Double Cobra Stitch Paracord Belt

Intro: Double Cobra Stitch Paracord Belt

This project can be a bit monotonous but well worth it. Monotonous only because once you get started you are repeating the same knot over and over and over again until you get to the end.

STEP 1: Gather and Prep Your Materials

First things first. Get your materials. I ordered a plain brushed steel buckle from eBay for about $2. The lighter and scissors you probaly have around the house. I always keep a spool of paracord at the house but for this belt you are gonna need about 120 feet of cord for a belt for someone with a 32-34 inch waist.

You have to cut 5 lengths of cord. Double the measurement of your waist and add 24". (34" + 34" + 24" = 92")
Cut 2 lengths this long. These will be your "core" threads which run down the middle of your braids.
Your braiding threads need to be 12" long for each inch of waistline. Then add about 6 feet. (34"x12= 34 feet + 6 = 40 feet). You need 2 cords this length.

Your final cord is 3 feet long. This is used to make the loop you tuck the end of the belt into after it's buckled.

So, 2 at 92", 2 at 40 feet and 1 at 3 feet.

Use a lighter to melt the tips of the cord to prevent them from fraying during the braiding process. Exclude the 3' cord from this step. You have to remove the inner white strings later.

STEP 2: Attach Your Cords to the Buckle

Once your cords are cut to length, you have to attach the 2 core lines to the buckle. The knot is called a Lark's head.

Once the core lines are attached, the braid lines are attached over the core line knots also using Lark's head knots.

Note in the pictures the directions of the knots. The knots on the braid lines are in the opposite direction of the core lines.

STEP 3: Start the Braiding

Now that the cords are attached to the buckle, bundle up the excess braid lines and rubber band them. It makes braiding easier because you don't have to pull all 40 feet through after each stitch.

Now, the cobra stitch... Very easy to learn. This belt is 2 cobra stitches, side by side. After each set of braids, the center braid lines are swapped from one side to the other. This holds the 2 sides together.

On each side of the buckle, you have 2 core lines and 2 braid lines.

Take the outside braid line and pass it behind the 2 core lines. Pass the inner braid line under the outer braid line, then up and over the core lines and through the loop made by the outer braid line. Tighten that knot. Now, on the same side of the buckle you have to do the mirror image of the first knot. Loop the inner braid line behind the core lines. Then pull the outer braid line behind the inner braid line, over the core lines and then through the loop and pull tight.

Now do the same set of steps on the other side of the buckle starting with the outer braidline.

Once you've completed 2 knots on each side of the buckle, you have to criss-cross the inner braid lines.

STEP 4: Continue Braiding

Now comes the monotony. Repeating the same knots over and over.

Ensure that you are pulling the knots tightly, but not so tight as to distort the straightness of the belt. Every so ofter, grab the core lines and push the braids up to the buckle to keep everything tight.

Release the braid lines bit by bit as needed. Just keep braiding until you get to the desired length.

STEP 5: Finishing the End of the Belt

Once down to the desired belt length, you have to cut the outer core line on each side of teh buckle an trim it down to about 1.5 inches past the end. I use a pair of hemostats to reach under one of the braid loops and puul the core line back through. Repeat this until the core lines are tucked under 5 or 6 loops.

STEP 6: Knot the Belt Tip

Pay attention to the pictures, I hope I can explain this well enough for all to understand.

The 2 inner braid lines now become your core lines (the ones you braid around)

Start by taking the 2 remaining core lines and do a double stich around your new core lines.Pull these knots good and tight and push them up toward the buckle.

Then take the 2 outer braid lines an do a double stitch around your ne core lines and pull everything tight.

STEP 7: Trim Up the Ends

Trimm the reamining cords, one at a time, to about a 1/4 inch long. Then melt them with the lighter unitl the small molten ball of cord fuses into the braided portion of the belt. This will keep the braid from coming undone.

Repeat on all the cords unitl it's all trim and clean.

STEP 8: Start the Belt Keeper

Take the 3' cord and remove the inner white strands. This will make the braid lay much flatter and thinner.

Go down about 5 loops from the buckle and open up the loop using hemostats or even a screwdriver.
Fold the cord in half and pass it through the loop and form a Lark's head.

Open a loop on the opposite side of the belt and pass the other ends of the cord through.

Using the end of the belt as a spacer, pull the cord taunt. Leave a bit of slack.

STEP 9: Braid the Keeper

Now, using a cobra stitch, finish braiding the keeper.

Ensure to push the braid tight as you go.

Once finished, trim the lines as before and melt them in place.

Hope this works out your you. I've been wearing one of these belts everyday for over a year an it has held up amazingly. The one in the photos is one that I just finished for my Dad for Father's Day.

Comments

[TeeDum]

The first one I made took me about 2 weeks, but I was only working on it 20-30 minutes a day in the evening.

This one took about three days. A couple hours a day. It goes slow at first because moving the bundled cord through the knot loops is a bit of a hassle. But when the cords get short, you really start flying through it.

Your fingers get a bit sore at first, just take breaks. And make sure to keep everything tight and straight. Loose, floppy knots will make a saggy and crooked belt.

[kathymbb]

Using 550 para cord, how wide will this belt be?

[scott.moore.12382]

Well done, this worked great, especially the end. I alternated the colors with copper and tan, it looks sweet and is super tight - I really like the idea for the belt loop of removing the inner cords - creates a tight little loop.

I did a triple cobra which is very similar but has a cobra with the middle cords every other knot, it creates a very open design, lots of holes, unlike this double which is super tight!! Thanks for the great instructable - and your math was almost perfect!

[Shanman1]

Hello, how did you make it two colors? Where did you put each color to start?

[howardholbrook]

Need help... Confused on crossing the cords.
Thanks

[AntonA40]

It would have helped if the two sets, the core and the weave, were differnt cololurs.

[hohum]

i made one about 5-6 years ago, works great, it's the only belt that i own, i made one for the temple to strap in the Torahs, the Rabbi really liked it,

great tut and pictures, Thanks

[MegaZMan]

Wondering if anyone knows know how much paracord you would need for a Single cobra stitch belt??? not a big fan of the double cobra look tbh :P also in my area generally the maximum lengths sold are 30 metre (100 feet) paracord X( anything longer has to be bought online/ from overseas (no worries on the prices, just the month long waits!! lol )

[sshepard]

You can get 100' lengths from http://www.boredparacord.com in an astounding array of colors, and buckles clasps. I just found it last month. Great site. I'm like you, not a big fan of the double cobra. I'm wondering how much cord would be needed for a fishtail for this one....

[MegaZMan]

ahhhh bored paracord! haha love thier youtube vids, but since i'm from Australia i don't think they ship international... but yeah i was thinking the same thing about the fishtail as well!! would make a pretty sweet belt :P :D

[sshepard]

From Bored?Paracord! websites shipping section...

"

WE DO SHIP WORLDWIDE IN ORDER TO OFFER PARACORD AROUND THE WORLD. HOWEVER, FREE SHIPPING DOES NOT APPLY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES DUE TO HIGH INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING RATES.ALL ORDERS SHIP WITHIN 12 HOURS OF PAYMENT BEING RECEIVED AND WILL INCLUDE TRACKING INFORMATION.

Domestic Shipping
All domestic orders will ship via USPS or Fedex Ground, depending on weight.

International Shipping
We ship worldwide with full tracking information. Please allow 1-4 weeks for delivery outside of the United States"

[Gaige Kerns]

This would be great. Just in case of emergency you could easily use this for a survival situation. This is about 100 feet or so? Of cord good for situations that may need it

[Gaige Kerns]

This would be great. Just in case of emergency you could easily use this for a survival situation. This is about 100 feet or so? Of cord good for situations that may need it

[Gaige Kerns]

This is a great survival item.

[shonv]

if i have a 30 1/2 inch waist how much paracord do i need

[TeeDum]

About 100 feet. Is better to err on the long side. I did one for my dad who put on weight. When I got to the end I was braiding with very short lengths which was difficult.

Check out the first paragraph it'll give you a good baseline to measure up your lengths

[PureL]

TeeDum, Thnx for the great design and tutorial. As a newbie to the hobby, at 63 years old, I thought this would be a challenge but no, it's gone quite smoothly thanks to your tutorial and photographs. I do have a method for splicing paracord and this place will never be seen and it will hold at 75% of line strength. I am hoping that I do not have to use this method, but one never knows As I am making this belt for my son with a waistline of 65 inches, and that varies. You can't find a "store bought" braided belt that size, so again thank you .

[shonv]

thanks im makeing one for my sister

[LokiWartooth]

Great break down most don't show how to do the cobra weave as well as you did and your instructions were clear and concise.

[ShannonR4]

GREAT IDEA!!! I wonder if needle nose pliers might work, Well I will find out soon enough!