Braided Epaulet "How-to"

**ccga3359** · 8th April 07, 07:23 AM

Well done. For more braiding options go to the library and get Ashley's Book of knots by Clifford Ashley. It is THE bible for knotwork. At about $80.00 to $100.00 wouldn't suggest buying it though.

**gangreenfootball** · 8th April 07, 07:36 AM

Neat piece of work. It looks great

**Livingston** · 8th April 07, 08:18 AM

What everyone else said, VERY nicely done. Not sure how well my patience would stay with me on that project.

**jordanjm** · 8th April 07, 08:54 AM

Nice That is cool

**wsk** · 8th April 07, 09:17 AM

This is cool. So how much of the twelve feet of line did you really end up using? If you had made your jig smaller would the frustration of tightening the knot be less?

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Well done. For more braiding options go to the library and get Ashley's Book of knots by Clifford Ashley. It is THE bible for knotwork. At about $80.00 to $100.00 wouldn't suggest buying it though.

Buy this book if you are at all interested in knots practical or decorative (about $50 new from Amazon.com).

**BEEDEE** · 8th April 07, 09:21 AM

Great job, and thank you for sharing it with us.

Brian

**Tartan Hiker** · 8th April 07, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by wsk

This is cool. So how much of the twelve feet of line did you really end up using? If you had made your jig smaller would the frustration of tightening the knot be less?

After everything was tightened down I was left with two pieces, one about 1 foot and one about 2.5 feet, so there was about 8.5 feet remaining in the knot. The jig could have been a bit smaller, but it was not easy threading the cord through the second time, even with forceps. I don't think it would have made the tightening process significantly shorter. At $2.50 per 50 feet I decided to err on the side of ease rather than efficiency, and my kids instantly found uses for the four pieces of scrap, so all is well, and I'm left with a hunk about 25 feet long to throw into my hiking pack. Duct tape and para cord...don't leave home without them.

I'll try to get a pic of the jacket this Saturday when I get all duded up for the Montreat Scottish Society gala.

**Alan H** · 8th April 07, 10:06 PM

Nice job. They look really good.

**Sgt.Lewis** · 29th April 08, 03:54 PM

That is really great, Dont suppose you have a pattern or something I could place on a block of wood to know the size I need? Looks like they become considerabally shorter after you pull the slack out of them.

**Tartan Hiker** · 29th April 08, 04:57 PM

Welcome to the forum, Sgt.

You can make it any size you need without a pattern. Look at the drawing. Note that as you look along the long edge of the drawing the knot line crosses that edge about 10 times. Since I was doubling the cord, make that 20 times. Now measure the width of your paracord, multiply by 20, and you get the approximate length of the finished knot. Just add or subtract nails on the jig to make it as large or small as you need.

For reference, I was using standard 550 cord and my finished knots measure 4.5 inches.

Hope this helps. Don't forget about the web site I linked to that will draw the knot for you, and can be modified to include as many turns as you want.