In need of some advise

[talkingcabbage]

So, I haven't been on here in a while because of some "honey-do's" and other projects, but I'm ready to get back on a bow I started a couple months ago.  

You may remember a while back I posted some pics of an osage stave I had started working down.  Well, it's been inside now for long enough and it's ready to continue working.  George T. and Pat B. gave me some good advise for starting to rough the stave out, since it had a few knots and I have little experience working around them. (I've mostly done board bows and knot-free self-bows from white wood).  

Anyway, here's pics of the stave again:

These two are of the same knot, just one side then the other
 

 

These two are of the knot on the other limb, first the belly side then the back.
 

 

My main question is this:  When rasping the belly to floor tiller, do I want to take long even strokes the full length of the limb, or do I want to work around the knots for now?  I have a tillering gizmo, but I'm not sure it's gonna do me much good on this stave.

Any an all advise is much appreciated.  Thanks to all who reply!

[John Scifres]

Where does the knot fall in the limb?

[talkingcabbage]

Both of the knots are right about mid limb.  One is a little farther toward the tip, but pretty much in the middle.

[Tom Leemans]

That first pic scares me. It looks like there is a pin knot or something running from the big knot out to the edge of the limb. Maybe it's just the photo, but it looks like something that will blow.

[Pat B]

Get your limbs to floor tiller then show more pics. Leave the knots a little proud both on the belly and sides. Like Tom said, the first pic is a bit scarry.

[talkingcabbage]

Can do guys, thanks.  Tom - I'm not totally sure what that thing is myself.  Haven't seen anything quite like it before.  I'm just gonna take it easy and see how it bends.  I've got a half-dozen more chunks to split into staves, so I'm not completely worried.  I mostly just want to get some practice around the not-so-clean bow staves.

[DVSHUNTER]

was this stave a belly split stave? That first picture looks almost as if a limb grew across the grain or something. That is different whatever it is.  I always enjoys working on challenging staves. Who wants a normal bow anyway right? :-)