I made the handle bigger so it didn't look as disproportional, what do you think?

I have completely changed the head to giver it more depth, I think it looks better but I'm not too sure :P

I'm not sure whether your interested but I thought I would post a picture of my finished Axe just so you could see how it turned out.

Thank you for all your Help Dave, I have got exactly the model I was trying to get thanks to you :)

I have it pretty much done however I was wondering how you got the object to be so smooth and curved and the edges, mine just looks square almost.
Thanks

I converted one of the edges of the helix to a line however it is still connected to the object and I cannot remove it from the object, what have I done wrong?
Thanks

It would be best if it was modeled but a displacement map might have to do, I didn't actually think to do that so I will have a go and see how it turns out.
Thanks for replying.

I am trying to create the effect of two pieces of thin cloth wrapping around a pole, the material is not my problem, what I am struggling with is actually creating the model to apply a material to....