| French Sennit by BM2 Jack Cross (USN Ret) |
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| Click on ANY picture to see a larger version: Small pictures here are to allow dial-up customers easy access |
| Last updated 2006-12-11 |
The French 17-strand sennit produces a lovely "french twist" in the pattern of the sennit and I thank Mr. Cross for having
contributed the tutorial for us. You can see some more of his work HERE.
contributed the tutorial for us. You can see some more of his work HERE.
| BACK FRONT |
TUTORIAL FOR 17 STRAND FRENCH SENNIT BOSUN LANARD
Cut eight pieces of cord 8 ft long and one 4 ft.
“Middle” the 8ft length. This gives us 16 strands at 48”. The single 4 ft strand will
make the 17th. strand.
(You want to treat the ends of the cord to keep them from fraying out while working. I
use CyanoAcrylate (super Glue) but be sure you get the THIN or FAST-SETTING type
with the sort of bottle with a nozzle so you can apply only a small quantity to the line.
Always work over a piece of scrap (carpet, cardboard, whatever) when applying CA
to line... it has a tendency to drip off the end and then ‘someone’ is gonna be all over
you for ruining the carpet/floor/her life... caution is advised!... ed)
If using Nylon burn the loose ends. When starting and if using nylon carefully fuse
(or tie) the strands together about 5 inches down from the start. If using cotton or
similar cord seize the strands by wrapping with a small diameter cord.. The
purpose of the extra cord at the beginning is to give you something to work with
when bringing the two ends together after you finish your neckpiece.
Secure the strands to a fixed object then separate the cords with a group of ten on
one side and seven on the other. (see fig 1) Starting with the ten side on the left (or
right...doesn’t matter... ed.) side, plait the three outboard lines over two and under
five (See figs 2 & 3). Now you have ten strands on the right and seven on the left
(see fig 4). Reverse the plaiting, three over two and under five. Continue this way
until you get the length of the Lanyard to fit over your head.
Be careful to keep the seven and ten groups separated or you will have to undo
several plaits to figure out where you went wrong. Also about every five plaits
separate the loose hanging cords to keep them from being tangled. If using nylon
you can usually shake the cords and pull a couple out from the tangled mess. It is
pretty easy to do this but if you make too many plaits without un-tangling the loose
ends, it is much more difficult. When doing this make sure you keep the part you
are working with separated. After you get the hang of it, you should be able to finish
this section in an hour or less.
(If you’re in the Military, active or reserve, be sure the lanyard is large enough to put on
and take off without disturbing your cover! I can’t tell you the number of times some
06+ or CPO asked me to take it off so they could look at mine... ed.)
When you get to the desired length of the neckpiece of the lanyard, bring the two
ends of the plaited lanyard together. Make sure you keep the ten and seven groups
of strands separated until you tie the ends together.
Using one of the loose strands wrap the two ends together. This part will later be
covered with a Turks head so don't make the wrap too long. Cut off close to the
wrap the 17 loose strands you started with ( the extra 5 inches) Take eight of the
long loose ends ( four from each outside edge ) and get them out of the way for
now. With the other nine strands that are now in the middle, bundle eight for a core
and with the other strand make continuous half hitches around it. (see pic below)
Do this for about 4 inches to make your strop (instead of the half hitches you could
substitute a round or square plait if you like). Cut off the eight strands that you
placed out of the way. On the end you are working with cut of two of the nine
strands. If using nylon burn the loose ends. Take one of the seven remaining
strands and place it over a chair or something to get it out of your way for now. With
the remaining six strands make a simple over and under plait in groups of two over
two continuous reversing the process until you achieve about an eight-inch length.
(see pic below) Bring the loose ends together at the starting point where the half
hitch section ends and wrap them together with the loose single strand that you
had gotten out of your way. Cut off all the extra loose ends. Where the sections
come together will require Turks heads to cover the wraps.
If you don't want to make a large Turks head with several bights, use a slightly
larger cord and chase it around four of five times. How you end it off is up to you.
(See also Cbrew’s 9 and 17 strand double-braided lanyard tutorials for more ideas on
finishing off the lanyards. ed.)
Line usage: if making a belt or long sennit for a frame, allow 1.5:1 on the cut - 12"
raw line will give you about 8" - 9" of sennit. Experiment with this!
Cut eight pieces of cord 8 ft long and one 4 ft.
“Middle” the 8ft length. This gives us 16 strands at 48”. The single 4 ft strand will
make the 17th. strand.
(You want to treat the ends of the cord to keep them from fraying out while working. I
use CyanoAcrylate (super Glue) but be sure you get the THIN or FAST-SETTING type
with the sort of bottle with a nozzle so you can apply only a small quantity to the line.
Always work over a piece of scrap (carpet, cardboard, whatever) when applying CA
to line... it has a tendency to drip off the end and then ‘someone’ is gonna be all over
you for ruining the carpet/floor/her life... caution is advised!... ed)
If using Nylon burn the loose ends. When starting and if using nylon carefully fuse
(or tie) the strands together about 5 inches down from the start. If using cotton or
similar cord seize the strands by wrapping with a small diameter cord.. The
purpose of the extra cord at the beginning is to give you something to work with
when bringing the two ends together after you finish your neckpiece.
Secure the strands to a fixed object then separate the cords with a group of ten on
one side and seven on the other. (see fig 1) Starting with the ten side on the left (or
right...doesn’t matter... ed.) side, plait the three outboard lines over two and under
five (See figs 2 & 3). Now you have ten strands on the right and seven on the left
(see fig 4). Reverse the plaiting, three over two and under five. Continue this way
until you get the length of the Lanyard to fit over your head.
Be careful to keep the seven and ten groups separated or you will have to undo
several plaits to figure out where you went wrong. Also about every five plaits
separate the loose hanging cords to keep them from being tangled. If using nylon
you can usually shake the cords and pull a couple out from the tangled mess. It is
pretty easy to do this but if you make too many plaits without un-tangling the loose
ends, it is much more difficult. When doing this make sure you keep the part you
are working with separated. After you get the hang of it, you should be able to finish
this section in an hour or less.
(If you’re in the Military, active or reserve, be sure the lanyard is large enough to put on
and take off without disturbing your cover! I can’t tell you the number of times some
06+ or CPO asked me to take it off so they could look at mine... ed.)
When you get to the desired length of the neckpiece of the lanyard, bring the two
ends of the plaited lanyard together. Make sure you keep the ten and seven groups
of strands separated until you tie the ends together.
Using one of the loose strands wrap the two ends together. This part will later be
covered with a Turks head so don't make the wrap too long. Cut off close to the
wrap the 17 loose strands you started with ( the extra 5 inches) Take eight of the
long loose ends ( four from each outside edge ) and get them out of the way for
now. With the other nine strands that are now in the middle, bundle eight for a core
and with the other strand make continuous half hitches around it. (see pic below)
Do this for about 4 inches to make your strop (instead of the half hitches you could
substitute a round or square plait if you like). Cut off the eight strands that you
placed out of the way. On the end you are working with cut of two of the nine
strands. If using nylon burn the loose ends. Take one of the seven remaining
strands and place it over a chair or something to get it out of your way for now. With
the remaining six strands make a simple over and under plait in groups of two over
two continuous reversing the process until you achieve about an eight-inch length.
(see pic below) Bring the loose ends together at the starting point where the half
hitch section ends and wrap them together with the loose single strand that you
had gotten out of your way. Cut off all the extra loose ends. Where the sections
come together will require Turks heads to cover the wraps.
If you don't want to make a large Turks head with several bights, use a slightly
larger cord and chase it around four of five times. How you end it off is up to you.
(See also Cbrew’s 9 and 17 strand double-braided lanyard tutorials for more ideas on
finishing off the lanyards. ed.)
Line usage: if making a belt or long sennit for a frame, allow 1.5:1 on the cut - 12"
raw line will give you about 8" - 9" of sennit. Experiment with this!
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Variation to the above instructions: when you first lay up your lines, cut 17 to 50" length, clamp all 17 once assembled at the
midpoint, then work from the center out on both legs... this will give you a "mirror image" braid on both sides. Cover the start
point with another turkshead or fancy wrap. Experiment with this and you'll see a very nice lanyard emerging! ed.)
Here's one I did: mirrored, with an "over-two" hitching at the join, and star knots at the ends of the strop. The "Over Two" took
the most time to do!
midpoint, then work from the center out on both legs... this will give you a "mirror image" braid on both sides. Cover the start
point with another turkshead or fancy wrap. Experiment with this and you'll see a very nice lanyard emerging! ed.)
Here's one I did: mirrored, with an "over-two" hitching at the join, and star knots at the ends of the strop. The "Over Two" took
the most time to do!
| If YOU would like to contribute a tutorial on fancy knotting / braiding / sennits, please contact me! We'd love to have it up on the site! |
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Don Wright has a few thoughts on doing the mirrored verzion of the French Sennit:
Vince, here is a couple of pics of the center/reversing section of the 17 strand french sennit lanyard.
The instructions for creating this joint are the same as the ones for the regular 17 strand double braid
sennit. Once you get to the desired length from the center point, go back and start braiding in the
other direction, being sure that you've got the "French" side up. Where you start again makes a
perfect X where the ridge strands cross over in front and a 2 strand layer one time in back. You could
almost leave it without a cover knot as the "X" looks real neat. I just love the way the French sennit
looks and am going to try making a belt out of it.
Vince, here is a couple of pics of the center/reversing section of the 17 strand french sennit lanyard.
The instructions for creating this joint are the same as the ones for the regular 17 strand double braid
sennit. Once you get to the desired length from the center point, go back and start braiding in the
other direction, being sure that you've got the "French" side up. Where you start again makes a
perfect X where the ridge strands cross over in front and a 2 strand layer one time in back. You could
almost leave it without a cover knot as the "X" looks real neat. I just love the way the French sennit
looks and am going to try making a belt out of it.
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