Handmade Dog Leashes and Nautical Rope Knots | Charleston, SC

The Knot Guy

Sailor Craft Knots is a one-person maker business based in Charleston, South Carolina. Every dog leash, key fob, and rope knot product is handmade by Keith Hudson, a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers since 1992 with over 40 years of experience working with marine-grade rope and line.

Each leash is hand-tied using the same double braid nylon and Dacron line used on nautical dock lines, built for strength, durability, and a lifetime of daily use. These are not mass-produced products, and we partner with select boutique pet supply stores.

Find us in person every weekend at the markets, Saturdays: Sea Island Farmers Market, 2024 Academy Drive, Johns Island, SC from 9:30AM to 1:30PM and Sundays: Sunday Brunch Farmers Market, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston, SC from 11:00AM to 3:00PM

We also ship nationwide. Orders ship via USPS Priority Mail to anywhere in the United States and Canada

handmade bookends

For Your House

Handmade, high quality Monkeys’ Fist

What we make:

  • Handmade dog leashes in multiple styles and lengths

  • Monkey's Fist key fobs and door stops

  • Turk's Head bracelets and zipper pulls

  • Custom rope knot orders welcome

If you are looking for a handmade dog leash built to last, made by someone who has been tying maritime knots for four decades, you are in the right place.

Keith at a New England Fishing Port.

The Knot Guy in Charleston, SC

I started tying knots in 1985 while working on offshore oil rigs in Alaska. A few of the work crew started making Monkeys Fist key fobs and before you knew it, we were trying to outdo each other with all kinds of natural knots and braids. This was a wonderful way to pass the time while on fire watch or when the seas were too rough to work on deck.  At home in Anchorage, I meet with Dan Callahan and we found ourselves fumbling with a piece of cord while all the time making key fobs, zipper pulls, Star Knots and Turk’s head bracelets. After 20 years in Alaska, I have relocated to Charleston, South Carolina; drawn to the Lowcountry by its maritime history and scenic coastline. I have been a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers UK since 1992. I rejoined the North America Branch in 2022.