How To: Tie a Survival Bracelet

Parachute cord is as handy as duct tape when you’re outside. Use it for sewing, fishing, or to lash branches together for a lean-to. Make this survival bracelet, and you’ll always have cord close at hand.

Here is What You Need

• 550 parachute cord (8 feet)
• Side-release buckle
• Scissors
• Matches or lighter

Here’s What You Do

1. Fold the cord in half to make a long loop with equal-sized tails. Stuff the loop through one side of the buckle. Bring the ends of the cord through the loop and pull tight.
2. Push the ends of the cord through the other side of the buckle to make a closed loop. Slide it over your hand. Adjust the cord until the loop fits your wrist. Unsnap the buckle.
3. Your cord will be one color, but we made ours two so it’s easier to follow the steps. The short cords between the buckles are “resting strands.” The long cords are “working strands.”
4. Pick one of the working strands (we chose yellow). Bring it under the resting strands and over the other working strand to make a loop.
5. Take the other working strand (blue in our example) and bring it over the resting strands and through the loop you made in Step 4. Then pull both strands tight. 6 Do the same thing again.
6. Pick the strand you started with (it will be on the opposite side this time). Go under the resting strands and over the other working strand to make a loop.
7. Take the other working strand and go over the resting strands and through the loop you made in Step 6. Pull both strands tight.
8. Notice that one working strand goes down into a loop and one comes up through a loop. Always start the next braid with the strand that comes up and out.
9. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until you reach the other buckle. Snip off each working strand so only a little sticks out. Have an adult melt the snipped cord with a flame.