Binding Cord Ends with a Variation of the Common Whipping[]
This is one method you can use to bind the ends of a cord together to make a bubbling garland. When done properly it's secure and has a low profile. It's practical for joining diamond braid cord or materials with 3 or more plies, twisted or braided.
MATERIALS[]
In this example, I'm binding diamond braid cotton cord using a medium weight cotton household string. The knot can be made with slick materials like rayon or nylon, but would require a longer knot with more windings.
PROCEDURES[]
1. When working with diamond braid, it's best to trim the frayed ends to somewhat of a taper. With hand braided cords, you'll instead want to bind the ends with bits of string to keep them from unraveling, and remove them at the last possible moment when winding the knot.
2. For these materials, a piece of string about 15" long is sufficient. Use longer pieces for practice. Feed the string through your connecting piece and slide it to near the half way point. I'm using a #0 swivel here.
3. Tie the connector onto a suitably sized dowel or pencil using a square (reef) knot. Its diameter depends on the materials you're using. I'm using a 3/8" dowel here. Don't tie the knot too tightly. You want it to be malleable rather than hard, so that when you pull the connector away from the string, it can assume a somewhat elongated shape.
4. Hold the 2 cord ends together between your thumb and forefinger about 1/2" from their ends. Make sure the cord's loop's braid is straight rather than twisted and that the ends are even. Place the string's knot between the cord's ends and grasp the knot between them. The string's loop should extend 1/8" or more beyond the cord's ends.
5. Using the string's free ends, tie a simple overhand knot around one of the cord's ends. It needn't be tied too tightly.
6. Turn the piece over and make another overhand knot around the other cord end, tightly.
7. Note the directions that the string's ends exit from the knot. One will be angled toward the cord's ends. Form a loop with that end that reaches beyond the string's connector's loop and hold its loose end under your thumb.
8. The other end of the string will be angled away from the cord's ends and toward one side of the piece. Wrap that piece around the cord's ends, continuing in the direction that it exits from the knot. With each revolution around the cord's ends, wrap the cord a little closer to those ends, as pictured. These initial wrappings should be made very tightly.
9. As you near the end of the ends, you can apply somewhat less pressure and will have to grasp the knot's base rather than the cord's ends.. Don't continue past the ends. Stop at about 1/8 - 1/16" before them.
10. Stop wrapping at a point just below the loop you formed earlier. Hold the wrapping string firmly at that point with your thumb, and pass its end through that loop.
11. Find the other (tail) end of the string (in your palm) and pull on it until the loop closes, but not any farther. Be careful not to let the loop with the connector piece go through the loop you are closing.
12. Grasp the knot firmly at that point (where the loop has just closed on that string) and with your other hand, pull that same string away from the knot and perpendicular to it. Rotate the knot as needed to allow any remaining slack to be taken in.
13. Grasp the entire knot firmly between your thumb and forefinger, and gradually pull on the tail string. You will be able to feel the end loop being pulled into the body of the knot. Stop pulling when the loop seems to have reached the center of the knot, or until it has passed beneath at least 3 windings.
14. Trim the string ends and extra cord.
