the six strand matthew walker knot

8/13/2019 The Six Strand Matthew Walker Knot

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frayedknotarts.com http://www.frayedknotarts.com/tutorials/MWK-6strand-Wilson/MWK-6-Wilson.ht

The Six Strand Matthew Walker Knot

1. Gett ing ready ~

The Mathew Walker Knot (MWK) was, for a very long time, t he only knot named after

an individual. He was a British Navy rigger and invent ed this elegant , almostmysterious, decorative knot. There are diffe rent versions depending on the number of

strands. A three- strand knot can be relatively easy, the six-strand one we are tying

here is said to be much more diff icult. But the difficulty is really only in staying

focused. Well tie t he knot as part of a lanyard it serves as a transition from one

type of braid or sinnet to another. In the photo you can see t wo MWK knots separating

French sinnet (on the lef t) f rom the braids with the Star-knot Button and then again

separating the braids from the continuing of the Half-round sinnet on the right. This

tutorial with step- by-step photos should guide you to a very successful result.

Tools and techniques:

Several tools and techniques are going to help you to tie t his knot successfully. I use

two kinds of pliers as the key tools. The smaller blue- handled pair I use f or both

making the space or pathway for another strand as youll see below and sometimes

for t ightening a knots individual strands. The parallel-jaw pliers I use exclusively for

this knot because it helps the internal guts of the knot to fit bett er together and tighten

up as youll see below. You must make sure any such tool is eithe r

cleaned met iculously or used only for t his task. Other tools may

serve the same purposes use what youre most comfortable with.

I use a Constrictor knot to hold any part of knot and lanyard work temporarily. So, for

example, when the braids above are complete and the second MWK needs t o be

added, I tie a constrictor around both braids to hold them securely. The following

photos show the constrictor in three phases.

Basically it is a clove hitch with an overhand knot under one strand. The first photo

shows the clove hitch;

The second shows the overhand knot tied underneath;

The next one shows the knot partially snugged up; youll need to t ighten it so its neat

and the strands are close together.

When in use for t he MWK make sure it is snug you dont want it slipping before you

re ready!

Finally Ive found there are a f ew *Secrets* that will help you tie t his knot much more

successfully. Ill indicate those below with aste risks so youll know to pay special

attention.
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Notice how the strands are being managed those already knotted are on the right,

those still to go on the left .

3. Now 4, 5, 6 ~

Now it starts to get a bit more complicated. The photo on the right shows the

beginning of the fourth knot you can see the space waiting for the strand here ,

then its in place in the second photo be low on the right.

FIRST PHOTO

SECOND PHOTO

The strand goes around the back like the others and now we have to get it up through

the three existing strands and its own loop. Here I use the small pliers see the third

photo, and note t hat any similar tool will do.

THIRD PHOTO

*Its important to count carefully*

Did you notice the second *secret *? I count down from the new loop at the top right

we need t o go under four t he three strands weve kept on the right to remember t henumber of knots already tied and the new one. As they say in carpentry, Measure

or count twice!

The fourth strand is now in the space made by the pliers in the photo on the right.

As you do the same for t he f ifth and sixth strands you may find youll need t o make t he

path and run your strand up first under the previous wraps, then in a second shot

under its own loop.

I find somet imes the new loop seems too far to the right to get all in one t ry.

4. Fairing up ~

So here , all knots have been tied its still a bit loose and its time for a quality control

check.

Look all around to see that everything is in place. In the photo you can see one wrap

thats not. It needs to be moved over and up to be in the right spot.

*Snugging slowly*

I use my finger nail to hold the top on one knot while Im snugging slightly each strand

to even them all up.

Then I use my thumb to hold the knot while I snug slightly one strand at t ime all

around we need t o leave it a bit loose but with all knots and strands looking the

same.

Also look from the top down to be sure all strands coming out look right. If not , this is

the time to correct perhaps by pulling one strand out and starting that one over. Its

not hard to miss one loop when youre going under with the 4th, 5th or 6th strands. At

times Ive had to start the whole t hing over!


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Your knot should look like this.

Now were re ady to move the knot into position.

5. Moving down ~

So now we have t o move the knot down theres a space above the constrictor, then

there will be a small sect ion of slack to t ake up once the constrictor is removed.

*Pump-push*

Ive found this technique to be very eff ect ive in get ting this knot to where we want it to

be.

In the photo on the right, Ive t aken the knot above, held all six strands in one hand and

the constrictor (or below) in my other and done what I call a series of small pump-

push movement s. Notice the knot is down to the const rictor and much looser.

So now it needs to be snugged up again using the technique discussed in step 4

above. Do it gently and with finger nail or thumb tighten one strand at a time. I go

around clockwise once then counterclockwise once pulling slightly on each strand.

The slightly is key to get ting this right tightening one strand too much

at this stage knocks the whole knot of f.

Then remove the constrictor and repeat this whole procedure gently and slowly.

When the knot is in the posit ion you are happy with no slack and looking good

coming out of the braids we starte d with, you are ready for t he f inal step.

At this point, your knot should look like this one.

6. Finishing ~

The final tightening is just like weve been doing with the *secret* techniques weve

bee n using: *slowly* and *slightly* one strand at a time.

*Hold the barrel*

Again I hold the whole knot bet ween my thumb and forefinger while tighte ning each

strand.

Heres another, sort of side view.

*Shape the knot*

The next technique Ive found very ef fective is to shape the knot as I tighten. I use the

parallel jaw pliers because they are the right size and make it easy. Riggers working

with larger knots of diff erent t ypes use wooden hammers. You could use a small

hammer here if you like just make sure as you drag it out of the tool bin that it s

clean!

So go around and around the knot with t he pliers or a hammer gently squeez ing or

hammering. Then snug all strands again going first clockwise, the n squeezing or

hammering, then counterclockwise.

Repeat , repeat , repeat until its hard and tight.


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Re-t ighten as necessary if this produces any additional

slack in the knot: The MWK's beauty is in the tight spiral

it produces.

Congratulations! Were done! Some like to

leave t he barrel round; others like t o make it

oval you can flatte n it a bit with the pliers or

a hammer.

I hope t his tutorial has been easy to read and follow. If not,

or if you have any questions on it, please fe el fre e to email

Vince and he'll re lay the questions / comments to me.

Charles T. Wilson, Sept 2010

San Francisco, CA

The Six strandMatthew Walker Knot

Courtesy ofMr. Charles T. WilsonSan Francisco CA

Last updated 09-22-2010

Click on anypicture to bring

up a larger

version!

The Matthew Walker knot has defied me for longer than many of you have been breathing. I've had

countless people t ry to

show it to me, send me descriptions and otherwise drill the making into my pea-sized brain,and

finally, Charles T. Wilson, out

there on the Lef t Coast, has succeeded. Herewith his writeup and photography on doing the

Matthew Walker in a

six-stranded version.

Once you get this

one down, you will be able to do this knot in any number of strands.

As in all of my tutorials, clicking on the picture beside the t ext will give you a larger shot for more

detailed examination.

Bonne chance!

Vince
http://www.frayedknotarts.com/email.html


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All content this page 2004-2011Charles T. Wilson & Frayed Knot Arts.

All rights reserved.Reproduction or use prohibited without

our prior written permission.

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the six strand matthew walker knot

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