11/10/2025
Some of you may remember that I make and sell keyfobs, and I've gotten questions in the past about what kinds, what knots, how much, etc. Consider this the one stop shop for all that information.
Bellropes ($14-$15): If you take a look on ship's bells, you'll notice that some of them have really intircate bell ropes (sailors could get very board off watch, you see). The design I use is a pretty simple one. Two cords twisted together to make a cored 5 strand line, then a four strand Matthew Walker knot, followed by crown sennets and a footrope knot.
Good Luck Knot ($8): This one is a variant of a knot seen carved on statues of the goddess Guanyin between AD557 and AD588. The carvings were found in northwest China, leading to this sometimes being called the Chinese Good Luck Knot. With four additional loops at the corners of the square, this is also referred to as the One Mind Knot. The tassles are finished with a three strand Matthew Walker knot.
Star Knot ($16): In my opinion the quintessential decorative knot, it can be tied with a single strand and have multiple stars on a string, or placed at the end of a line (an example being on Lettie's crew only sign). These also have what's called a tracer, a smaller line threaded through the knot and following the grooves for accenting.
Monkey's Fist ($10-$11): An example of a knot with a solid core. Moneky's fists are made around a wooden ball or similiarly dimensioned object to retain their shape and add weight. Traditionally, this was the knot that would be used in the ends of heaving lines. Yeah, we do have those fancy floating orange balls now, but I like how these look. These fobs are finished with a diamond knot and siezed into a loop. Larger versions of this knot can be used as paperweights or doorstops.
Knottyer's Keyfob ($13): This is less a specific thing and more a collection of other skills. A h**p line is backspliced onto itself, two of the resulting six strands are cut, a four strand Matthew Walker is made, and the strands relaid into a four strand line that is whipped and cut to size. This is also the only fob I make out of something other than cotton.
Crown and Wall ($11): One could consider this a collection of stoppers. A four strand Matthew Walker knot, follwed by a three pass crown and wall knot (also called a footrope knot) tied around a wooden ball.
If anyone is interested, I do sell these. On the ship during the season, on my own during the off months. Personally, I think they make great stocking stuffers, if one is looking to get a head start on that.
But more than anything, I like sharing information, and I hope if nothing else, you learned something today.
Cheers!
