Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Dice Bags & Shaker Cups


How Do All ;-)
Complimentary Colours.

Back in 2004 on an ice climbing trip to Ouray Colorado I happened into Ouray Toys, as any grown man would do! and found a game called Pocket Farkel (also known as 10'000 among other names) and marketed by Legendary Games inc. 
This came in a little plastic box printed with the Ouray Toys logo and not only became a great souvenir of a great trip, but would become my most favorite game ever and has accompanied me on many climbing and non climbing trips over the years.

I was trying to think of a unique and personal birthday gift for my girlfriend, and as it just so happened she seemed to like Farkel too, so I decided to make her a Ply-Split Braided dice shaker cup and a fully reversible dice bag, along with a set of Chessex Vortex Dice in a nice swirly Teal colour to match the bag, also a set of instructions and some tiny 7mm dice, just for fun.

This Dice Shaker cup is based upon one that I made whilst on holiday in Kettwig Germany last year. This one is made from my own hand made, 4 strand paper cords, made with my cord making machines. the technique used to braid the cup is Ply-Split Braiding, and is Single Course Oblique Twining, SCOT for short.
the pattern is arranged to resemble converging train tracks. also Pictured with the Teal, Chessex Vortex dice.

The bottom of the dice cup. 

The dice bag, reversed.

The dice bag, right side out.

Hidden Treasures! 

This is the afore mentioned dice shaker cup which I made whilst on holiday in Kettwig, made from left over scraps of my hand made paper cords from another project. Ply-Split Braided in SCOT. pictured with multi-coloured dice.

The bottom of the dice cup.

The Prototype dice bag I made first to get the dimensions right, this one came out a little small but will do for me ;-) made from recycled fabric from old combat pants.

A Bag O' Joy!

Take care,
Barry ;-)

Friday, 19 April 2013

Cast Net, For Sale!


How Do All ;-)

I have just added this Beautiful hand braided Cast Net to my Etsy Shop

This Beautiful Cast Net was a labor of love and over a year in the making 
The main body of the net is hand braided in 0.33mm, 19lb monofilament Nylon line.
The centre and bottom edge of the net are hand braided in 0.44mm, 32lb monofilament Nylon line.
There are over 29,000 knots in the finished net.
The actual spread diameter of the net is just over 3.65m (12ft)


The lead line is 6mm Polypropylene line, has 118 1oz lead weights on it, is 13m (43ft) in length and hand braided to the perimeter of the net.

The 24 brail lines are made from 0.70mm, 60lb monofilament Nylon line.


 The horn in the centre of the net is turned from Nylatron and has Stainless Steel brail separators mounted inside, the horn is attached to the net with #18 Bonded Nylon twine. 

 The hand line is 9mm hollow braided Polypropylene about 30ft long with a wrist loop spliced in one end, the other end is spliced to a swivel connected to the brail lines.

Well over a hundred man hours (too many more to even count) went into the making of the practical work of art, and the price I am putting on this net is in no way close to the actual value of such work of art, in fact it is a mile off! but I am at a point where I would rather see this item enjoyed, displayed and/or used by someone that can truly appreciate its real value.

I will also include any information on use, care and repair that I have.
The net is supplied in a Plastic snap lid bucket for ease of transport and storage.

Price: £500.00
P+P Via Royal Mail Special Delivery (insured) £30.00 UK mainland only.
Please contact me for overseas delivery quote.

This net can be purchased either via my Etsy Shop or you can buy directly from me if you do not want to set up an Etsy account, and I will invoice you via paypal.

Please contact me if you have any questions: knotty (dot) bear (at) gmail (dot) com

Please check out my Etsy Shop for more items.

Thank you for looking.
Take care,
Barry ;-)

Tuesday, 26 February 2013

More Gripfids

How Do All ;-)

I just finished covering a set of Gripfids for a customer in Switzerland.



The tools are 6mm, 8mm and 10mm diameter, suitable for up to 4mm, 6mm and 8mm cords respectively, 

 The tools have a solid Maple handle, covered with a beautiful Pineapple knot.
The smallest is a 35p x 30b, 5 Pass, Type 5 Pineapple knot, the next is a 36p x 32b, 4 Pass, Type 4 Pineapple knot, and the largest is a 45p x 40b, 5 Pass, Type 5 Pineapple knot.


A close up of the Pineapple knot handles.

I made some Pojama's (covers) for the Gripfids from odd ends of climbing rope with the core stripped out.
practical or not? who knows ;-)  

For more info about, and pictures of Gripfids see the link below:
And to see some of the items I have made using Gripfids, check out my Ply-Split Braiding page



Please contact me if you have any questions: knotty (dot) bear (at) gmail (dot) com

Please check out my Etsy Shop for more items.

Thank you for looking.
Take care,
Barry ;-)

Some Ditty Bag Bodies, For Sale!


How Do All ;-)

I have just added some more items to my Etsy Shop

New Style Ditty Bag Bodies!
Here I have one Brand New! Ditty Bag body for sale.

The body of the bag is made from 12oz cotton Duck, and is 300mm x 175mm. the canvas is fully hand seamed and the base has a double seam for durability.

This bag has No eyelets installed yet, this is to give you the option of adding your own knot buttons as I have done on several of my bags, However if you would like a set of hand sewn Grommet eyelets installed, I can do this for you at an extra cost of £20.00
Please contact me first before ordering if you would like this option so I can change the listing price!


Clearance! 
Old Style Ditty bag Body!
This Clearance Ditty Bag body is one of my older models which I am putting out there for any budding knot tyer that might like to fashion their own ditty bag without the hassle of making the canvas body of the bag for themselves.
The only difference between this older version of my Ditty Bag bodies and the newer version is a slightly longer stitch length.

Please contact me if you have any questions: knotty (dot) bear (at) gmail (dot) com

Please check out my Etsy Shop for more items.

Thank you for looking.
Take care,
Barry ;-)

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Cotton Seine Twine and Ditty Bag, For Sale!


How Do All ;-)

I have just added some more items to my Etsy Shop
All Sold Now, Thank you for looking ;-)

This is about 3mm diameter, with a firm lay and very easy to work with. 
900 gram spool (2 lb) , 286 meters (878 feet)
dimension, length, and weights are approximate.


This is about 2mm diameter, with a very firm lay and very easy to work with. 
900 gram spool (2 lb) , 460 meters (1512 feet)
Note: dimension, length, and weights are approximate




The body of the bag is made from 15oz cotton Duck, and is 300mm x 175mm. the canvas is fully hand seamed and the base has a double seam for durability. the body features twisted, drawn thread work, made by removing the weft from the canvas and bunching the remaining warp strands together and then twisting them into several small cords, these are further split and twisted into other cords, and some nice hard wood beads finish of the design.

The grip is of Cotton, and contains; Double Crowning, Pineapple knots in Hemp and Mathew Walker knots. The hanging loop is covered in Cotton Solomon bar. the grip has a coat of my own mixed natural bleached shellac to stiffen and help protect the grip from every day grime.

The slider (bag closure knot) is a Pineapple knot, and the toggle on the base is a Star Knot.
There are 6 beautiful Star Knots around the top of the bag, to which the lanyard legs are buttoned the splices on the lanyard legs are further covered with Turk's-Head knots.
The legs of the lanyard are Flax.
The bag can be converted to a shoulder bag by buttoning Star Knot toggle on the base of the bag through one of the two differently sized hanging loops on the end of the lanyard.



Please contact me if you have any questions: knotty (dot) bear (at) gmail (dot) com

Please check out my Etsy Shop for more items.

Thank you for looking.
Take care,
Barry ;-)

Wednesday, 9 January 2013

More Fids For Sale!

How Do All ;-)

I have some Wood Fids for sale, these spikes were made by the Late Bud Brewer, a friend and fellow Knot Tyer from Colorado. you can see all the details in my Etsy Shop

A Fid / Marlinespike is an indispensable tool for the tying of decorative or practical knots.
Whether tightening a simple Turk's-Head knot, Splicing a hefty rope or dressing the most complicated covering knots, a hand crafted spike like this will make the job a cinch! 
A Fid / marlinespike is also a great tool for undoing tight or stuck fast knots, and with the aid of a Marlinespike Hitch is a great hand hold for tightening constrictor knots, whippings and the like.


This Fid is turned from Apple wood, and was turned whilst green.
The wood is treated with a clear oil / shellac, and has a slightly flattened tip, to aid with insertion between strands. and grip on the cord.

The total length of the tool is 225mm or 8.75"




This hand crafted Fid is turned from Beech wood, is treated with a Danish oil.
There is a recessed section in the handle to accommodate a nice section of hitching, grafting of a nice wide Turk's-Head Knot.
The total length of the tool is 190mm or 7.5"
(Note: this last tool was not made by Bud Brewer)


https://www.etsy.com/listing/119954138/fid-knot-tying-spike-marlinespike?ref=v1_other_1
SOLD
This Fid is turned from ? wood, (Sorry I am not sure exactly what type of wood this is) 
The wood is treated with a clear oil / shellac, and has a slightly flattened tip, to aid with insertion between strands. and grip on the cord. 
The total length of the tool is 245mm or 9.75"


SOLD
This Fid is turned from a very beautiful looking wood, (sorry but I am unsure exactly what type of wood it is)
The wood is treated with a clear oil / shellac, and has a slightly flattened tip, to aid with insertion between strands. and grip on the cord. 
the handle of the Fid has a nice, long Spanish Ring Knot tied just below the knob. 
The total length of the tool is 225mm or 8.75"

Please contact me if you have any questions: knotty (dot) bear (at) gmail (dot) com

Please check out my Etsy Shop for more items.


Thank you for looking.
Take care,
Barry ;-)

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Some Grip Fids for Sale!

How Do All ;-)

I have just added some of my hand made Gripfids to my Etsy Shop

This is a must have tool for Ply-Split Braiding, and is also and ideal tool for all other kinds decorative knot work.

The Gripfid is made from seamless Stainless Steel tube, and has a long slender hollow point, which is formed in such a way that it will grip onto a cord end that is inserted into the tip. which holds the cord whilst pulling the tool back through the work piece.
This tool can also be used in a similar way to a marlinespike or Swedish fid and will make a fantastic addition to any knot tyers tool kit.



I have these tools tools in 6mm, 8mm and 10mm diameter suitable for up to 4mm, 6mm and 8mm cords respectively, some are available in longer or shorter lengths.


 The tools are supplied with either a naked solid Maple handle, or covered with a beautiful Pineapple knot.
Below is a 5 Pass, Type 5 Pineapple knot, with a special variation of the standard interweave. 

 Above and below you can see how the tool is use for Ply-Split Braiding. 
The tip of the Gripfid is easily passed through the ply's of the cords, then the cord is inserted and the tool withdrawn pulling the cord with it. and building a beautiful braid.
This tool can be used in this way for splicing as an alternative to the Swedish fid or for tying multi strand decorative knots.

Please contact me if you have any questions: knotty (dot) bear (at) gmail (dot) com

Please check out my Etsy Shop for more items.

Thank you for looking.
Take care,
Barry ;-)