How to Braid Lanyards With Paracord
Paracord is a cord originally made for parachutes. Made of braided threads encased in nylon, this strong cord can support weights of up to 550 pounds, according to Dr. James Hall in "35 Items For Your Get Home Bag: A Guide For Leaving Where You Were When It Hit The Fan, Successfully Eluding Zombies, And Getting Home To Be Rejoined With Your Loved Ones." It is also ideal for small items that suffer wear and tear from regular use, such as lanyards. When making lanyards with paracord, it is important to tie the nylon strands securely to prevent them from unraveling. You can use paracord of different colors for more attractive results.
Instructions
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1
Cut two strands of paracord measuring 4 feet each. Lay one strand down on a flat surface. Place the other strand, horizontally, across the middle of the first strand. The strands should now form the shape of a cross.
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2
Place the split ring on the vertical strand and pull it down to the center where the two strands cross.
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3
Fold the top half of the vertical strand down and to the left side of its bottom half. It should be over the horizontal strand.
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4
Fold the left half of the horizontal strand to the right and below its right half.
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5
Fold the right half of the vertical strand up and over both halves of the horizontal strand.
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6
Fold the top half of the horizontal strand to the left and over the right vertical strand. Pass it under the left vertical strand.
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7
Pull the strands as tight as possible to form a square knot. The strands should form a cross again, with a square at the center.
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8
Fold the top half of the vertical strand down and the bottom half up, crossing the square.
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9
Fold the right half of the horizontal strand to the left. It should pass over the right leg of the vertical strand and go under the left leg of the vertical strand.
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10
Fold the left leg of the horizontal strand over the left half of the vertical strand and under the right half of the vertical strand.
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11
Pull the strands tight to form the second square in the lanyard.
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12
Repeat steps 7 to 10 until the lanyard is as long as you wish. Pull the strands as tight as possible when you finish the last square. Cut the strands about ½ inch away from the square. Cover the cut ends with epoxy glue and hold the lanyard securely until the glue sets. This will prevent it from unraveling. Set the lanyard aside to dry completely overnight.
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