This is a growing collection of knotting, ropework and maritime-craft resources that I have found useful, interesting or inspiring. More contacts, suppliers and references will be added over time.
I would like this to become a useful community resource for knotters and rope makers—a place to discover good work, learn new skills and find the people, materials and tools behind them.
Help this page grow: Do you know a good rope maker, braider, knotter, supplier, tutorial, book, club, Facebook group or other useful social media page? Email bloodknotcord@gmail.com with the name, a direct link and a few words about why you recommend it. Suggestions from makers and group organisers about their own work are welcome too. I will review suggestions and add suitable resources over time. Please let me know if a link stops working or an entry needs correcting.
Bookmark this page and drop back occasionally to see what has been added.
All languages are welcome. Suggestions and resources in any language are welcome, and you are welcome to write to me in your own language. I can use translation tools to help us communicate.
Blood Knot Workshop Notes
If you would like occasional news from the Blood Knot workshop, subscribe using the Keep in touch form at the bottom of this page. Workshop Notes will be infrequent—sent when there is something worthwhile to share, such as new resources, colours, practical tips or community discoveries. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Your email address is all you need to subscribe. If you would like, email bloodknotcord@gmail.com to introduce yourself, mention your country and tell me what sort of knotting or rope making interests you. Those extra details are entirely optional.
Using these resources: Select an underlined name or link to visit the resource. Terry’s name opens an email to him; his Instagram link is listed below his entry.
Rope and cordage makers
These makers offer cordage or traditional ropework for knotters. Contact each maker directly about current availability, specifications and delivery destinations.
Terry McMahan — Deming, New Mexico, USA
A fellow backyard rope maker, known on Facebook as San Mc. I recommend Terry’s hard-laid cordage for knotters.
Terry hand-lays cotton, poly-cotton and hemp cords in approximately 1–4 mm diameters, supplied in 50-foot lengths (about 15.2 metres). As with all handmade cordage, dimensions can vary slightly. United States shipping only; no international shipping. Contact Terry directly about current materials, sizes and availability.
Contact Terry:
Email: tsssethbuster@hotmail.com
Instagram: @stsemporium
Facebook: San Mc
Call or text: +1 575 495 1704, between 11 am and 8 pm Mountain Time (USA).
Terry is a member of the IGKT and IGKT North America. He has no standalone website; contact him by email or through his social accounts.
Beagle Bay Knotworks — USA
A US supplier continuing the Marty Combs cotton cordage range, with medium- to hard-laid cordage for knotters. The business also offers knotting tools and books. I have limited first-hand knowledge of this supplier, so please discuss your requirements with them directly.
Mikko Snellman — Ropeworks, Finland
In my view, Mikko is a master rope maker and knotter. He makes hard-laid cordage, ropework tools and traditional decorative knotwork. I highly recommend his work and his teaching.
Sue Pennison — Rigging and Ropework, United Kingdom
A natural-fibre cord and rope maker whose work includes traditional rigging, practical and ornamental ropework, demonstrations and teaching. The link opens her public National Historic Ships UK listing.
Barbara Frankel — Australis Knots, Tasmania, Australia
A traditional rope maker and decorative nautical knotter, including hard-laid cotton cordage, bell ropes, mats and other knotwork. Her website also includes information about tools and knot-tying instruction sheets.
Community-suggested suppliers
The following businesses were suggested by a member of the knotting community in response to my request for useful resources. These are community suggestions rather than claims that I have personally used every supplier. Check current stock, specifications and shipping destinations directly with each business.
The Artful Sailor
Traditional sailmaking and maritime-craft supplies, including hand tools and fittings for canvas and ropework.
R&W Rope
Rope, rigging supplies and hardware. A broader rope supplier; check the construction and lay of any cordage against your project requirements.
Sailrite
Fabrics, canvas and leather-working supplies, sewing tools, hardware and project guidance. Particularly useful for projects combining cordage with canvas or fabric.
Bored Paracord
A paracord-focused supplier with multiple cord sizes, colours, fids and other accessories.
Atwood Rope MFG
A US rope manufacturer offering paracord and other cordage. Check the material, construction and size for your particular project.
Knot & Rope Supply
A US rope shop offering a broad selection of rope, tools and accessories.
Tools, fittings and accessories
Cams Cords — Australia
Cams Cords has a strong paracord focus, but I also find it useful for small stainless-steel thimbles, split rings and other fittings for projects made with traditional hard-laid cordage. Check the dimensions and material of each fitting against your project.
Jig Pro Shop — USA
Another supplier with a strong paracord focus, offering jigs, knotting tools and accessories that can also be useful to traditional knotters. Consider the tool or fitting rather than assuming everything is intended only for paracord.
BCF — Australia
BCF and similar camping and fishing outlets can be useful sources of swivels for ropewalks, key rings and other knotwork projects. I use Pryml size 4 brass barrel swivels on Blood Knot’s Sailor’s Cross key fobs. Check size, finish and suitability for your intended use.
Tutorials and learning resources
Pineapple Knots Tutorials blog — Dan Callahan (Dan Alaska)
This blog preserves some valuable tutorials by Dan Callahan, also known as Dan Alaska. It can be difficult to navigate, and not all tutorials are complete. Explore it as a historical learning resource, bearing in mind that some instructions or photographs may be missing.
Dan Callahan — Star Knots
A preserved photo tutorial on tying star knots, hosted on the Pineapple Knots Tutorials blog. Suggested by a member of the Blood Knot community.
Frayed Knot Arts — IGKT archive
Vince Brennan’s archived collection of traditional maritime fancywork, decorative ropework, tutorials and galleries, hosted by the IGKT. This is a historical learning resource; old sales and contact details may no longer apply.
Mikko Snellman — YouTube
Mikko’s free YouTube tutorials are excellent and highly recommended.
Mikko Snellman — paid tutorials on Ko-fi
Mikko’s website organises his Ko-fi tutorials, including key fobs, beckets, fenders and other traditional ropework. Paid access is required for some content; check the access terms on Ko-fi. I find both his free and paid tutorials excellent, and consider the paid tutorials well worth the cost.
Visit Mikko’s Ko-fi page directly for supporter access, tutorials and his shop. Check the current access terms before paying.
Philip Le Masurier — YouTube
A useful collection of knotting and ropework video tutorials.
Joe Bennett’s Knotting Blog
Outstanding decorative knotwork, including bellropes, belts, knot boards, Spanish hitching and practical tutorials.
Trevvett Knots — YouTube
Video demonstrations and tutorials on decorative knotting and ropework.
Liverpool Ships & Sailors — Demonstrations
Traditional demonstrations from Liverpool’s retired merchant seamen, including splicing, Turk’s heads, lanyard knots and other practical ropework.
Knottool.com
A resource for knotters interested in the Sailor’s Cross.
Paracord Guild — Sailor’s Cross tutorial
A step-by-step photo tutorial for tying a Sailor’s Cross.
Book recommendations
These are my own recommendations. A great reference book is not always the easiest book to learn from, so I have included a little guidance on where I find each most useful. Links lead to publishers, authors or book information; editions and availability vary.
The Ashley Book of Knots — Clifford W. Ashley
The bible for knot tyers and a great reference book. If you want to deepen your knowledge of knots, I consider this a must-have. If you want a book to learn your first knots from, though, I would not recommend it as your starting point.
Encyclopedia of Knots and Fancy Rope Work — Raoul Graumont and John Hensel
Another excellent reference that is worth having, but not necessarily the most helpful starting point for a beginner unless you are particularly interested in braiding or sennits. If you want to make a sennit frame, I regard this book as almost a must.
Stuart Grainger — Creative Ropecraft
I regularly use and recommend Stuart Grainger’s books. They have very good diagrams and descriptions and are useful for beginners as well as more experienced knotters. Creative Ropecraft is one example of his practical and decorative ropework books.
Des Pawson
You cannot go past Des’s books for great projects, instructions and diagrams. They are well worth considering if you want to make things while learning. His titles include Des Pawson’s Knot Craft and the expanded Des Pawson’s Knot Craft and Rope Mats.
Ron Edwards — Rams Skull Press
Although many of Ron Edwards’s books focus on leatherwork, the knots and braids transfer well to cordage. If you are interested in braids, Turk’s heads and related work, I highly recommend exploring his books. Choose the title that matches the sort of work you want to make.
The Harrison Book of Knots — P. P. O. Harrison
I find this book’s diagrams and instructions very good, and consider it suitable for a beginner interested in decorative ropework. The link opens the IGKT’s review of the book.
Knotting organisations and branches
International Guild of Knot Tyers — IGKT
A worldwide community for people interested in knots, ropework and cordage, with events, publications and learning resources.
International Guild of Knot Tyers — North America
The North American organisation, with member activities, the Interknot newsletter and Rope Yarn Wednesday online knotting discussions. Check its website for current dates and participation requirements.
Find an IGKT organisation or local branch
The Guild’s directory lists Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, North America, Alaska and Pacific Americas, plus UK branches including Dorset, East Anglia, Midlands, North West England, Solent, West Country and Yorkshire. Confirm current activity and meeting arrangements with the relevant branch.
IGKT France and Germany’s Knotengilde also have their own websites.
Facebook groups and pages
IGKT North America — Facebook group
The Facebook group linked from IGKT North America’s official website. Facebook sign-in or group membership may be required.
Ropeworks Group
Mikko Snellman’s Facebook group for ropework and knotting. Facebook sign-in or group membership may be required.
Rope and cord-related arts and crafts
Australian
Jack Tar’s Locker
Australian maritime and ropework-related craft.
Australis Knots
Australian decorative knotting and ropework.
International
Trevvett Knots
Decorative knotting and ropework by Trevvett Knots.
These links are provided because I have found them useful or interesting. External websites are owned and maintained by their respective creators, and their content or availability may change. A listing does not imply responsibility for the content, products or services of another website. Blood Knot does not receive an affiliate commission from these links unless this is clearly stated.