How to Round Braid a Rope
Braiding a custom rope allows you to combine multiple cords together in order to create a rope capable of holding more weight than the individual cords. Paracord is a cord material which comes in two forms, 450 and 550 cord, with the former available in more colors but able to hold less weight, as the numbers correspond with the weight ratings. A round braided rope using two pieces of paracord yields a rope which is thin enough for tying on small loops, yet capable of holding between 900 and 1,100 lbs.
Instructions
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1
Align the center of the two cords perpendicularly to each other, so the cord on top is running with an end near you and an end away from you, while the lower cord runs left to right.
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2
Pass the cord hanging nearest you under the left-to-right cord, to the right of the far hanging cord.
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3
Pull the far hanging cord under the left-to-right cord to the left of the near hanging cord, so the two have switched sides.
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4
Rotate the braid one-quarter turn to the left. The cord which was left-to-right and on bottom is now higher than the other cord and turned so that it is hanging with one side near you and one side far from you.
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5
Pass the new near cord under the new top cord to the right and the new far cord under the top cord to the left, then turn a quarter-turn left.
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6
Repeat braiding, passing both bottom ends under then turning the braid.
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7
Grab all four loose ends and form a loop with the ends.
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8
Pass all four loose ends through the loop and pull tight.
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