Knot by Knot: Our Bracelet Collection | Odd Cod Studio
By Michele Cobban Barden | Notes from the Coastal Studio
We make four bracelets. Each one is different, and the differences are worth explaining because they’re not just about price. They’re about the knot, the material, and how much time goes into each one.
Gary and I both trained in marlinspike seamanship and are members of the International Guild of Knot Tyers, North America chapter. That’s where all of this comes from. Here’s how it breaks down.
Sailor’s Knot Bracelet, $10
This is a Turk’s Head knot tied in cotton line. It’s the bracelet most people pick up first, and it’s been our most popular piece since we started making them.
Cotton shrinks a little when it gets wet, so the bracelet fits tighter over time and tends to stay put. We always tell people to leave about an inch of room when buying it dry.
Available in five solid colorways and a selection of stripes. Wear all summer. Every summer.
Adjustable Sailor’s Bracelet, $14
Made from the same cotton rope as the Sailor’s Knot Bracelet but in a smaller diameter, with a sliding knot closure instead of a fixed size. Adjustable fit, no sizing guesswork. Put it on, take it off. Very summer.
Available in five solid colorways: Natural, Harbor Deep, Mariner Green, Lobster Buoy, and Sea Salt.
Carrick Bend Bracelet, Coming Soon
The Carrick Bend is a different knot with a flat, interlocking structure that looks distinct from the Turk’s Head. This one is made from paracord and will close with a spring clasp rather than a knot closure. We’re finishing the design now. More to come.
Mariner’s Shackle, $24
This one is made from paracord, whipped at each end with waxed twine, and finished with a solid brass shackle in natural brass or nickel-plated.
The whipping is what most people ask about when they pick it up. It’s a finishing technique where you wrap the line tightly at the end to secure it and keep it from unraveling. It has to be done by hand, and it has to be done carefully. People don’t always know what they’re looking at, but they can tell it took time.
There’s a trick to putting it on. The shackle has a smooth side and a threaded side — start with the threaded side facing your palm, insert the pin smooth to threaded, screw tight, and seat the loop on the pin. We show everyone at the table the first time.
Find the Full Collection
All four bracelets are made by hand in our North Shore studio. You can shop online or find us at a market this summer.