Stretchable Paracord Bracelet

Intro: Stretchable Paracord Bracelet

While making paracord bracelets (for which there are many great instructables) and wishing there was a way to make one that did not require clasps or clips, I stumbled on this method which produces a bracelet that can stretch to slip onto your wrist and then form to it snugly and comfortably. The bracelet also looks quite a bit like the normal ones on which the design is based, because it is the same basic technique that is used.

The key to the design is removing the "core" strands that are used in most paracord bracelets. This allows the bracelet to stretch so that it can be made into a continuous circle and doesn't need clasps or clips to fit around your wrist.

STEP 1: Setup

Tools:
    - Scissors
    - Lighter

Materials:
    - Paracord
        - up to two colors
        - two 3 ft strands (one of each color if using two colors)
        - one strand (of any color) that is long enough to wrap around your wrist when folded in half, plus about 4 extra inches (see pic). This will be the temporary core strand
        - Use the lighter to melt both ends of all three strands to prevent fraying

STEP 2: Starting the Knots

Now, to get started making the bracelet...

Loop the two strands, as shown in the first picture. Fold the core strand in half and thread it through this first knot (as shown in picture 3), then pull the knot tight around the core.

Now take the strand on the right and fold it behind the core. Then loop the other strand around/behind the first and push it through the loop made on the right side by the first strand. Pull this knot tight. This is hard to describe in writing, and probably even harder to understand, so the pictures will help a lot on this step.

To make the next knot, take the same strand as before (now on the left side) and repeat the technique above. Again the pictures will help a lot.

STEP 3: Removing the Core

Continue this method until each strand has 16 loops on one side and both strands end up on the same side they started on (using two colors makes it easier to tell when this is achieved). At this this point you should make sure that it is long enough to wrap around your wrist. 16 is the number that has worked for me, and the bracelet will stretch even if you wrist is larger, but it may be more comfortable for some to try 18 loops.

Now, pull the core strand out completely using its loop at the top. Then, tighten the last knots at both ends by pulling the loose strands. This will insure that your bracelet does not come apart though the next steps.

STEP 4: Completing the Circle

The last step is to finish the bracelet by connecting both of the loose ends of each strand into a loop that will look like all the others around the bracelet. This is where we get to play with FIRE!

But first, decide which strand you will connect first (i will be doing the silver strand). Cut both ends of this strand so about one cm sticks out, and melt each end with the lighter. If you take care here to make sure that the melted ends are clean and don't have a lot of melted plastic on them, the end result will look much better.

Now, position the two ends so that they can be remelted and the pressed together end-to-end (see pictures). Then melt the ends and press them together for about 10 seconds so they will cool and bind together. What I have found that works well is lining the two ends up and holing the lighter in between them the melt them both at the same time. Repeat this step for the other strand.

Any extra blobs of plastic can be cut off with scissors or sanded, and then melted carefully to smooth it out. Making these "seams" look nice is the most challenging part, but it gets easier the more times you try it.

Finally, stretch the bracelet out a bit (don't worry the seam will hold) and maneuver the strands near the seam so the area around the seam looks like the rest of the bracelet.

STEP 5: Put It On

Well the bracelet is done now. Time to put it on and show it off.

To put it on, stretch it over your hand and onto your wrist. Then using your other hand, you can compress it a bit to make it conform more to your wrist's size and shape. Enjoy.

Comments

[denise420]

Awesomely explained, thank you so much! I love using paracord & my daughter found some elastic paracord for me. When I initially searched for "elastic paracord" the results weren't promising until I found your article! Thank you!
Denise

[dishmanhills]

For my first project this is a great one. The last step is the hardest: joining the ends together - a third hand helps. I'm sure more practice will make a difference!

[Schmidty16]

hello does anyone know where to get paracord would duhmans have it i need to get it at local stores {only 14 not old enough to get online}

[pat.sherman.12]

Walmart

[theimpossiblegirl_1]

I.LOVE.IT.

[Delete_]

It just looks like you made a Paracord bracelet in a rush and it got thrown from an airplane (no hate, just criticism)

[Nixion]

For those who are having trouble melting the ends hold the two ends on either side of a candle flame then both end will melt at the same time an you can fuse them together easy.Worked for me.

[Nixion]

awesome bro.but i fear that the melted ends may come apart is there any other alternative?
and can i use some other kind of "soft" rope besides paracord ? i dont think my area has any.

[drumbum11]

I dont see any reason that you could not use some other type of rope or cord. Melting the ends may or may not be as effective for bonding the loose ends though, depending on what material the rope you use is made of
As far as the melted ends coming apart, it took me a bit of practice to figure out the best way to do it, but the result is actually quite strong. When done right I have no worries about it coming apart even when treated pretty roughly. Obviously it is not as strong as the uncut/unmelted parts of the paracord, but I personally am unable to pull it apart, even on purpose. Alternately you could try to splice the ends together, but I have never tried it and Im not sure if it will be much stronger.

[duckman200]

is there any other way apart from burning it together?

[drumbum11]

Melting the ends was the best solution that I found. If your a bit more patient than I am you could probably find a way to splice the ends together instead, but I have not tried that and idk how well it would work with the paracord.

[airsoft master 25]

such a good idea. it worked for me

[kaylaangelkisses]

you should enter the prandacord contest

[DFree]

What if you used a piece of elastic the length of your wrist and used it as the core instead of just not having one. You wouldn't have to compress it yourself, the elastic would take care of that.

[drumbum11]

I attempted that as well, but it ended up being difficult to put on and still needed to be compressed partly by hand, so I decided it was more trouble than it was worth. Thats not to say that it can not be done though. If you (or anyone) finds with a way to make it work I would definitely like to see it.

[DFree]

https://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bracelet-without-Clip-or-Knot/

[drumbum11]

Nice job, it looks good

[That One Eegit]

This is great! Just about to get another shipment of paracord, and im definitely going to make one of these!

[mrmucox]

Nice job, though I've never been able to make those fused joints work.

[drumbum11]

Thanks.
Yeah they can be difficult, but with some practice and experimenting I've been able to make them pretty solid. What kind of problems have you had with them, just strength issues?