Mastering the Art of Paracord Knots

Begin by folding a length of paracord in half. Ensure the paracord is vertically oriented, with the folded end facing upward. This knot is particularly useful for adding a finishing touch to a paracord bracelet. Unlike the Monkey’s Fist, it doesn't demand an extensive amount of cord, making it an ideal choice when resources are limited.

Create a loop with the right end of the paracord. Position the loop towards the right, with the tail directed leftward. Ensure the tail lies horizontally beneath the left end of the paracord, a few inches/centimeters below the top fold.

Form another loop with the left end of the paracord. This loop should point leftward, with its tail also positioned horizontally. However, this time, the tail should be in front of the right loop. Ensure both loops are at the same height and level.

Thread the left-hand strand through the back of the left loop. Take the strand from the left side of your project and thread it through the back of the left loop, bringing it out the front. Point the strand upwards.

Thread the right-hand strand down through the front of the right loop. Take the strand from the right side of your project, pull it towards you, and thread it down through the front of the right loop, bringing it out the back. Point the strand upwards, parallel to the left strand.

Gradually tighten the knot by pulling on all four cords. Hold the two cords at the top with one hand and the two cords at the bottom with the other hand. Slowly pull on the cords to tighten the knot. Adjust the knot as needed to ensure symmetry and a braided bead-like appearance.

Prepare at least 3 1

⁄₂ inches (8.9 cm) of 550 paracord. The Monkey's Fist serves as both a decorative knot and a stopper. Attach it to the end of a paracord bracelet and thread it through the loop on the opposite end to secure it.

Begin by folding the cord's end and forming an overhand knot. Fold the last 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of the paracord. Create a loop by wrapping the doubled cord around your index finger, then insert the folded end through the loop. Tighten the knot close to the fold, ensuring it remains round.

Trim the excess cord beneath the knot. Use scissors or a sharp knife to remove the short stub, leaving the longer cord intact. Cut as close to the overhand knot as possible, as the stub will be concealed within the knot and won't fray. Optionally, you can melt the stub's end with a lighter or seal it with glue.

Securely hold the knot between your fingers. Extend your left index and middle fingers to the right. Slide the knot between them, stopping at the nearest knuckle. Close your fingers around the knot, ensuring it's securely pinched. The cord should drape over the top edge of your left index finger.

Wrap the cord around your index and middle fingers twice. Guide the cord behind your index finger and down towards the bottom edge of your middle finger. Wrap it around your fingers twice, stopping at the bottom of your middle finger on the second wrap.

Ensure the overhand knot is tucked inside the wrapped cord loop around your fingers. With the paracord wrapped around your index and middle fingers, forming a pocket, ensure the knot is within this pocket. If it's outside, gently push it inside so it remains between your fingers, concealed by the wrapped cord.

Wrap the cord horizontally around the looped cord three times. Pull the cord behind the vertically wrapped loops around your index and middle fingers. Thread it up through the V-shaped gap between the left side of the wrapped loops and the joint of your fingers. Repeat this three times, ending with the cord pointing to the right.

Carefully remove the wrapped cord from your fingers. Preserve the shape of the wrapped cords with the central ball intact. Ensure all horizontal and vertical loops remain together without unraveling. The gaps between loops should be distinct.

Wrap the cord vertically around the horizontal loops three times. Rotate the project so the working end of the cord faces you. You'll observe loops at the top and bottom with a cord wrapped horizontally around them thrice. Pull the cord's end down through the top hole and up through the bottom hole, repeating this process three to four times until three vertical cords are visible.

Locate the initial loop and remove any excess cord. Rotate the knot to find the first wrap. Pull on the subsequent wrap to bring up the extra cord in a large loop. Locate the next wrap and pull it forward to advance the loop. Repeat this process, pulling on adjacent wraps to maneuver the loop around the knot until you reach the cord. Pull on the cord to eliminate the excess loop.

Fold a piece of paracord in half, ensuring the fold faces upward. Utilize the entire length of paracord provided; avoid cutting it prematurely. Remember, you can always trim excess cord, but you can't add it back.

Create a loop with the left paracord, ensuring it points towards the right paracord. The remainder of the left paracord should trail behind the loop, pointing downward.

Thread the right paracord through the loop, ensuring it passes completely through. Once threaded, position it behind the left paracord.

Pass the paracord back through the loop. If not done already, guide the right paracord behind the left, wrapping around it. Pull the right paracord towards you, then thread it back through the loop.

Tighten the knot by pulling both paracords. As you tighten, the knot will ascend towards the folded/sealed part of your paracord. Maintain some space between the knot and this area, around 2 finger-widths is ideal.

Turn the paracord to the right and repeat the knot. Take the new right paracord behind the new left one. Loosen the knot on the right side, then pull the right paracord down through it.

Adjust the knot's tightness by pulling the cords. Gently tug on the left and right paracords until the knot is snug. Avoid over-tightening to allow for future adjustments.

Continue the last 2 steps until the desired length of the snake is achieved. Tighten the knot by pulling on the left and right paracords. Flip the bracelet and repeat the process, bringing the right paracord behind the left. Loosen the bottommost right knot, then thread the right paracord through it. Repeat until the snake reaches the desired length.

Conclude the snake bracelet with another spherical knot. Opt for either a Lanyard knot or a Monkey’s Fist knot. Thread the knot through the loop at the bracelet's start to secure it.