By Sandi Moynihan
If you’re feeling crafty after reading our story about the USO’s 550 cord bracelet workshops, then why not try making your own?
After a bit of research, we created an easy-to-follow guide to help you whip up your own 550 cord bracelets. It’s a great creative activity for the whole family and takes only 30 minutes to complete. Plus, all of the supplies can easily found at a local craft store and cost under $10.
You can even adapt the adapt the instructions to make 550 cord keychains or watch bands.
First, watch our how-to video above. Once you’ve got an idea of how the process works, you can click through our step-by-step instructions below:
How to make a 550 Cord Bracelet
Supplies
- 8-10 feet 550 cord
- Scissors
- Lighter
- Button
- Pen
Directions
1. Measure your wrist with the cord.
2. Cut a piece of cord that is double the length that you measured.
3. Fold the piece of cord in half.
4. Find the middle point of the rest of the cord. Tied this middle point about a half an inch from the folded end of your shorter, folded piece of cord.
5. Take the right long strand of cord and cross it over to the left.
6. Take the left long strand of cord and cross it over the other long strand of cord and under the middle two short strands of cord.
7. Loop this same strand through the loop you created on the right. The knot should resemble a pretzel.
8. Pull the knot tight!
9. Now, repeat on this process on opposite side. Take the left long strand of cord and cross it over to the right.
10. Take the right long strand of cord and cross it over the other long strand of cord and under the middle two short strands of cord. Loop this same strand through the loop you created on the left. Pull tight!
11. Repeat this alternating process until you reach the desired length of your bracelet. Cut off both long pieces of cord from your bracelet.
12. Using a lighter, melt both of cut ends to secure the braid you just crafted.
13. Holding the edge of the button with the ends of your scissors, melt the center of the button for 2-3 seconds. Immediately after melting, use a pen to poke a hole through the button. You might have to repeat this process a couple of times.
14. Thread both cords of the bracelet through the button hole.
15. Tie a knot and cut off any extra cord.
16. Using a lighter, melt the ends of the knot together to avoid any unraveling.
17. Voila! You have a brand new 550 cord bracelet!
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