All Natural Owl

• Spiral Stitch
• Alternating V Patterns
• Alternating Square Knots (ASK)
• Larks Head Knot
• Double Half Hitch (DHH)
• Square Knot (SK)
• Wrapped Knot
• Square Knot Button

Preparation

• Cut 12 cords, each 6 yards long
• Cut 4 cords, each 3 yards long
• Cut 2 cords, each 24 inches long
• For the Eye Feathers, cut at least 20 cords, 5 inches long, along with any scraps you have at the end.

Step 1:  Prepare the ends with tape, glue or wax to prevent unraveling.  This is important, since most of the natural materials are formed by twisting the fibers, so they unravel easily.

Hanger

Step 2:  Fold the 3-yard cords in half, and mount them to a 3-inch ring with Larks Head knots. You will end up with 8 strands to work with.

Step 3:  Divide the cords into 2 groups of four. Tie a Spiral Stitch sennit measuring 12 inches, in each group.  These knots should have two working cords and two fillers.

Step 4:  Attach each strand to the driftwood you will use at the top of the All Natural Owl design.  The cords should be attached using Double Half Hitches. Place them directly under the Spiral Stitch sennits, close together. You need to leave room for the other cords.

Step 5:  Mount the twelve 6-yard cords to the central portion of the driftwood with REVERSE Larks Head knots, folding them in half in the process.  These will be used to make the All Natural Owl.

Design Tip: You can now push the cords from the hanger close to these strands, so they are all near the center of the driftwood.

Step 6: Tie a tight Barrel knot in the cords for the hanger ONLY, so they rest close to the driftwood. Make sure they are in the back where they can't be seen. Cut off any excess.

The Face

Step 7:  Mentally number the cords 1 thru 24 (left to right).  Tie the first row of Alternating Square Knots, using groups of four cords.  Two are working cords and two are fillers.They should rest just below the Larks Head knots. Fit them to the general shape of the driftwood, even if it curves. You can add space as needed to straighten out the next row.

Step 8: Tie five more rows of ASK as follows, creating a V pattern for the forehead of the All Natural Owl:

Step 9:  Mentally re-number the cords, moving left to right.  Direct cord 1 towards the center of the V shape, so it rests diagonally.  It should lie along the left edge of the ASK. Secure it so it’s taut.  Attach cords 2 thru 12 to it with Double Half Hitches.  Pull the knots tight, so the bar is close to the edge of the Square Knot pattern.

Step 10:  Direct cord 24 towards the center of the V shape, similar to what you did in the previous step, but on the right side.  Attach cords 23 thru 13 to it with DHH (in that order). 

Next, attach the left holding cord to the right one with a DHH.

Step 11:  Tie a Square Knot with the two holding cords along with one on either side of them (total of 4).  The fillers for this knot should be the holding cords, and it should rest directly under the point of the V design.

Step 12:  Mentally re-number the cords before you work on the eyes for the All Natural Owl.

Place a 3-inch ring on the left, just under cords 7 and 8. Attach cords 7 and 8 to the top of it, with DHH.  Attach cords 5 and 6 to the left edge of the ring.  Attach cords 9 and 10 to the right edge.  The DHH on the edges should be vertical, but the ones at the top will be horizontal.

Tie a sennit of SK with cords 1 - 4, so the last knot lines up with the bottom of the ring.

Repeat this process on the right side of the face, attaching cords 17 and 18 to the top of the ring.  Cords 15 and 16 should be attached to the left edge. Cords 19 and 20 should be on the right edge of the ring. The sennit is made with cords 21 - 24.

Step 13:  Slide a bead over cords 7 - 8 on the left, and onto 17 - 18 at the right. The eyes of the All Natural Owl should rest in the center of the rings.

Design Tip: In the images shown, the eyes are not beads, they are plastic and actually made for this type of project. You fit them between the two cords running through the center. They have washers that hold the eyes in place.

Step 15:  Mentally re-number the cords 1 - 24, to work on the remaining part of the face for the All Natural Owl. Move down to the area just below the rings.  Tie one row of Alternating Square Knots, using all the cords.

Step 16:  To make the beak for the All Natural Owl, use cords 11 thru 14 to tie one SK. Move down 1/2-inch and tie three more SK. Make the Square Knot Button by directing the ends into the space, which will cause the three SK to roll. Tie 1 SK below the button, to secure it.

Body and Wings

Step 18:  The next 5 rows of DHH need to be slanted diagonally, to form the "wings" of the All Natural Owl.

Be careful not to make the angles too sharp in the first 4 rows. The bars should be approximately 2 inches apart, at the left and right edges of the body. For the 5th row, you can make the V shaped design a little narrower. 

Row 1: Start by mentally re-numbering the cords 1 thru 24.  Locate cords 12 and 13, and crisscross them. Direct cord 13 to the left, as a holding cord. Attach cords 11 through 1 to it with DHH. Next, direct cord 12 to the right, attaching cords 14 - 24 to it.

Row 2:  Mentally re-number the cords again, including the previous holding cords, which are now at the edges. Repeat the directions for Row 1.

Rows 3 - 5: Repeat row 2.

Design Tip: The mental re-numbering ensures that you always use the two cords in the center of the All Natural Owl body.

Step 19: The lower body area of the All Natural Owl is next. The first knot you tie will be in the center, where the point of the V shape is located.

Mentally re-number the cords 1 - 24.

Row 1:  Tie 1 ASK with cords 11 thru 14

Row 2:  Tie 2 ASK with cords 9 - 12 and 13 - 16.

Row 3:  Make 3 ASK using cords 7 - 10, 11 - 14, and 15 - 18.

Row 4:  Make 4 ASK using cords 5 - 8, 9 - 12, 13 - 16, and 17 - 20.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Fringe and Eye Feathers

Step 20:  Hang the All Natural Owl by the ring at the top.  That will make it easier to complete the remaining steps. Bring all the cords together in two bundles of equal size. Select 2 - 4 cords from each bundle and pass them in front of the second piece of wood. Place the rest behind it.

Make a Wrapped Knot around each bundle, using a 24-inch cord. Trim off the excess, and save the scrap for the eye feathers.

Step 21:  Trim the ends so they are even.  Unravel each strand to form a wavy fringe, or brush the fibers to form a fluffed fringe.

Step 22:  To decorate the eyes, attach the 5-inch strands to the rings with reverse Larks Head knots.  You can add as many as you wish.  Unravel each cord, trimming them as needed.