I have put coachwhipping, turk's head knots, underhand round turn hitiching, spanish hitching, grafting et al on knives. There is just about nothing that goes over a full size handle without becoming too bulky. I have a very cheap belt sander and can reshape handles in a hurry, but you could do it with files and wood rasps (inexpensive tools). As Patrick says, some knots will want to slide, however tightly made. I have used, with pretty good success: pre-coat with shelac, pre coat with varnish (with these two I have the knot pre-tied and work it while the handle is tacky and then re-apply the same finish over the completed knot). I have also "parceled" the handle with "friction tape" (the old fashiond "electrical tape" with a cloth tape impreganted with sticky tar-like stuff) and then tied the knot. I have tied the knot on a slippery handle and then soaked the whole mess in shellac or varnish, both effectivly "gluing" the knot to the handle.
In short the whole world is open to you and almost anything will work fine.
I love the smell of pine tar so I use "boat soup" or "black varnish" of 1/3 boiled oil, 1/3 pine tar (stockholm)/1/3 pine turpentine or subsitute spar varnish for the oil. Both make a really nice handle and sheath.
The whole success or failure depends on making (or reducing) the handle to a size to accept the covering "gracefully". The older my hands get the bigger the handles can be and still feel good. I have a knife called the "Pixie"..... Now I hold it between thumb and forefinger..... one time could close the whole hand on it! Merry Christmas!