Paracord Bracelet with Monkey Fist Button

I saw the paracord bracelet by Stormdrane a couple of months ago, and had to make some; one night, while insomniacking, I was inspired, and had an epiphany: why not make a paracord bracelet, using a Monkey fist and loop as a closure, instead of a buckle or button?
So, here we go: a paracord bracelet with a Monkey Fist knot acting as the button.

Step 1 Ingredients

-Approximately 7 to 8 feet of gutted paracord; more depending on your wrist size. I measured the ratio of cord to weave once, and promptly forgot it.
-A pair of scissors or sharp Swiss Army knife.
-A lighter to melt fraying ends.
-A marlin spike or similar pokey object, used when dressing the monkey fist knot; it should be as tight as possible.
-A skully bead, available at craft stores near you; all kinds are available online, too.
-Time: 2 hours for first attempt

Comments

[datamonk]

Strangely enough, I just found a site that sells nothing but 550 paracord AND skull beads. Is there a particular symbolism with the survival bracelet, the monkey fist and the skull bead? :)

http://www.paracordmaster.com/index.php/beads.html

[15zhangfra]

no, but paracord crafts are often paired with skull beads as decoration in lanyards and all sorts of things. as for why paracord and skull beads are used together, i have no idea.

[15zhangfra]

i haven't yet been able to make a monkeys fist knot as nice as i would like it to be, so instead i used a knife lanyard knot which is much easier to tie and has a nice pattern in it like a turks head (not as good as one though) and is fairly large.

[SuperCoPilot]

I'm doing alright until this step, then my knot gets really messed up, any tips?

[evilspacemonkey]

Unless you put something inside the knot to create some bulk, the knot is going to be a little messed up and not as nice as some of the larger monkey fists you will see. The whole idea to using this knot is to secure the bracelet.

[scistone]

go to this link: http://www.animatedknots.com/monkeysfist/index.php?Categ=decorative&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

[Pickles5000]

Very Detailed Instructions! Great site that I immediately bookmarked after seeing just this page.

[scistone]

I did too :D

[datamonk]

Awesome instructable, Tommi! I'm now on my fourth run through, almost ready to teach it to my kids.

[shadow wave rider]

where did you get the bead from

[EGT1984]

I think this is the hardest part, I always loose the right spot and the bracelet is too small.

[nail face]

if anyone is confused about the weave, you can go here for another tutorial http://theprepared.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=55

[clax1227]

why does it need to be gutted? I mean I've done plenty of bracelet's with the core in.

[shilohjim]

Great idea to use a button knot instead of a bought fastener. I have to wonder though, why not start with the loop and end with the monkey fist? BTW nice graphics showing the monkey fist tying.

[Tommi Potx]

It had never actually occurred to me to start with the loop. I don't think The monkey fist would tie well, as you need two running ends to tie it.

[starthorn]

Just a note, you don't need two running ends to tie a monkey fist.  You can tie a knot in the end of a rope, and then build a monkey fist around it.

However, I agree with another poster that they're very difficult to size out and get located right.  Every time I've done a rope project with a monkey fist, it was always easiest to tie that first, then do the rest of the tying.

[srilyk]

it's a good thing you didn't - anyone who's tied a monkey fist should know that they're a *pain* to try to get in some sort of exact position...

For extra weight (or size), you can also put a wooden bead or a steel ball in the monkey fist before tightening...

[Syncubus]

While I agree they can be fidgety to tie, in a specific location, I think it would be a slightly neater look for both the bracelet and the monkey fist. Start with a small turks-head knot or something in the center of your cord, bring the ends up, just as you did before for the loop, do the ladder weave back down, then tie your monkey fist knot around the turks head (using the turks head for the traditional 'filling' for the moneys fist. Also, beautiful pictures on this instructable! I can tell you took your time making it. Thank you for it!

[snickarn88]

thanks for the instructable! really nice to learn how to tie a cobra bracelet whitout buckle etc. as fastener. I tried to do it with two colors. was a bit tricky to get the colors symmetric in the monkey fist, but I'm still pleased with the end result.

Have a happy new year!

[embercity]

is there a way to make multiple colors?

[NicodemusFamily]

There's a multi-color monkey fist at this instructable.. I think you should be able to simply use a couple different strands to create the bracelet (rather than trimming them all down into the Monkey's fist). It's a thought anyway!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Multi-Color-Monkey-Fist/

[chemman]

Sorry, but as anyone who has ever been in boy scouts knows "fraps" is a common lashing term.

[ChrisDaniell]

Yup, it's how to secure a square lashing

[Patent Dragon]

My first attempt, after several reties of the monkey fist. Suggestion: find the centre of your cord, then "backtrack" 10 inches along the cord you're NOT using to make the monkey fist, and start the button knot there. I managed to get myself two almost even ends to use for the bracelet itself!

My first success from an Instructable - great work, people!

[embercity]

thanks for the tip, it really helped me, usually i have to work the long end of the cord back through the knot to make the ends even.

[rogerrabbit321]

Do you have to have the skull bead? cause i don't really want a skull bead on my bracelet. all i want is para cord

[OrtBoy]

no the skull bead is just to add decoration and hold the loop tighter

[rogerrabbit321]

ok thanks!

[Rotbeyondthem]

 Yeah, the ladder weaving has brought me to a slight halt.

[ndinitz]

the ladder weaving is done by leaving two strands in the center as a core and the other two do the weaving.

the weaving is accomplished by taking one side strand and placing it over the two center strands leaving a gap. the second side strand goes over the first side strand, behind the two core strands, and out from behind through the gap that was left by the first strand. pull the two outer strands to tighten.

by the way: if you use the same side strand you get a flat weave, and if you alternate strands then the braid twists into a double helix shape.

hope that helps

[bill goryca]

LOL, WHO IS ON FIRST?. NOW IM REALLY CONFUSED ON THE "LADDER WEAVE".

[Rotbeyondthem]

 Yes, that sounds much clearer and I will give it a good sit down at some point, thanks!

[Rotbeyondthem]

 Thanks again lego, big help.

[jimmy19963]

Like the instructable but having a problem with the ladder weave. Could you post a video of you doing it please?

[grimshade]

 Is it possible to make one of the wider variations of weaves after making the  monkey fist closure? 

[RegalThunder]

Anyone know where to buy these Skull beeds?? Thanks

[07Chevy]

I remember seeing these at a Hobby Lobby which is a hobby shop in the New Mexico Area.

[vairycool]

can anyone help me, i dont know how to "ladder weave"

[ndinitz]

 see my comment above

[joseph.wyatt]

Bought these skull beads on at an Army/Navy surplus store today.  They are used in a Ranger Skull Bead Klick Counter.  A primitive device to count off steps and thus after so many steps a skull is pushed down.  Anyway, it cost about $3-4 and had 13 beads on it