Beginner · Knot guide

Lark's Head Knot

How Every Project Starts. The Lark's Head is the mounting knot — it is how cords get attached to a dowel, ring, branch, or anchor cord. It is fast, secure, and almost impossible to mess up.

How to tie it

1 Why this knot matters
The Lark's Head is the mounting knot — it is how cords get attached to a dowel, ring, branch, or anchor cord. It is fast, secure, and almost impossible to mess up. Take five minutes to practice it on scrap cord before you start any project that uses it — a clean version of this knot will visibly elevate your finished piece, and a sloppy one will pull the whole project down with it.
2 Step 1
Fold one cord in half so the loop is at the top.
3 Step 2
Hold the dowel horizontally in front of you and lay the loop OVER the back of the dowel.
4 Step 3
Bring the loop forward over the top of the dowel toward you.
5 Step 4
Pull both cord tails up through the loop and downward.
6 Step 5
Snug the knot against the dowel. The two tails should hang evenly.
7 Step 6
Mount the rest of the cords identically, working outward from the center.
8 Common mistakes
The two most common ways this knot goes wrong: inconsistent tension between knots, and accidentally swapping which cord plays which role. Mark your working cords with a piece of tape until the muscle memory takes over. After a dozen practice repetitions on scrap cord, your hands will know what to do without looking.
9 Where to use it next
Once you have this knot down, every pattern on StitchVault that lists it in its Knots section will feel approachable. Start small — try it in a keychain or coaster project — before scaling up to a wall hanging or curtain. The knot itself is identical at any scale; only the cord length and patience required change.