it looks bad in photos, but even worse in person. In person you can see a lump at the end of the knot where it rode up and tightened weird.
After hours of fighting, trying different knots, and wondering if that pretty curb bit was really worth all this trouble, I had an idea. I deal the ends of my braid with a lighter so it's nice and secure, why couldn't I stick a hot needle through that part?
So I tried it, fully expecting it to not work. Much to my surprise and delight, it did work like it was supposed to and it was sturdy.
I've dubbed this way of holding knots in place the Excalibur method, because why not.;)