This tutorial will show how to make a paracord bracelet with a side release buckle. When made on a larger scale, you can make this for use as a dog or cat collar as well. A reliable online source of paracord is the Supply Captain,and for side release buckles is Creative Designworks. More projects, links, knot references can be seen on my blog page, Stormdrane's Blog.
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials
You'll need paracord, or equivalent 1/8" diameter cord, a tape measure or ruler, scissors, side release buckle, and a lighter(torch lighter works best). The amount of cord used can vary, but for this example, we'll use 10 feet of paracord to start with. Actual amount of cord used for the bracelet is about 1 foot of cord for every 1 inch of knotted bracelet length. So if your wrist is 8 inches, you'd use approximately 8 feet of cord.
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Great job, you inspired me to make one of my own. I didn't have a snap buckle though, so I modified mine.
Measure your paracord according to stormdraines version, but add 1 foot. Tie the knot that is in this version. http://www.instructables.com/id/In_and_out_Knot_and_loop_Bracelet/
So I started it like kcardwel's but instead of tieing it to furniture and using a seperate piece of cord, I braided it like stormdraine. The end part was a little tricky. I braided it to the end until there was only enough room to fit the two loose ends of cord through the loop. I had one slightly longer end so I used that one to form the loop for the big knot, I think I tied a knot so the loop was in place. I then loosely wrapped the ends around the loop 3 times and then fed the cord through those loops (like a noose). I then pulled them tight and ran them down under the braids of the bracelet.
Hope this helps :)
-Josie
@helptopia
Thanks
Great instructions! been wanting to make one for a while now. just need to get supplies. what is a store you can get the supplies at?
The size/type of cord used as well as the size/type of ring used will affect the outcome, so there are variables to consider on such projects, where each may differ slightly from one to another... ;)
If 10 feet of paracord is used for a single color bracelet, two 5 foot sections are connected to make a two color version. Example of attaching two colors is shown in my snake knot lanyard tutorial.
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One question nobody has asked... If the ends are melted into the surrounding cord , what strength (or loss of) impact will it have on the Cord when uncalled, and also hw do you unravell it. I want t make one as a spare cord to carry that will actually get used in backpacking etc
A butane torch lighter helps with making a precise melt of the cord end, without damaging the surrounding cord.
The melted part can be pried/pulled apart from the underlying cord, after it's cooled/hardened, when you want to take the bracelet apart.
Alternatively you can use hemostats to tuck/pull the end strands under the last couple of knots on each side of the bracelet and trimmed to finish, and avoid melting issues all together.
Sewing the ends in place also works, but requires carefully cutting the thread between the cords, with a knife/scissors/razor blade, when you want to disassemble the bracelet.
Super glue hardens the cord, so is not recommended if you're planning on taking the bracelet apart. Rubber cement works if carefully applied, and after drying it can be peeled off of the cord.
Glue guns are cheap at WalMart and Kmart and a bag of glue sticks lasts forever and a day if you don't use them for everything.