For those who don’t know, a fender is a bumper used mainly on boats to keep the boat from being damaged from bumping into objects.
While this isn’t an actual fender, it serves as a great decorative keychain.

Step 1: SUPPLIES

3- Strands of paracord that are 40 inches long will create a keychain that is four inches tall (loop included)
Scissors (any instrument that will cut the cord will work)
Lighter
Ruler or Tape Measure (I prefer to use a yardstick)
Masking Tape (any tape that will stick and hold to the paracord)

Step 2: BEGINNING THE LOOP

If you want to create a keychain that is exactly like the one shown, the loop will need to be 3½ inches long once braided and will require 4½ inches of cord to create the loop.

Gather the three strands together and then measure from one end down to 17¾ inches.

Hold the three strands at the 17¾ point, and then grab a strip of tape to secure the paracord together (make sure to place the tape edge against the 17¾ point).

Step 3: BRAIDING THE LOOP

To start braiding, bring the outermost right-hand strand over the strand to its left.

Then bring the outermost left-hand strand over the strand to its right.

Continue this process of right-to-left until the braid length is 3½ inches long and then tape the strands together to hold them in place at the point you just measured.

Note: to show the directions clearly, I braided the loop loosely, to make a nice looking loop you will need to braid the strands together much tighter than shown.

Step 4: FINISHING THE LOOP

Bring both taped ends together forming a loop; secure them together with a strip of tape.

From the top of the strip of tape (the loop end), measure down 2¼ inches and then secure the strands with tape at that point.

Step 5: TYING THE CROWN SINNET

The knot used to tie the fender is called a Crown Sinnet and can make a great looking decorative design to wrap objects in paracord.

I. From the bottom of the tape, bring the strands back up towards the loop.

II. To tie the Crown Sinnet, make a backward “C” from each strand laying each strand on top of its neighbor to the left.

III. Pull the strands tight.

IV. Repeat the same procedure laying each strand on top of its neighbor to the left.

V. Pull the strands tight.

VI. Continue as with the previous steps laying each strand on top of the strand to the left.

VII. Pull the strands tight.

VIII. Continue these steps until you reach the top of the tape

Step 6: TYING THE FOOTROPE KNOT

You can finish the fender a few different ways, but with this example I chose to tie a Footrope Knot. Captain Charles Smith said this about tying the knot: “First a Crown, then a Wall, Tuck Up, and that’s all”.

Start tying the Footrope Knot by tying a Wall Knot. It’s the same as a Crown except instead of going on top of its neighbor, it goes under it.

Once you’ve tied the Wall Knot you need to finish the knot off by tucking the strand up and behind the strands as shown with the arrow.

Keep tucking each strand until you’ve tucked every strand.

Step 7: FINISHING THE FENDER

To finish the fender you will need to remove the remainder of the excess strands.

Use the scissors to trim the excess paracord as close as possible to the inner part of the Footrope Knot.

Now take a lighter and singe the ends of the paracord strands. Continue trimming and singing each strand until every strand is complete.

NOTE:
I took great care to make this tutorial as clear and easy to follow as possible, but if you get stuck on something please leave a comment and I will try to help as soon as possible.

For more decorative paracord knot designs and tutorials, visit my blog.