How to Make a Woven Woggle

This is a page dedicated to the construction of 'woggles'. A woggle is basically any ring-like object that is used for holding a Scouts' necker on. There are lots of types of woggle from simple metal bands to twisted leather. The type this page describes is the woven cord woggle which requires some work to create, but the end effect is worth it. There are many other possible uses for this amazing object, some of which are listed below. But first, how to make a woggle.


Step 1

First you need to get yourself some cord and a stick to work it on. What cord you use depends on how many strands you want the end product to have and how easy you want it to be. As a guide, the thicker the cord, the less strands you can have and the harder it becomes. I would get some cord that is quite thick, but not too thick. As for the stick, the best ever one you can use is a broom stick. Make sure you pick one that has no obstructions on one end, so it is possible to remove the woggle when you have finished it.



Step 2

To start off, lay the rope over the stick, with the end going over to the right, as shown.
I would just like to add, that the pictures may show the woggle to be pulled tight, but this isn't necessary for you to do, it might make it harder in fact. It is only to make the diagrams more readable. Similarly, the amount of end that is shown isn't as much as you should have, you need lots more free end.
Then take the end and pass it behind the stick to the right and over the original length of rope to form a cross.



Step 3

This is a bit more complicated, but still easy. You should have the end on the left hand side, so take it down behind the stick and underneath the long end. Now take it over the bottom right loop and under the upper right loop. If this isn't every clear, take a look at the picture which should help you.



Step 4

So it should look a bit like this now. The diagram is usually a pretty good representation of this stage, so now you should tighten it all up a bit. Don't tighten it too much, just enough to make it nice and tidy and easy to use.



Step 5

This is as much as we can do from this view, so now manoeuvre the stick around the other way so you are looking at the back. After a while, you won't need to do this, just twist the stick a bit.



Step 6

Now this bit is rather difficult to explain. Again, if you don't understand, just take a bit of time studying the picture. You need to carfully move the left hand strand under the right hand strand. This needs to be done so that they form a loop in the middle, as shown on the next picture.



Step 7

I'm afraid that this is another difficult step. The diagram is a bit difficult to follow as well (just think what it was like when it was only two colours!) but anyway here goes... Basically you just need to weave the free end through the other strands. The thing to take most notice of is that any strand in the woggle always goes under - over - under - over and so on. if you have a strand that doesn't, well you'll need to try again. If you suffer some difficulties here then try going back one step, you might have crossed the strands in the wrong way.



Step 8

Now all you need to do is continue repeating step 7 until you reach the stage where the free end joins up with the long end, as shown. This will require you to do step 7 once more (I think) and then a natural loop is formed. You should follow this through to where the long end is.
Congratulations! You have now completed a single strand woggle.



Step 9

Personally, I think that the one strand woggles don't look all that good. To continue to multiple strand woggles, all you need to do is to keep the free end following the long end. If you run out of rope, you can always work backwards with the long end. This is a picture of a two strand woggle.



Step 10

To finish your woggle off, you need to finish the free end at the start of the long end. This means that all of the strands will be the same number. You should pass both of the ends under the same loop and then glue them under there. When the glue is set, you can cut off the ends.


Uses of a Woggle

Well, obviously, if you are a member of the Scouting movement then you can use one to clasp your necker. Women might want to use one for a scarf in a similar way.
With a number of identical woggles you have a set of napkin rings. If you feel particularly enthusiastic then you could create an entire handle cover for something with numerous woggles. Perhaps not for a broom though. You could try using a very thing string to make a ring for someones' finger.

I can't really think of any other uses for a woggle, if you can then please e-mail me at roger@atchoo.org and I will include them in this page.


Copyright Roger Light 1997-2001