While making blocks I periodically make a rope grommet that just isn’t quite the right size. Instead of undoing them and starting over, I thought I would turn some into simple keychains.

I like their simple color pallet of rope, black seizing and brass thimble. Each material has its own distinct texture. Putting these together involves some of the simple marlinspike skills that were once common on square rigged ships and traditional wooden boats, but which most of us rarely encounter today. In this small object you can carry an example of those skills with you wherever you go.

They consisting of the rope grommet( a continuous 3 strand loop of rope made from a single strand unwound from a length of rope), with a brass thimble seized into one end with a round seizing of tarred seine twine.

These are made with 4mm Hempex, tared seine twine, and one of my 1/2” brass thimbles. A bronze tone keychain ring nicely complements the other materials.