Marking a paracord lanyard

[Absintheur]

Here is a step by step method of creating a paracord lanyard. I know a few of the pics are a little out of focus but you can still easily follow the step involved. Edited with clearer pictures.

1. Materials...Here I am using contrasting color to make it easier to follow the knots. You can use 1 or 2 colors...just personal preference. Here the green is32 inches and the orange is 28. The difference is because the green is making the loop and extra length is used. Also you will need a lighter to seal the ends and a bead or clip to hold the loop. Binder clips work well. Cut and gut the paracord removing all inside strands and seal the ends.



2. If you use a bead use one of the interior strands to pull the loop through the bead.



If you use a binder clip just clip it on at the length you want the loop to be.

3. first step in tying



4. next



5. next



6. next



7. carefully pull knot tight, it should en up looking like this. You may have to work the knot a bit to form the square. pull till it looks about like the pic.



8. next knot is basically the same start with the vertical (north/south) strands



9. next run the horizontal (east/west) strands through



10. pull tight, I normally just tug in opposite directions till the knot is tight. Make sure this knot is as tight as possible. Repeat and the pattern will start showing



11. Keep repeating till you run out of cord or you reach the desired length. When you reach the length you want snip a strand to about 1/4 inch and melt...don't burn just slowly melt it. Once melted I use the top of the lighter to smear it gently.





12. you can cut an melt 2 of the strands and leave a tail or do all 4...it's up to you...



If you don't use a bead the top will look like this...of course you can always add a bead later using the method in step 2.



Beads or not, tails or not...make your lanyard the way you want it. I use quite a few colors to match the scale colors and use different lengths, even will add in a mini pry bar sometimes. Have fun with it and use them. I leave the lanyard hanging out of my pocket to make getting that knife out easier rather than having to reach in and dig it out. Works for cell phones, and keys as well.

[philco]

Thanks for a well thought out and presented tutorial.

I recall making a lanyard or two back in the distant past as a Boy Scout, but I had long since forgotten how it was done. Thanks for the lesson.

Phil

[MITCH RAPP]

Thanks! Very Cool!

[jonet143]

[knifemaker3]

Cool! I've always wondered how that was done. Thanks!

[needbucks]

Thanks for the tutorial. I have tied a few here lately and use the clip to hold my loop. I have been wondering, though, what keeps the bead in place. Is there something to do that or is it free to slip up and down the loop?

[Absintheur]

It's free to move but most beads fit pretty tightly with two strands of paracord running through them. If the bead moves too much when you are starting the weave you can place a clip behind it or just tie an loose overhand knot behind it to keep it from moving when you tighten the first couple of knots.

[needbucks]

Thanks for the tutorial and the info. Now I know.

[Absintheur]

Like I said have fun with this and try variations. Here is on I made using a long bead at the bottom of the weave, the bead has a different design on all sides. To attach I simply knotted in the bead opening and melted to lock it, it is not loosening at all after a week of EDC but I may flow a good two part epoxy into the remaining gap just for good measure.

[rangerbluedog]

Another reason this is such a cool site. I find myself with a little extra time on my hands. I sits and thinks, "now is a good time to make myself one of those paracord lanyards for my electrician's knife."
But darn I forgot how to do it. Thanks to the good old search feature, I see that Absintheur wrote a tutorial a year ago! Thanks Abs!
Sometimes we don't even realize how many people's lives we impact.
Allright, that's 'nuff for me. I gotta get some sleep.
P.S. That absinthe is some wild stuff...

[rangerbluedog]

Woo hoo, I done it!
Thanks again absintheur for a fine tutorial. I used brown leather cause I'm having a tough time finding paracord in this hick town.
(and thanks to Johnnie Rotten, who provided this mighty fine Kershaw Chive as my first victim.)

[johnnierotten]

Good job,Blue.

I wish I had seen this thread before I had already ordered some.

[rangerbluedog]

It's addictive. I just made this one with pacing beads using some genuine paracord that Junebug sent.
Nows I can keep track of how many birds I shoot and how far I had to walk to find 'em!

Kershaw Scallion and Boker Bird Knife 93H

[johnnierotten]

Those look great ,Blue....I'm going to give it a try.

Thanks for the tutorial,Absintheur.

[Jeffrey]

Im gonna have to give this a try to!

[chetr1200c]

that first knife you see in the tutorial is a normark big swede. i dont see that knife too often..i have had one of those in my fishing tackle box for nearly 40 yrs now..works like new still,, but doesnt look new, alas,,,, great lanyards and also love those custom sheaths,,,,,,,chet

[OldGoat]

Absentheur,

I was wanting to make several lanyards for my knives so I read up on your excellent tutorial as to "how to" because I couldn't remember braiding from the old Cub Scout days. However, I did happen to recall that way back then I made some fishing lures for my grandfather.

I knew that he painted his lures to make them more visible in the murky water of Striker Lake so I thought I was "on track" with my designs. Papa actually used them, simply because I made them, but I cannot recall if he was successful in getting any bass with them.

At any rate, I dug them out in order to post a picture of them for your (and others) amusement.

Laugh Away!!

[orvet]

As a bass fisherman I must say, those look to have some possibilities!
The top two designs especially. Though I have had a lot of luck with yellow/purple combination in the past.

[Chief RID]

Absintheur

I have made 3 very nice knife lanyards, per you instructions. Thanks.

[eveled]

Awesome tutorial! With great pictures. To take it to the next level:

When you reach the end, tuck each end of the cord back into the knot and come out of the middle. Work your way around to the right with all four ends. It makes a Turks head and makes the ends hang straight instead of out the sides.

[kootenay joe]

Thanks for adding this last bit.
kj