How to Make Paracord Bracelets With Plastic Clips

Paracord is a type of durable cord used in parachutes that also doubles as survival rope. If you are an outdoor enthusiast or know one, the paracord survival bracelet is a must-have piece of gear. You never know when you might need a few feet of rope while on an outdoor adventure. If you are wearing the rope as a form of jewelry, then all the better. The project is simple and you can make paracord bracelets for you, your friends and family in no time.

Things You'll Need

  • 10 feet of 550 paracord
  • Measuring tape
  • Scissors
  • Slide end clip closure
  • Lighter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wrap the end of the paracord comfortably around your wrist. Use your thumb and finger to pinch the cord where it crosses over the other end on your wrist. Lay this against your measuring tape; this is the bracelet's length.

    • 2

      Measure your slide end clip when it is closed and both pieces are together.

    • 3

      Estimate the length of cord you need for your bracelet. You will want 1 foot of cord for every knotted inch of bracelet. For example, an 8-inch bracelet will take 8 feet of cord. Cut the cord and fold it in half evenly. You will be using one solid length of cord to create the bracelet, so when un-knotted for emergency use you have one long piece.

    • 4

      Open the slide end clip closure and take the female portion. The female portion is the half that accepts the two prongs from the other end. Slide the folded cord through the bottom opening on the female clip. Bring the ends up through the loop and pull tight, securing the cord to the clip. The male end clip will be attached at the other end of the bracelet and is the snap closure that closes the bracelet.

    • 5

      Slide the tail ends of the two sections of cord coming from the female clip through the open end of the male clip. If your male clip has two openings, use the top one just below the prongs. Measure for fit by laying your measuring tape at the end of the female clip and running it down the cord until you reach the size you measured for your wrist. Slide the male clip up to this point on the cord. You now have the cord knotted on the female clip at one end, and the two sections of cord run through the center of the opening on the male clip and past it.

    • 6

      Flip the cord back down after it's through the male clip so that it loops over the plastic bar on the opening in the clip. Separate the two loose ends so they lay to the outside of the two center pieces that run into the clip, so you have four sections. The two center section of cord are the anchors, the two outside pieces that are the long tails of your cord will do the weaving. The object is to loop the cord over the clips to secure it as the closure without cutting anything so the cord remains in one solid piece.

    • 7

      Secure the male clip to something to hold it while you knot. You can tape it down to a table top or place something heavy on it.

    • 8

      Begin knotting the bracelet to secure the cord in a compact manner. Bring the right side cord under the two center cords. Leave a small loop open on the right side. Lay the cord over top of the left side cord. Bring the left side cord up and over the center cords, and down through the loop you left on the right hand side. The two ends now run over and under the center cords, and through the loops on the outside edges. Pull tight. This is one half knot.

    • 9

      Continue knotting the cord until you reach the other end of the slide clip. Make your knots uniform and even all the way down the cord. When you reach the end and can't fit any more knots in, clip the cords up close to the ends. Use the lighter held against the ends briefly to melt and seal them so they won't unravel. Clip the male and female ends together and the bracelet is complete.