Paracord bracelets may be a survival tool, but they can also be a fun craft. You can weave dozens of patterns with your paracord, and some are easier than others.
If you’re new to weaving paracord bracelets, the last thing you want is to choose a weave that is too difficult and become frustrated. Or worse, give up on making paracord bracelets altogether!
Keep reading to learn about three easy paracord bracelet patterns and the instructions on how to weave them.
(And if this is your first time making a paracord bracelet, start here: How to Make a Paracord Bracelet.)
1. 1-Minute Survival Paracord Bracelet Pattern
If you have zero weaving experience, the 1-Minute Survival Bracelet Pattern, also called The Quick Deploy Jig, is where we recommend starting. This paracord bracelet pattern will familiarize you with the feel of paracord in your hands and how to maneuver it.
Uses
This pattern is incredibly easy to unfold in an emergency survival situation–the name boasts it can be created in just one minute. If you see a high probability of needing your bracelet in an emergency, this is the bracelet you want to wear.
The 1-Minute Survival bracelet is the preferred pattern used by Operation Gratitude, a non-profit that sends care packages to US troops overseas. Military troops have told the nonprofit that they prefer this bracelet because it allows them to deploy their bracelet when needed quickly.
What You Need
- 96 inches of Paracord
- Measuring Tape
- Lighter
- Fabric Scissors
- Quick Deploy Jig Print Off (Optional)
How to Make the 1-Minute Survival Bracelet
Measure 96 inches of paracord, cut the cord, and melt the end you cut with a lighter.
This paracord bracelet pattern looks best if you use a stopper knot instead of a buckle. Start by folding your paracord in half and weaving your stopper knots on both ends.
If you downloaded the Quick Deploy Jig Print Off, line up your paracord according to the lines on the paper. If you don’t have the print-off, you can make an S with your paracord and pinch it with your fingers.
Then you will start wrapping the cord around all three strands of the bracelet, starting from the male side of the bracelet.
The first couple of wraps should be tight. Then you can allow them to relax a little as you work. Avoid allowing your center strands to twist around each other, or your cord will be harder to disassemble.
When you reach the end, stick your end cord through the remaining loop and spread the weave a little to lock the loop. Melt down the end before finishing the bracelet.
Pull your tail through the loop, and voila! You have the 1-minute Survival Paracord Bracelet Pattern. With practice, this bracelet can be both made and untied within a minute.
Purchase This Bracelet Pattern
Interested in buying this bracelet instead of making it? Buy it on Etsy.
2. Cobra Paracord Bracelet Pattern
Uses
The Cobra Paracord Bracelet pattern, also called the Solomon Bar or the Square Knot, is famous for being the original Paracord bracelet.
It was first created because the parachute cord was commonly seen in military bases. Military personnel began making these bracelets; later, campers and survivalists started using them as part of their survival kits.
What You Need
- 8 feet of Paracord
- Measuring Tape
- Fabric Scissors
- Lighter
- Paracord Jig Board (Optional)
- Needle or Fid (Optional)
How to Make the Cobra Paracord Bracelet
Measure out 96 inches of paracord, cut the cord, and melt the end you cut with a lighter. You can tie a stopper knot or weave your paracord through a buckle, tying it with a simple Lark Knot (also known as a Cows Hitch).
When the bracelet is the length you want, spread the two outer ends to the side and make sure you have no twists in the paracord. After all the twists are removed, you’re ready to begin weaving on the male side of the bracelet.
If you are using a Paracord Jig Board, this is when you would hook it. You can also lay your paracord on a table and use tape (or a friend’s helping hands!) to keep the paracord steady while you weave.
We did not use a Jig Board, and we wished we had one while making this bracelet because, during the weaving process, we experienced slipping that resulted in us having to adjust it often to make sure the bracelet was the right size.
Start by putting the right side cord over the top. The left cord will go straight down and over the right side cord. The left will go behind the back and up through the right loop.
Tighten your loop, and then you’re going to make a mirror image of the knot you just made. Take the left cord and put it over the top. The right cord goes straight down over it and around the back, then through the left loop.
Once you’ve figured these knots out, the rest is easy. You will continue to do the same process until you reach the other side of the bracelet. You should always alternate which side you put the cord across. If you put the cord on the same side, you will create a twist (which you don’t want).
Once you reach the end, you may need to use a needle or fid to finish the last couple of knots, but if you have sharp nails, you can get away without it. Use your scissors to cut the ends, and use a lighter to melt the ends.
Purchase This Bracelet Pattern
Interested in buying this bracelet instead? Buy it on Amazon.
3. Fishtail Paracord Bracelet Pattern
Uses
A fishtail, or fishbone stitch (known more commonly as the fishtail braid), is a popular pattern seen in crafting and hairstyling. The pattern’s origins are found all the way back in ancient Athens women’s hairstyles.
This fishtail paracord bracelet pattern is recognized by intertwining two sections of paracord to create a pattern resembling fish scales.
This bracelet is the easiest bracelet to weave with a second color to create a beautiful multi-colored bracelet, although you can easily make it with one color if you prefer not to mess with fusing paracord.
There is a good chance that if you ever have to deploy a two-colored bracelet, your fused cords will disconnect. Two pieces of 5-foot paracord work perfectly for emergency shoe laces, but if you plan on needing a longer cord, you will want to use one color.
Pro Survival Tip: Wear a single-colored paracord bracelet pattern for all your serious survival needs, then add a two-colored survival bracelet pattern to your wrist if you ever need shoelaces. Other things you can do with 5 feet of paracord:
- Make a keychain
- Use it as an arm sling if someone hurts their arm
- Use it as a zipper pull
What You Need
- 120 inches of Paracord
- Measuring Tape
- Fabric Scissors
- Lighter
- Paracord Jig Board (Optional)
- Needle or Fid (Optional)
How to Make the Fishtail Paracord Bracelet
If you’re going to weave a two-colored paracord bracelet, you need to start the Fishtail Paracord Bracelet pattern by fusing two pieces of different colored paracord.
After trial and error, we found the easiest method to fuse paracords is simply to melt them together. Using the lighter, heat both ends of the paracord you plan to fuse, push them together, and hold in the flame for a few seconds.
After your two colors are fused, fold your new multi-colored piece of paracord and create the stop knots, or weave buckles, as usual. Make sure your cords are straight!
Now, you’re ready to begin your weave. Place the paracord on your Paracord Jig Board, grab some tape, or ask a friend for a second set of hands to keep everything in alignment.
Weave the left tail over to the left and under the right strand, then take the right strand over the right tail and under the left strand. Use your thumb to hold the middle and pull the tails to push up the weave.
Repeat this process until you reach the female buckle. The last few weaves will be challenging, which is when you want to use a needle or fid.
Cut any fray that appears on the cord as you weave, then burn what’s left to seal it. When you reach the end, you will cut off the excess paracord, burn the ends, and press the burned areas flat with your thumb while they’re still hot.
Purchase This Bracelet Pattern
Interested in buying this bracelet instead of making it? Buy it on Etsy.
It’s Time to Start Weaving!
Now you know three basic, easy paracord bracelet patterns that you can start weaving today. For additional tips and tricks on how to perfect your paracord bracelet-making skills, check out How to Make a Paracord Bracelet.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa writes about homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Whether it’s canning vegetables or setting up a rainwater harvesting system, Lisa’s goal is to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.