How to braid a Paracord Cross

There are as many ways to make this project as there are people that want to make one.

This is the way I do it.

These are some of the tools I use.

A disposable lighter, an awl, paper clips, a good quality multi-tool, a plastic clip, tape measure and a wood burning tool to cut and melt the ends of the paracord.

Finished example.

I made this from two different colored lengths of paracord 550. You can use any type of cord you like.

Cut four (4) lengths of cord 48 inches long.

Select two cords and measure 12 to 14 inches from the end and cross the cords at that point.

I am ambidextrous but for this example I am going for a right hand twist.

Take the top cord over and behind back cord.

Continue to bring the short end around and back over the and up and away.

Take the end of the section of cord that is coming out the right side and put it over and under the next cord.

Pull the cord all the way through, but don't make it too snug.

Bring the upper cord over and through the loop.

You can now pull the cords snug.

Now pull on each of the cords individually to make a nice tight knot.

This is what it looks like from the back.

To make the next layer bring the lower cord over the top and to the right of the braid.

Bring the next cord over and to the right.

Keep turning the braid to the right and bring the next cord over.

Now, bring the last cord over and through the loop.

Pull all the cords through.

Now pull each cord tight.

Continue this process until you have completed as many layers as you wish.

By taking the cord to the right each time you will end up with a twist in the braid. If you wish you can go straight across to make a very nice looking square braid.

Once you have made the braid as long as you want, take the other two cords and make another braid identical to the first.

To make the lower portion of the cross, place the ends of the braids  together as shown with the shorter ends of the cords facing up.

Fan the cords as shown and bring the lower right cord up and over the upper cord on the right.

Bring the upper right cord over to the left.

Bring the upper left cord down over the lower left cord.

Bring the lower left cord over the cord you just brought down and under the loop formed by the first cord.

Pull each of the cords snug.

Carefully pull each of the cords tight.

Just as before, up and over the upper right cord.

Up and over again.

One more time.

Now over and under the first loop.

Keep braiding until you get about double the length of the arms.

Be sure to pull the cords tight.

I like to finish this end using a Crown knot.

To begin, make one more braid just as have been doing.

Up and over the right.

Keep going.

Take the last cord over and under the last loop.

This time don't pull the cord tight.

Select one of the cords and take it around the cord to the right and up and through the center of the braid.

Go to the next cord to the right and again go around the cord next to it and up through the middle again.

One more time.

Now do the same with the last cord.

Take all four cords and pull on them to snug them up.

After you get them snug, pull them tight

The finished knot.

If you wish you can spread the cords and put a drop of fast drying glue in the center.

Pull all four of the cords together and put another drop of glue on the outside.

To complete the cross, grasp the arms of the cross and pinch them together.

Take one of the cords up and over the cord to the right.

Once again.

Keep going.

One more time.

Take the last one over and under the first loop.

Pull the cords snug.

Pull each of the cords tight.

Continue the braid until the top is about as long as the arms.

To complete the top I make another Crown Knot.

Take one cord up and over to the right again

Keep going

One more time

Put the last cord over and through the first loop.

This is where we complete the Crown knot.

Take one cord to the right one cord and up and through the middle of the braid.

Go to the right and under again.

Once more.

One last time.

Pull all of the cords snug.

Be sure to go all the way around the braid and pull each cord as tight as you can. That's where the multi-tool comes in handy.

It might be a little over kill, but I like to glue the cords together.

At this point I cut the cords to about an eight of an inch.

You can use the propane lighter and melt the ends, but I prefer to use a wood burning too.

Using the iron you can smooth the ends with out any blobs.

You don't need to cut the tails off. They can be cut shorter and used to fasten to a whistle.

Tie the ends together to fit around your neck.

You can cut off one or both sets of cords.

You can add a key ring to make a key fob.

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Thanks for looking.

This may not be the right way and may even be the wrong way.

But if nothing else, it is my way.

I plan on making additional tutorials.

If there is a particular knot you would like to see, let me know.