3 Paracord Bracelet Tutorials for All Skill Levels
With school back in session, Pinwheel Crafts knows that many parents will be sharing their home with their children’s friends in the coming weeks. If you have a child planning a party or sleepover, you may find yourself looking for fun slumber party activities for kids. What is a good screen-free activity for kids to do together? While Pinwheel Crafts has copious craft kits to entertain kids of all ages, this month we will be focusing on how to make different paracord bracelet designs with the Pinwheel Crafts Paracord Bracelet craft kit. Not only is this a fun activity, but afterward your child and their friends will have AWESOME friendship bracelets to wear to school. Read on to find a variety of ways for your kids and their visitors to make unique paracord bracelet designs.
The supplies you will need for this project are:
- 550 Paracord in a variety of colors
- ⅜” Paracord clasps
- Scissors
- Metal charms (optional)
- Lighter (optional)
Standard Knot
The standard paracord bracelet knot goes by many names (the cobra stitch, Solomon bar, Portuguese sinnet, etc). Whatever you call it, this is a great starting point for those new to paracord bracelets and macrame. Let’s dive in!
1. Measure your wrist. You will need approximately 1 foot of cord for every inch measured.
2. Choose a paracord and buckle color and cut to the appropriate length.
3. Fold the piece of paracord in half, push the loop through one side of the buckle, and pull the two tails through the loop to fasten the paracord to one side of the buckle.
4. Now thread both tails through the other half of the clip and pull them until the distance between the clips is equal to the measurement of your wrist. Double check the bracelet length by pulling the cord around your wrist until the clips meet. Make sure to leave enough room to fit 1 or 2 fingers between your wrist and the cord. As you begin making knots, the bracelet will fit tighter than it started. (Note: you can add a bit more length for a looser fit.)
5. To begin making knots, pull the left strand over the two center pieces so that it looks like the number “4.”
6. Now take the right strand over the left strand, under the two middle strands, and then back up and through the loop in the “4” created by the left strand.
7. Now repeat this step in reverse (ie the strand sticking out to the right will cross over the middle to create a backwards “4”).
8. Continue alternating sides for each knot until you reach the other clip.
9. Trim the excess paracord so that it is flush with the bracelet and secure ends with glue. (Note: If there is an adult present to assist, you can also use a lighter to melt the ends and fuse them to the bracelet.)
Half Hitch Bracelet
Also known as the Zipper knot, this design is a simple variation of the standard bracelet knot. You can use a single strand of one color, but the bracelet will be much more striking if you use two strands of color attached together. If you have an adult present, this can be done by melting the ends of two pieces of paracord with a lighter and then pressing them together. You can also use a couple drops of fast drying super glue (also, with adult supervision). Let’s get started!
1. Repeat steps 1 through 4 in the standard knot instructions. (Note: if you are using a strand that is two pieces of different colors fused together, the point where they are fused should be the middle.)
2. To begin making knots, pull the left strand over the two center pieces so that it looks like the number “4,” then fold it under the two middle strands and back up and through the loop in the “4.”
3. Now repeat the same steps in reverse with the strand on the right.
4. You will alternate sides like this until you reach the other buckle. (Note: you can do two knots for each color if you would like a wider bar for each alternation.)
5. Trim the excess paracord so that it is flush with the bracelet and secure with glue. (Note: If there is an adult present to assist, you can also use a lighter to melt the ends of the paracord and fuse them to the bracelet.)
Crooked River
For the more seasoned bracelet maker, the Crooked River, also known as Snake in the Grass, is a great design. Much like the Half Hitch bracelet, you can use a single strand of one color, but the bracelet will be much more striking if you use two strands of color attached together. Read the Half Hitch intro for more details on how to fuse or connect two different colors of paracord together.
1. Repeat steps 1 through 4 in the standard knot instructions. (Note: if you are using a strand that is two pieces of different colors fused together, the point where they are fused should be the middle.)
2. Take the left strand and create a “4” across the middle strands, and then loop back over the top to the left side so that it looks like a wide “S.”
3. Take the right strand and cross diagonally over the middle strands and both pieces of the "S" created by the left strand. Then fold it under and back up and through the loop created on the right (the bottom loop of the "S"). Gently work the strands together and pull until you have a fairly tight knot.
4. Now take the left strand and cross it over the middle like a “4.”
5. Take the right strand over the strand sticking out, then fold it under the middle strands and back up through the loop on the left (just like the standard knot).
6. If done correctly, your two colors of paracord should have swapped sides.
7. Repeat steps 2 through 5 mirrored (so that the “4” and “S” are backwards).
8. You will alternate sides like this until you reach the other buckle. (Note: you may need to occasionally push the knots together to create a tighter and more uniform design.)
9. Trim the excess paracord so that it is flush with the bracelet and secure with glue. (Note: If there is an adult present to assist, you can also use a lighter to melt the ends and fuse them to the bracelet.)
Conclusion
There you have it! Three paracord bracelet designs for all skill levels. If you are pressed for time, or don’t feel like shopping around for a bunch of different supplies, we offer the Pinwheel Crafts Paracord Bracelet Kit with everything you need to make all three designs above. And while you're there, check out our entire catalog of great all-in-one craft kits to provide a variety of activities for your child’s sleep over.
Until next time, happy crafting!
