How to Make Cordage
Cordage, an essential element of rope, is also the basis for many other primitive tools and shelters. If you can make cordage, a lean-to isn't far off, or a spear with a rock tip. Cordage is one of the most important tools for living off the land, and you can be its master by vigorously applying these steps at every opportunity.
Instructions
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Braiding
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1
Get some fibrous materials. Hemp is a favorite for this kind of activity, as is flax.
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2
Lay out the fibers in three lines running parallel to each other. Keep the fibers from rolling into each other by giving them a little bit of a twist at each end.
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3
Braid the fibers. You do this by taking the one on the far left and putting it over the middle one and under the fibers on the far right. Now the one that was in the middle is on the far left. Run it under the middle one and over the one that is now on the far right. Alternate like this until you run out of fibrous material.
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4
Knot it off.
Twining
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5
Get some fibrous material. There are all sorts of materials in nature for the making of cordage, such as hemp, flax and milkweed, but extracting the fibers can be a headache. You've got to extract them anyway.
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6
Make single-ply cordage. You do this by grabbing a bunch of fibers, about half the thickness that you want to end up with, and twisting. Your hands need to be around a foot apart, with some fibers sticking out of your fists at the end.
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7
Twist for a while and you'll get a kink in the middle. Start moving your hands toward the kink, keeping them equal distances apart. After two or three rotations you'll have the beginning of two-ply cordage.
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8
Anchor your cordage at one end using a nearby person or something that doesn't move, such as an anchor. Keep twisting.
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9
Keep twisting, but take the two strands and pass them around each other counter to direction you've been twisting.
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10
Tie it off at the end, as you never know whether hand-made cordage is going to hold otherwise.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Braided cordage is best for fishing lines and nets. It doesn't have as much give as twined cordage.
Twist in the same direction the whole time or you'll wind up with a bunch of fibers, which isn't what you want.
