on internet and in the different books.
If you have a local library you might find some there and otherwise they can order some for you from other libraries. (Buying knotbooks is good but can get expensive when you go for books like the Ashley Book Of Knots.)

If you tie a 4 bight, 3 lead T(urks) H(ead knot) you can make it longer, (give it more bights) by braiding it a little more before you start doubling.

Make the 4b, 3l TH and slip in over your hand, (make the knot bigger by pulling more string through if needed.)
On the top of your hand you now have three strings, 2 of which are fixed at their other end, one which is loose at the other end. With those you can braid, as with all sets of three strings. When the knot is long enough, you start doubling as you would do with any TH.

I hope you understand this. Otherwise, go looking for TH’s in books and on internet.

Willeke

6

Hi Jerome,

Perhaps this website has some useful information for you as well.

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/Tejay480/images/home.html

Have fun!!

André van der Salm

7

Thanks for the help guys. I need a visual to learn a knot or a good picture with diagrams. This last web site that was posted just above this post I could not get it to display. I will check more on the Internet.
Thanks again
Jerome

8

Jerome,

Strange you can’t se that website. I checked again by clicking the link and for me it works OK.

success
André

9

I clicked on the link tonight and it worked great. I printed off what was on there. Now I just have to figure out how to do the longer Turks head.
Thanks
Jerome

10

Hi jerome,

Glad it is working now. Just use the grid which is on that website. I usually print it out, cut it to desired number of bights and leads and glue it around a cardbox cylinder or toiletpaper roll.

Have fun
André