Paracord is a parachute cord, and in English its original name looks like a parachute cord. This is a simple nylon cable in which the so-called cores are present.
Further in the article we will analyze that this is a paracord, and talk in more detail about all the details of this device.
The purpose of the paracord
Even during World War II, these devices were used by American military paratroopers. Even today, the paracord continues to be used in the military industry and is in high demand among hunters. It is even called a rope for survival. Paracord (what it is, you already know) is used as a strong and reliable cable.
And if you explore the possibilities of its use, it turns out that they are much wider than we can imagine. For example, the capabilities of the paracord allowed astronauts to use it during the second flight of the Shuttle even for repairing the telescope.
Paracord consists of many fibers intertwined with each other. Thanks to this, manufacturers were able to get a smooth surface. As for elasticity, nylon contributed to it.
The use of paracord today
That this - a paracord - should be disassembled in detail. As we have already said, the use of this material is even wider than before. Paracord helps out in many situations where a strong cable with a high level of elasticity is really needed. Often this applies to equipment that uses belt-shoulder systems. Among other things, they use paracord weaving in the following cases:
- Quite often it is used for lanyards. This is the name of cords or brushes on the handle of a tool or cold steel, which help to fix it on the hand, preventing loss or slipping out.
- With the help of a paracord, backpacks are attached to the shelves.
- Attach camouflage nets to trees.
- In some cases, high-quality hardware fasteners are carried out.
DIY paracord
Weaving is made of paracord perfectly. Particularly expressive are wicker items made from multi-color paracord. It can be bracelets, watchbands, cases for flash drives, key rings for keys and phones, as well as a braid for pen handles, lighters, flashlights, etc. Having learned exactly what it is - a paracord, we can say with accuracy that weaving is based on it on the use of various kinds of designs. At the same time, a jewelry or paracord belt, in addition to the decorative function, will also carry out a practical one, since in a matter of minutes you may have a strong cable in your hands.
By the way, for the production of the bracelet it will need about 4 m, and the belt will take at least 15 m.
It is enough to master the general principles of weaving from paracord, and you can always make a wonderful gift with your own hands, which can please friends and family.
How to distinguish a fake from a real paracord
How to weave a paracord is a rather extensive and complex question. The technique of this action is not simple and requires special attention and accuracy. But it is worth remembering that to help out in difficult times, and also become a great decoration can only be a quality paracord. Therefore, you should be careful when buying it:
- Choosing a paracord that is real, you can understand even by touch. A soft surface will give good quality.
- If you set fire to the edge of the cable, it will smoke and smell like melting plastic.
- In addition, the edges and the core will melt unevenly - the outer shell will burn faster and expose the core.
- A high-quality paracord is able to withstand a weight of up to 250 kg, while a fake will burst already with a weight of 50 to 100 kg.
It is worth noting that such material can not be used as a cable for climbing.
Paracord weaving steps
Doing paracord with your own hands is rather difficult, and making a bracelet out of it is even more difficult. But if you try and be careful, then everything can turn out at the highest level. Next, we will consider patterns of paracord weaving in the form of bracelets.
It is pleasant to carry them on hand, going not only to a friendly party, but also to a hike. And in case you need a rope, you can quickly dissolve it.
You will need a clasp, a lighter and tweezers. Paracord need about 2 m:
- We burn one end of the rope and make 4 loops in the slot of the fastener.
- Now we make a loop from the long part and stretch it through 4 loops in the fastener by about 5 cm, after which we tighten the loops one by one from right to left.
- Weaken them and, using tweezers between the pairs of loops, pull out another 3 loops, and leave the fourth sideways. We rotate them so that their left side is in front.
- We pass the running cord through them, as in the 2nd paragraph.
- Tighten the loop from right to left.
- Go through steps 2, 3 and 4 again.
- When the length is suitable for you, you need to stretch the travel cord in the last row and make 3 more loops for the second part of the fastener.
Burn the rest of the cord with a lighter and thread into any loop or tie a knot.
Weaving patterns
For such bracelets, there are many patterns of weaving - “cobra”, “double cobra”, “snake”, “stitch”. It must be emphasized that the sphere of weaving from paracord was initially formed spontaneously due to the simplicity of these products, so that in some cases the same weaving pattern may have several names.
Cobra weaving pattern
One of the easiest ways, of course, is the "cobra." As a rule, on the inside of such a bracelet there can be 2 or 4 threads, therefore, the jewelry can be thinner or thicker. To do this, you will need 2 cords that are similar in length.
For each centimeter of weaving we need 6 cm of any rope and a few more, for the convenience of weaving the most recent links. Using the cobra pattern, two-color threads can be used. The scheme called "double weaving cobra" is distinguished by a width greater than 2 times, due to the combination of 2 parts.