Confessions of a novice fancy worker

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

That looks beautiful! Is it an Ocean Plat (ABOK #2243)? Did you start it with an overhand knot as Ashley suggests? How large has it ended up? How do you conceal the ends?

I have always admired rope mats and was thinking of making one for the new boat. Synthetic hemp rope used here on old Dutch boats look like the real thing at first glance, and I think this would work well for mats like this.

SWL

Originally Posted by UNCIVILIZED

...

belizesailor, nice work. Though making one of those surely takes more concentration than I can muster at the moment. And those mats are always so pretty that I'd be afraid to use'em as mats.

Yes, it is an Ocean Plait/Plat, but not specifically using ABOK. It did start with an overhand knot. It is 27" wide on its longest axis. The easiest way to conceal the ends is just to tuck them under following the normal pattern and sieze them to the line next to them. You can make them longer/wider just by adding more overlaps to the initial pattern...which is pretty obvious once you've done a few. I suspect Ashley goes into the math in detail, as he does on many knots, so you could be more precise, but I just winged this one (my ABOK sits on a table several countries away).

I first learned to make them when I crewed on the ELISSA. At the time, some lines which were not safety critical, were still rigged with natural fibre lines for authenticity. They also failed regularly...in a very authentic way. We used the scraps to make ocean plaits and other fancy knot work which was then sold in the gift shop. We also made small ones as block pads so the big blocks did not beat divets into the deck.

More critical lines were rigged using ROBLON brand rope which is syntehtic but looks a lot like natural fibre rope (probably the same SWL sees on the old Dutch boats...given that they are a Dutch company). It is a lot safer and more practical than the real thing.

They are actually quite easy to make once you get the starting pattern correct...its pretty mindless after that...just keep following the pattern till you run outta rope! [emoji6]

Snugging it up takes about as long as making the intial weave...you just keep working slack out following the original pattern toward the bitter ends. I actually worked up a little sweat hefting this big matt around.

I used 20 yards of cheap rope in this one ($1/yard at the local hardward store). Has a hand like rolled up hay...which made it a bit more challenging.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

(my ABOK sits on a table several countries away).

Mine sits on my laptop wherever I am
.It used to be available as a PDF at bethandevans.com. I'll PM you.

[stnick]

for Knot tieing on your I phone the app Knots 3D shows the knot in 3D motion

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Yes, it is an Ocean Plait/Plat, but not specifically using ABOK. It did start with an overhand knot. It is 27" wide on its longest axis. The easiest way to conceal the ends is just to tuck them under following the normal pattern and sieze them to the line next to them. You can make them longer/wider just by adding more overlaps to the initial pattern...which is pretty obvious once you've done a few. I suspect Ashley goes into the math in detail, as he does on many knots, so you could be more precise, but I just winged this one (my ABOK sits on a table several countries away).

I first learned to make them when I crewed on the ELISSA. At the time, some lines which were not safety critical, were still rigged with natural fibre lines for authenticity. They also failed regularly...in a very authentic way. We used the scraps to make ocean plaits and other fancy knot work which was then sold in the gift shop. We also made small ones as block pads so the big blocks did not beat divets into the deck.

More critical lines were rigged using ROBLON brand rope which is syntehtic but looks a lot like natural fibre rope (probably the same SWL sees on the old Dutch boats...given that they are a Dutch company). It is a lot safer and more practical than the real thing.

They are actually quite easy to make once you get the starting pattern correct...its pretty mindless after that...just keep following the pattern till you run outta rope! [emoji6]

Snugging it up takes about as long as making the intial weave...you just keep working slack out following the original pattern toward the bitter ends. I actually worked up a little sweat hefting this big matt around.

I used 20 yards of cheap rope in this one ($1/yard at the local hardward store). Has a hand like rolled up hay...which made it a bit more challenging.

Thanks for all the useful information .

With 20 yards of rope used, that must be a hefty piece! It sounds just like a Turk's Head in that is is pretty mindless after the pattern is established and snugging it up takes as long as the weaving itself.

Stu put me onto the ABOK several years ago. Lots of pdf versions can currently be found online. It is interesting reading, as Ashley writes in a chatty manner providing lots of history, and his hand drawn sketches and diagrams are just beautiful.

I am going to make myself a cuppa and will try a practice version Ocean Plait (or maybe its slightly longer sister, the Prolong) using some of the 3mm cord I bought recently that is so stiff it is useless for tight knots. It should be OK for this purpose.

SWL

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by stnick

for Knot tieing on your I phone the app Knots 3D shows the knot in 3D motion

I like 3D instructions .

I haven't used Knots 3D, but have found the animated versions in Grog's are excellent, although I found their website better than their app. Grog's index is not simple to use, so I usually find it easier to Google the knot name and "Grog" and then the instructions come up instantly.

SWL

[Seaworthy Lass]

I ended up trying the Prolong weave (ABOK #2242), sister to the Ocean Plait. Both can be tied with a single line.

I used up some dreadfully stiff 3mm double braid polyester that I had found useless for general knot tying. The mat ended up 7 x 14cm and it needed just over 4m of cord. Tightening it up properly would reduce this a little, but the weave still uses an amazing amount of cord!

I may make a mat for the pilothouse floor when entering from the cockpit. BelizeSailor, thanks for all the tips.

SWL

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I ended up trying the Prolong weave (ABOK #2242), sister to the Ocean Plait. Both can be tied with a single line.

I used up some dreadfully stiff 3mm double braid polyester that I had found useless for general knot tying. The mat ended up 7 x 14cm and it needed just over 4m of cord. Tightening it up properly would reduce this a little, but the weave still uses an amazing amount of cord!

I may make a mat for the pilothouse floor when entering from the cockpit. BelizeSailor, thanks for all the tips.

SWL

Oooh, pretty.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by StuM

Mine sits on my laptop wherever I am
.It used to be available as a PDF at bethandevans.com. I'll PM you.

Thanks much. Thats a great resource to have.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Oooh, pretty.

It took a few goes getting the first run to lie correctly, but it was child's play after that. Ashley's instructions are accompanied by four diagrams, but for me more intermediate steps would have been helpful. As beautiful as his diagrams are, I sometimes find them hard to follow.

SWL

[paxfish]

Originally Posted by Yellowtulip

Is it just me or does anyone else find that unwhipped end intensely annoying?

Yeah, it is distracting.... But anybody who owns more than one adze is given a break in my book....

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by StuM

Mine sits on my laptop wherever I am
.It used to be available as a PDF at bethandevans.com. I'll PM you.

Thanks for the great resource. It even has a table of contents!

[belizesailor]

Turk's head over coffee this AM. Ends not tucked yet.

[Calif.Ted]

Very nice, how did you do your wheel ? I used to use a 2 line French braid that made a diamond pattern but it was labor intensive having to pass the standing part around the wheel. Then I was shown this "quick" method, only took a few days and blisters.

[belizesailor]

Nice work.

My cat's wheel is uncovered....though an elongated turk's head on the tiller of my Hobie 33 might be cool.

Funny idea...Im about to embark on a rebuild of my Jeep...a turk's head to mark wheel center would be an appropriate nautical touch. 😆

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Calif.Ted

Very nice, how did you do your wheel ? I used to use a 2 line French braid that made a diamond pattern but it was labor intensive having to pass the standing part around the wheel. Then I was shown this "quick" method, only took a few days and blisters.

Nifty solution .
We have had tillers on all our boats so I haven't needed to wrap a wheel. I am thinking along the same lines as Belize here - a long Turk's head would be good to add to the end of our new tiller.