Friday, January 09, 2009

Doubled Paracord Bracelet

Tied the same way as using a single strand for a paracord bracelet , but using two. You don't wrap the cord twice around the buckle ends, like the single strand on a 1/2" or 5/8" buckle, since there's now two center cords looped onto one end.

Measure out the wrist length with the four working strands wrapped around the other buckle end and pair them off to start knotting.

I used around 16 feet of paracord(finished amount used) for the doubled one, for an 8" wrist. I most always use more than I need, starting off with two 12 foot strands, and ending up trimming off 2 feet of each strand at the last knot. It doesn't go to waste since I'll use the remainders for zipper pulls, paracord cross, etc...

*Added a few pics for those that had a bit of trouble visualizing the start. You find the center of the two lengths of cord and use a lark's head/lanyard loop/cow hitch, to attach them to one side of the side release buckle. I've shown two ways to start, either works fine: side-by-side or one in the center of the other.

Then run the four strands around the other buckle end, for the wrist size(I usually add 1/2" to 1" to the actual wrist measurement for a comfortable fit).

Laid next to a ruler/tape measure, you're measuring from the flat side of the female end of the buckle, to the base of the prongs of the male end of the cord. You don't figure in the prongs, since they'll be inside the other part of the buckle when worn. As shown, I'm measuring it at about 9" to fit a 8.5" wrist.

You'll start tying the knots from there. After you tie each knot, hold the core strands with one hand and push the knot up towards the buckle, to tighten them up and work any slack out as you go.

When you reach the other end and can't fit any more knots, you can finish by either using something like hemostats to pull and tuck each of the ends thru the last knot, then trim and tuck the ends in, or trim and sew/melt/glue the ends to finish.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

The doubled one is particularly handsome.

Do you know of anyone who has experimented with using silicone caulk rather than a lighter to help finish a piece and keep the ends from fraying? I'm guessing it might work but don't know (yet) from experience.

Best,
-- J.

Stormdrane said...

No, I don't think I've heard of anyone trying silicone caulk before, but there's a first time for everything.

I've used lighters, needle & thread, super glue, fabric glues, soldering iron, wood burning tool, whipping the ends, and just tucking the ends back into the knot work.

Anonymous said...

Hello. I like the double but am having trouble "seeing" the beginning. Would you be more specific on how to begin this one. I've made several single strands but I guess I'm dense on this one. Thanks. And on the silicone, I don't think it would last as long as super glue but maybe worth a try.

Stormdrane said...

I added a few more photos and explanation. I guess I have to remember that someone seeing the blog for the first time may not want to bother with looking thru the links or 'older posts'/'archive' to figure out how something was done. :)

Anonymous said...

Just something I did. When you loop the two sets of cord thru the opposite side clip that you tied off, put one thru from top to bottom and the other from bottom to top. Then start the knots there. This makes no need for a transition. It is a little tricky to start but it is cleaner.

OCS said...

Great idea. This bracelet looks more masculine than the king cobra. It's flatter, not so round.

Anonymous said...

...someone seeing the blog for the first time may not want to bother with looking thru the links or 'older posts'/'archive' to figure out how something was done.
-----------

But that's half the fun of it!

Best,
--J.

Anonymous said...

Very nice work!
Melikes it.
Methinks I'll have to try it:)
PMZ

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to thank you for all the great information.
I just completed my first 16LX3B Turk's Head, due in no small part to the inspiration found on your blog.
All the best, -CB

Albert A Rasch said...

SD,

Another nice post! As soon as I can get a spool of 550 I'm going to start making me one of these.

I found the instructions on the braid on boondoggle; thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
Proud Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
Southeast Regional OBS Coordinator

Unknown said...

Would you guess that the muticolored bracelets like the ones shown on survivalstarps.com are done using this method?

Stormdrane said...

I have seen a few done like this pop up on ebay after I posted the method(nothing wrong with that), but the one's on that site look like the king cobra/doubled Solomon bar/doubled Portuguese sinnet type method for the paracord bracelets instead of this blog post's doubled up method.

This type can use two colors as well by just using one strand of one color and a different color for the other when looping onto the buckle ends then knotting.

Unknown said...

Do you have any examples this king cobra/doubled Solomon bar/doubled Portuguese sinnet type method?

Stormdrane said...

It's simply making another set of knots/stitches over the previous ones.

You start making a paracord bracelet as usual, but you have more cord, and when you reach the point where you'd trim and melt or tuck the ends, you just start knotting back over the bracelet with the extra cord.

Look at my paracord lanyard project to see it done.

Anonymous said...

nice site and nice article, I can learn about knot from this.

Anonymous said...

I'm an Eagle Scout that recently discovered you blog. It's hard to find useful knots like this. I've made great use of this site and a few hundred feet of paracord. Keep it up.

-Brian A

Unknown said...

I am getting ready to make my first paracord bracelet, but i was curious if there was a way to not use the buckle, and instead sew it together, to make a sort of 'permanent' bracelet.

im glad i found your blog, your stuff is awesome, i hope to see some detailed diy's

Stormdrane said...

The usual securing method for paracord bracelets made without a buckle is to use a knot and loop.

Some sew on a BDU button to close with the loop, others have drilled a hole in a penny or used a washer or various beads with the loop.

I've seen a couple of examples where the working ends were tucked into the other end of the bracelet. You could secure them in place with thread for a fixed size bracelet.

Paulie86 said...

Hi, how could I make a normal bracelet with two colors using buckles? I can't figure it out how to get the two on the buckle two ends. thank You

Stormdrane said...

For a two color paracord bracelet, you sew, melt, or glue two colors of cord together.

Then, with that connection just off to the side of the center of your one length/two color cord, loop onto one buckle end, so that the connected section will be the core strands of the bracelet that will be knotted around.

Run the two ends through the other buckle end, figure for wrist size/length, and start knotting.

Paulie86 said...

Hi, thank You for the quick answer. So if I understood correctly the loop will be at the melting point, and that loop would go through an end of the buckle, with the two colored core out, and that goes to the other end.

I knew there should be such a trick like makink one of two strands.
thank You very much for the help.
regards.

Stormdrane said...

After attaching the two colors, like shown in this link, I use just one of the colors to make the initial looping onto one buckle end, with the connected part close to the buckle.

Any stress on the bracelet cords when worn will be on that looped on section at the buckle and not on the connected section hidden under the knots.

Jim said...

Stromdrane Thank You I really appreciate your Blog.

Werwolf said...

Dear Stormdrane! I made Doubled Paracord Bracelet usind Red and Black Paracord. I like it very much!!! Thank you for your instructions! It has really good looking! Best wishies to you. Eugene from Ukraine, Zaporozhye city.

kiwicockers said...

Are there any rivets or snaps that can be used to secure 2 or 2 pieces of cord together(ie: stacked on top of each other)

Stormdrane said...

I don't know if rivets or snaps would work, since paracord is a bit thicker than you'd find with a leather bracelet that would use a rivet or snap as a closure. It might work, but I haven't tried it...

Anonymous said...

Where would you recommend purchasing 550 cord from, and what diameter do you recommend for the best looking bracelet?

Stormdrane said...

There are many online sources for paracord/parachute cord/550 cord, and I usually recommend the Supply Captain. They also carry the smaller diameter 'Type I' paracord/accessory/dummy cord, and shock cord.

As for diameter of cord, that comes down to what you like and will actually wear. I like a variety of different styles, so I don't have a particular favorite.

VanderGaarf said...

The only thing I'm worried about is the ending. Does just melting the ends keep them secure? Do you use the same method or a different method than a normal clasp bracelet?

Stormdrane said...

Melting the ends in place does work, but if you don't want to do that, you can sew or glue the ends in place, or use hemostats to tuck the ends under the knot work.

William H. Seward IV said...

question for anyone that can help. i am looking for imput as to how to make the bracelet on this site...https://www.survivalstraps.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SB%2DFireFighter+Dog+Tag

im not sure how to add the single strand down the center and how to tie in the dogtags.

thanks, ive been checking out this site for awhile and appreciate the info

Stormdrane said...

I can only guess at how that particular bracelet is tied. Guessing, I'd say the dog tag has a core strand run through it between the buckle ends, before they're knotted over, and the separate color strand is wrapped and tucked around one end, and alternately worked over/under the knots as they're tied, tucked back under the inner side of the bracelet strands...

You could always buy one and take it apart if you want to do it exactly the same way, or just experiment until you get what you're after.

Unknown said...

Stormdrane,

Just got started with paracord and your blog is invaluable! Thanks so much for the clear demonstrations and cool projects!

Did my first few projects this weekend including the river band watch strap, doubled cobra bracelet, and the caribiner spool. Even made a watch band out of the doubled bracelet.

Thanks again, you have a new subscriber!