Slatts Paracord Rescue Bracelet (no Buckle)

Intro: Slatts Paracord Rescue Bracelet (no Buckle)

I love paracord, both for its countless uses and the fact that it looks really cool when woven into bracelets, belts, straps, etc. I work backstage and am always looking for a good way to carry a large amount of cord on me that can be easily accessed. I found The Slatts Rescue Belt and decided to see if I could weave one into itself without using a buckle. The results came out to be a nice looking bracelet that can be undone in a matter of seconds.

STEP 1: What You'll Need

-Paracord 550. I used the Digital Camo for this instructable. The length really doesn't matter due to the nature of how the knot is tied, just have a large bundle and you can cut off the excess at the end.
-Lighter to close off the ends
-Pen or similar shaped object to start the weaving.
-Knife, scissors, or some other way to cut the cord.
Optional:
-Pliers to help pull and tighten weaving.

STEP 2: Beginning the Weave

 First tie a half hitch slip knot then slide it onto the pen or whatever you're using. Then begin to wrap the cord behind the pen and over the top. I wrapped it around four times but you can to however many you want depending on how wide you want it. Pull your finger out and leave a gap under the pen.

STEP 3: Weaving

 This is the basic move you'll be using for the weaving. Make a loop with the working end and pull it through the loops hanging down. Pull the wrapped loops tight but leave the loop to the right hanging out about an inch or two with the leading end on the bottom.

STEP 4: Weaving Cont.

 From the leading end, pull a loop down between each weave then repeat step 3 through the four new loops. Make sure they are all oriented the same way. I oriented it with the left side of the loops facing towards me. It takes a little bit of getting used to, it pulled it all apart three or four times before I found a rhythm. Make sure you keep pulling it all tight as you go.

STEP 5: Weaving Cont.

Continue weaving until it fits comfortably around your wrist. This will take a while but keep at it and try to keep it all looking even. Remember, if you screw up a row, just pull on the leading end to take apart a row. When you're weaving, keep the loops to the right all twisted in the same direction. Otherwise it will look slightly uneven.

Tip: The cord will get twisted. When it does, roll it between your index finger and thumb as you're pulling it through to straighten it out.

STEP 6: Finishing

This is the part where I began my experimenting. I had a design that worked and was easy to take off but very hard to put back together. The second way I like a lot even though it looks slightly less clean. 

Find a good length that's comfortable around your wrist (you could also make it longer so you can slip it on and off your hand). When you do, pull out three loops from the working end like you've been doing but leave then there. These will mesh together with the starting loops and will be the point where it all is connected. You can now remove the pen and cut off the excess cord. Leave about 8 to 12 inches on the end so you can tie it all together.

Take the leading end and weave it back and forth. For my bracelet one side had four loops and the other had five. I started by threading through the first loop of the side with five, then over to the side with four, alternating until I got to the end.

STEP 7: Finishing Cont.

 Pull it tight but leave a small loop on the other end that can be tightened. Then take your leading end, feed it under the bracelet and through the loop. Continue wrapping like this until there is no more excess cord (I went over two times). Then, pull everything tight and you're done. If you want to take it off, just undo steps 6 and seven.

I am currently experimenting with a way to finish that will make it look more seamless, stay tuned for updates!

Comments

[Alan Méndez]

great instructable. I used it to make a full belt.

[Colonel88]

Drat I've been trying to use this weave except it NEVER works... It either becomes really twisted or it look really off (not uniform like it does in the pictures, lots of gaps, etc)

Any tips on how to make it better? I've really been trying to make a belt and make a fob for when I need rope quickly...

[dojers]

Colonel - you probably have this figured out but I just found this instructable (trying to figure out how many feet of cord for a 4 loop, 45" long belt) and saw your problem. I haven't read down any more on the comments so maybe someone helped you or you kept trying and figured it out yourself, but in case someone comes across this and is experiencing the same, I thought I'd chime in.

Your problem comes from the fact that paracord twists something fierce. The more loops, the more twisting. What you have to do is, as you are tightening up each loop, is try to get the loop you are tightening so it is straight all the way to the part that just starts going through the bracelet/belt and pull tight and get that twisted part through - or you can also twist it as you're pulling though I found that depending on how much twist there is, it's easier to just get the bulk of the twist through the bracelet and then pulling the rest of it snug. You have to do that for each loop until you get to the end and start your loops all over again. Even the last loop that you pull tight you have to make sure that it doesn't have twists because it will make the edge of the bracelet look like crap. Then you do it all over again - pull your loops up, then run the running end loop through, then tighten, making sure each loop is not twisted and fixing those that are. Repeat.

As I said, after a year you've probably gotten this part figured out, but just in case you gave up on this weave or someone else has the same problem, I figured this would help someone at some point in time. (I hope :) )

[elliemae61]

Great instructions !!!! A friend of mine wants me to make him a guitar strap so I have been checking out bracelets/slings that I can adapt to 4" wide. This one is in the running - will do a trial run to see what he thinks. He wants multiple colors so 'we' (he will have to hep with this) will have to fuse together the different colors. Wanting it to look like what you might come up with doing a 'rag' rug, so we will need random colors/lengths. I like this because it is not real complicated. Thank you for the inspiration!!!!!!!!! :)

[soul_eater]

I made my bracelet with the same knot but in the end i used a monkey fist knot to atach it more easy

[tRoy heRman]

Hey just wanted to thank you for such an awesome design, I actually ended up doing five loops instead of your four and it's pretty enormous. I used about twenty feet of line (I had to melt two together) but it still looks great. I think the hardest part was getting started with the first two weaves done but once that was done it was smooth sailing. I tied mine off differently from yours, It doesn't have the wrap around part and looks smoother because of it. thanks again!

[RyanWilliamTyler]

Do any if you know were to get the Paracord-550 in Sonoma County?

[calskin]

I was up till 2 am this morning making this and I really love it. It just happened to be the perfect size to slide it over my hand but still stay on.

I made a slight change to how it's tied off at the end to avoid any discomfort on my wrist as I've VERY picky about that.

notice the doughnut that I'm sure inspired it.

[camiloo]

This looks awesome and i really want to make one but i was just wondering around how much paracord does it need?

[dacker]

Yeah. me too. I have no idea if I would need 3' or 12' to get started.

JonTheAnt, can you help us?

Also, is paracord 550 another name for either 2mm or 3mm paracord? I have to assume that 4mm is way too big.

[shadow wave rider]

i used about 16 and a half feet of paracord in my one. plus a bit exta but i have small wrists so you might want to add on a nother foot or 2

[mysss]

There's actually no diameter in the military specification for paracord, but it is roughly 1/8 inch in size. The best way to see if your ideas will succeed or fail is to just try it! You'll still have the cord if you have to give up in this case, even. Now, to make one for myself!

[Sithrazer]

It's 550 lbs. test parachute cord. I've seen it listed as having a 1/8" diameter, so 3mm nominally.

[shadow wave rider]

how did you connect the bracelet in the picture at the top?

[Slugsie]

Excellent instructable, and a great para cord bracelet. I have one that I made using the more traditional knot and no buckle, I might have to make one of these too.

The only note of caution I would have (and this comes from the experience of the one I made but applies here too) it might be wise to use a much lighter thread to hold the ends together. If you're using proper 550 cord, and you have multiple lengths of it you potentially have a bracelet that will withstand well over 1000 lbs of strain before it gives up. Your wrist won't withstand anything like that much before severe damage. If you should catch this bracelet on something (eg while falling) you could potentially rip your hand off. It would be better to use some normal cotton thread and have that give out long before you potentially severely hurt yourself.

Please bear in mind this is not a criticism of this instructable, but consider it a word of warning for all para cord based bracelets/belts etc with no buckles (they tend to give out fairly easily, so less of an worry).

[shadow wave rider]

thanks for writing this caution. i have made so many different paracord bracelets and gun slings and not once have i ever thought about the possibility of something like this happening.

[Bjorno]

Off-topic, but is that a SOG power assist multi-tool? And if so, how does it stand up to other multi-tools?

[nreno88]

the sog is really nice tool. if you break it they will replace it. really nice feature. i got it for the needle nose pliers and the wire crimpers. with the mechanical advantage and a little boredom you can even bend a nickle in half. all of the accessories can be changed out by you for a custom load out.

[louisecross]

love this, have made similar but this is way better, thanks

[Robotics_Geek]

I made this hat band using your method. It took me an hour or so and I used 3 wide and desert 550 paracord. To finish it I left the cord about 4 inches long and used the loops interlocking, running the left over cord to lock them in place. I then ran the left over cord behind the band and tied it off. I then took a bit of cord and removed the inner string and tied it through the holes in the hat to lock it down. I plan on making a 4 wide for my leather hat that way I'm never without paracord. THANKS!