Cross Knot Paracord Lanyard

This instructable will show how to make a paracord lanyard using the cross knot and snake knot. The lanyard can be used as a wallet chain, to secure a key chain, keyring, knife, multitool, flashlight, cell phone, camera, binoculars, compass, and other assorted pocketable gadgets, gear, and gizmos... More projects, links, knot references can be seen in my blog, Stormdrane's Blog.

The cross knot can also be found under different names from other online and book references, as: The Chinese Crown Knot, Chinese Cross, Japanese Crown Knot, Japanese Success Knot, Rustler's Knot, Friendship Knot, and knot #808 in 'The Ashley Book of Knots'.

You can use the loop end of the lanyard to attach it to your item and use the clip end to secure to a belt loop, bag, pack, etc... Or run a belt through the lanyard's loop and use the attachment to clip onto your gadget, gear, gizmo, etc... Longer versions could be used as a pet leash for your dog, cat, pot belly pig, iguana, ferret, or other assorted leashable rodents and varmints.

Supplies

For this project, you'll need 10 feet of paracord, scissors, swivel snap hook, and a lighter. Optional supplies are hemostats, tape measure, and your own choice of attachments, like: split ring, swivel clip, carabiner, snap shackle, etc...

I used 10 feet of paracord to make a finished lanyard/wallet chain of about 2.5 feet in length. You can use more or less to make one of your own preferred length.

There are many online sources for paracord, available in different lengths and color choices, and can sometimes be found at local sporting goods outlets and Army/Navy Surplus stores. Various attachments can also be found online and at local retail establishments, and you may even scavenge them from keyrings/keychains, pet leashes, etc... that you already have.

Step 2

Find the center of your length of cord, form a bight, which will be the the loop end of your lanyard.

Step 3

To tie the cross knot you're going to bring the strand of cord on the right over the left strand, back under to the right, and back under again to the left, making an 'S' shape as shown.

Step 4

Now with the left strand, bring it up under the 'S' shape through the top loop as shown.

Step 5

Bring the strand back down over the first two parts of the 'S' shape and under the bottom as shown.

Step 6

Tighten up the knot by carefully pulling on each of the working ends and loop ends of the cord. You can adjust the size of the lanyard's loop by working slack from the loop end to decrease it's size, or from the working ends to increase the loops size. I've kept the loop at about 2 inches in length, so that a belt will fit through it, but you can make it larger or smaller to your preference. You can also check that the working ends of the paracord are equal in length at this point, and work slack through the knot to even them up if needed.

*Note the other side of the knot, looks different with the 'cross' pattern, as shown.

Step7

Now you can tie the next knot in the lanyard, the same way as the first. After tying the next knot, work the slack through the knot until you have about 1 inch of space between them, then tighten and continue with the next knot. Note that the knots look different on each side, front/back, and that you tie the each facing the same way, or alternate them if you choose.

Continue making knots until you have about 1 foot of cord left with each end of the working strands.

Step 8

Now you will add your attachment, like the swivel snap hook shown, putting both strands through the swivel eye to begin tying the snake knot.

Step 9

Bring the right strand under the cords, then up over them as shown.

Step 10

Now take the left strand over across the other strands, back behind and under the cords, and up through the right strand loop, as shown. Then tighten.

Step 11

Take the right strand under and behind the cords then bring it back through the tightened knot, along side itself as shown, and tighten. This is where hemostats come in handy with tying this knot, working the cord through the previously tightened part of the knot. It can be done without hemostats, but requires tightening/loosening of the knots with just your fingertips.

Step 12

Turn the lanyard over, so the other side of the knot is facing up. The working strand now on the right side will be brought under the cords, back up and down through the parallel strands of the knot as shown, then tighten. And continue this process, flipping the lanyard over, taking the right strand under and back up around and through the parallel cords, and tighten... Continue until you run out of cord or reach the cross knot.

You'll now trim off any excess cord and quick melt the end of the strands to prevent fraying to finish.

Variations

You can use other two strand knots instead of the cross knot for variations on this style of lanyard. A few alternatives to try tying in a spaced out series or combination of them: Matthew Walker knot, double wall knot, lanyard knot, double overhand knots, double figure 8 knots, etc... The finishing knots around the attachment can also be different, as I've used the lanyard knot, sometimes just one or several in a row.

You can also use variations of the cross knot with paracord bracelets and watchbands. Doubled version of the knot shown as a paracord bracelet and alternating with two pairs of strands for the paracord watchband. Leftover pieces of paracord can be used for zipper pulls, key ring fobs, even paracord cross pendants...