Tying a Turks Head Knot Using Paracord

Discover how to tie a Turks head knot using a peg board and 550 cord for a hiking staff handle in this instruction video presented by Paracordist Creations. Add some character to your hiking staff handle by tying a Turks head knot using a jig and paracord.

For this project you will need 3’ of SurvivorCord or WarriorCord, a peg board, scissors, a paracord needle, and a lighter. Make your own peg board using sheet rock, nails, and a drill. Drill seven shallow holes on the parallel sides about ½” in. For this specific size of Turks head knot, you want to put nails in five of the holes leaving the holes on the ends empty.

To begin the Turks head knot, place one of the paracord ends under the first nail on the left side, and put the paracord needle on the other end. Hold the end under the first nail in place with your thumb. Take the working cord and wrap it around the outside of the first nail on the right and back towards the inside. Take the paracord up the center of the board, over the top, around the back of the board, and back towards the front where you started.

Work the paracord over the end you are holding down with your thumb and around the outside first nail on the left. Then work the paracord under the strand between the first and second nails on the right using the paracord needle. Pull all the cord through with each pass.

Next take the paracord around the outside of the second nail on the right and between the second and third nails towards the inside of the board. Work the paracord up and behind the board, and back around to the front.

Now work the paracord under the first line, over the second, and between the first and second nails on the left side. Wrap the paracord around the second nail on the left and the work to the right over the first line, under the second line, and then between the second and third nails.

Work the paracord around the third nail on the right towards the inside of the board, and then up and around the back of the board following the two previous lines. Once you come back around, work the paracord over the first line, under the second, over the third, and then between the second and third nails on the left.

Work the paracord around the third nail on the left, then towards the right. Work the paracord under the first line, over the second, under the third, and then between the third and fourth nails on the right. Work the paracord around the fourth nail and around the board following the previous lines.

Now work the cord under the first line, over the second, under the third, over the fourth, and then between the third and fourth nails on the left. Work the paracord around the fourth nail on the left and towards the right. Then work over the first line, under the second, over the third, under the fourth, and between the fourth and fifth nails on the right.

Wrap the cord around the last nail on the right and follow the previous cords around the board. For the final pass, work the paracord over the first line, under the second, over the third, under the fourth, over the fifth, and between the fourth and fifth nail on the right.

Pull out the nails on both sides of the board and gently slide the board out of the paracord. Put your hiking staff handle through the hole where the board was. Slowly work the slack from the Turks head knot, while holding the two free ends so they do not get tangled. You want to take care in this step so you do not distort the knot.

Keep working the slack out of the knot until it is tight on your handle. Once you are finished cut the remaining ends, melt them into the knot, and you’re ready to go.