How to Make a Paracord Fender Keychain

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.

Comments

[jgrab81]

Just made my first one, instructions were very clear and easy to follow! Thank You :) Just curious, how long did it take you to make your first one? Mine took a little over an hour (was watching tv too while doing it) :)

[rramey31]

That's not bad, I did mine in under an hour, well, i was also watching tv, and eating a big bowl of cereal(I had just woken up), with all my fingers tied together, ugh..don't ask, lol. Oh, and i took a bath but I didn't deduct time for that, I'm making one now from strands of glass, wish me luck!

[SyberProdigy]

Good Job, it looks great! The first one I tied probably took longer than that because I tried several different starting and finishing techniques. Tying paracord designs and watching tv is one of my favorite pastimes, lol.

[NinjaDad]

Super cool. My first try at any para cord stuff, turned out fantastic. Awesome job on the instructions :)

[manskybook]

I'm pretty much a novice, but, still, I must be missing something. A 4-strand crown sinnet is the typical summer camp lanyard that I tied since I was 7. But neither your directions, nor the picture where the 6 strands first overlap make any sense to me (your direction are about backwards C on top of the left strand, vs the picture look like the opposite). I've looked for 6-strand sinnets all over the Internets, but there's little help. Video, maybe?

[MattDSwainJr]

So which end do you start the braid (handle portion) of the fender? Do I braid the 17 3/4 end or the 22 3/4 end?

[airjammer]

22 3/4

[LeAnnP]

Will this float?

[roonie.maloney]

I haven't done a lot of work like this but this was easy to follow. I found it easier when tying the Crown Sinnet to put it in the neck of a bottle

[airjammer]

I did this one over the summer

[arowan3]

im really struggling with the foot knot to finish, any chance you have a video or a couple more pics ? i get to the stage where i need to put the ends through again, then it looks nothing like yours!

[SyberProdigy]

I apologize for not replying earlier and I hope that you have achieved success, but for everyone else who may be having trouble finishing the fender, here's a link on tying a Footrope Knot. You may also finish it with a simple Wall Knot, both methods will yield a great looking fender.

[arowan3]

thankyou , was a fiddle but got there in the end seems to be holding ok . cheers mate

[mishmash25]

I love it and I found this really easy to follow many thanks regards Mish from Wales UK

[TheGeek1984]

Well, I went from a very easy water bottle handle to this. The foot hold knot at the top stumped me, but I was finally able to pull it off. Mine doesn't look as good as yours at the top, but for my second paracord project ever, I think it looks pretty darn good.

[paracorded_inspirations]

I can't tie the foot hold knot at the top could you give a link to a taturial on that knot thanks

[paracorded_inspirations]

I'm in Canadian sea cadets and that is actually a bell rope commonly found on a bell for decuration and a Handel

[ColtsFan9710]

I will definitely be trying this within the next day or so... if I can get it to turn out, I'll post some pics... thanks for posting!!!!

[fretted]

One thing this would be great for is a rope thrower like a monkey fist youcan use it to put longer ropes up into trees or over limbs to hang those backpacks full of food up to keep the pesky bears away or at least watch them dance trying to reach it !

[spaap]

can you take it apart later and use in survival situation????