Decorative knots, a rope and a diagram.
Monkey fists, Turk's heads and lanyards from a length of cord. The cheapest craft on this whole site.
What it is like
Decorative knotting is what sailors did with spare rope and spare time: handles, mats, lanyards and bell pulls built from a few repeating moves. It needs no tools at all for the first dozen knots.
It is a good first hobby for people who are not sure they want one. The cost is a single length of cord, and the first finished piece takes an evening.
Indoors or out · Solo, With kids
Is it for you?
You will probably love it if
- You want something for restless hands
- You like puzzles with a physical answer
- You want a hobby that works on a train
Maybe not, if
- Following diagrams frustrates you
- You want large, showy projects
- Fine finger work is painful
The starter kit - $11
- Cotton or nylon cord, 100 ftThree to five millimeters thick is easiest to read and to untie$11
- Scissors and a lighterTo cut cord and seal nylon ends; most homes have bothFree
- Everything you need to beginAbout $3 a month after that$11
Typical US prices for entry-level gear, rounded. Last checked October 2026. How we get the numbers
Your first project: a monkey fist key fob
Three turns of cord around two fingers.
Three more turns around the first set, at right angles.
Three final turns through the middle, around the second set.
Work the slack out one strand at a time until the ball is firm, then trim and seal the end.
Why people quit
- Slippery cordShiny paracord makes loose knots hard to hold. Learn on matte cotton.
- Tightening too fastDecorative knots are dressed strand by strand, not yanked.
- Diagrams that skip stepsUse an animated or step-photo source for the first few.
How it compares
| Decorative knots | Whittling | Basket weaving | Leathercraft | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start cost | $11 | $52 | $45 | $119 |
| Each month | $3 | $5 | $10 | $20 |
| Space | Your lap | A chair | A table | A desk |
| Noise | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet | Low |
| First result | 1 evening | 1 evening | 1 weekend | 1 weekend |
| Mess | None | Shavings | Water and offcuts | Scraps and dye |