Bracelets are evergreen fashion statements, they come in a variety of colours and designs, thus, never fade with time. Today, we are making a sailor knot bracelet.

This particular knot pattern is actually part of a family of knots called Turk’s head knots. Historically, this knot was used to mark the ‘king pin’ of a ship’s wheel so that sailors could quickly tell if the rudder was straight. It is also believed that the sailors used these bracelets to wipe the sweat from their brow or forehead, and tied them as good luck gifts for their loved ones back at home.

Things you need:

1. Thick woollen strands of two colours 16-inches (you can make from one colour if you like).

2. Scissors

3. A large bead

Directions:

1. Cut 16-inches long two different colours of strands from wool yarn or any string that you have, I am using yellow and blue, picture 2.

2. Two-fold both the strands separately, make knots at one side of both strands, leaving a centimetre loop for the bead to get in (use tape at the other end, this is optional), picture 3.

3. Make a loop from the blue string as shown in picture 4.

4. Make a similar loop from the yellow string on top of the blue one. Bring the left yellow strand under the left blue strand and your right yellow strand will remain on top of the right blue strand as shown in picture, 5.

5. Pass the right yellow strand from under the blue loop towards left, picture 6.

6. Pass the yellow left strand from top of the blue loop towards right side, picture 7.

7. The two loops, blue and yellow, have formed; notice only one strand of each colour crosses the other loop, picture 8.

8. Very slowly and carefully, pull the strands, the blue upwards and the yellow downwards, pictures 9 and 10.

9. Just as you pull them, the sailor knot is formed. Tie a knot at the end of the strands, where you think the size best fits your wrist, picture 11.

10. Insert a bead at one end of the strand; while the other will have a small loop (we made earlier) this is where you will tuck the bead in; cut the extra strands of yarn strings, picture 12.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 18th, 2019