How to Tie the Staigex Knot

Some people who make knotwork for fun use the invented word staigex for a particular flat knot. It is formed from one cord crossing itself six times, and when it is drawn tight it takes on a roughly hexagonal outline around a small gap in the middle. The label is new and informal, not the name of a traditional knot.

The main reason crafters like the staigex is its low profile. Instead of puffing up into a lump, it stays close to flat, which makes it practical for things that get handled or carried every day.

Forming the Pattern

Hold the cord so the long, unused part hangs to the left. Make an overhand loop near the middle, then bring the free end around to create a second loop that overlaps the first. Thread the free end through the pattern in a strict alternation, passing over one strand and under the next, until it has gone through six crossings and comes to rest alongside its starting point.

Do not worry if it looks messy now. The knot gains its shape only after the slack is worked out.

Spotting Mistakes Early

Most failed attempts come from a single broken alternation. Somewhere along the route the cord passes over two strands in a row, or under two, and the whole structure loses its grip. Before you pull anything tight, run your eye along the path and look for any place where the rhythm stumbles. If you find one, back the free end out to that point and thread it again.

Loop size is the other thing to watch. When one loop is noticeably bigger than the rest, the finished staigex will have a stretched side that never quite matches its neighbors. Adjust the loops so they look about equal while the cord is still slack. Laying the pattern on a flat surface instead of holding it in the air makes both checks much easier, especially with slippery cord.

Selecting a Cord

Different cords give the knot very different personalities.

• Round leather lace produces a rustic look for bag charms.
• Thin polyester cord works for small earrings or pendants.
• Thick cotton rope makes a large knot suitable as a coaster or trivet.
• Hemp twine has a natural texture that grips well while tightening.
• Two cords of contrasting color, tied together, create a two-tone staigex.

Longer or thicker cord means more to manage, so practice on something medium weight before trying large pieces.

Snugging Up and Using the Knot

Tighten in stages. Start at one end and follow the path of the cord through the knot, removing a bit of slack at each crossing. Then repeat the pass. Rushing tends to pull one side larger than the others, and evening it out again is harder than going slowly the first time.

When the six sides look balanced, cut the tails and secure them, either by heat-sealing synthetic cord or tucking and gluing natural fiber. The finished staigex can serve as a bag charm, a decoration on a gift package, or the centerpiece of a bracelet. Larger versions in heavy rope make sturdy, flat mats for a kitchen table. Once the staigex pattern is in your hands, it ties quickly, and you may find yourself making them while watching a movie.