{"id":566,"date":"2020-04-09T13:58:35","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T12:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ropelockerblog.com\/?p=566"},"modified":"2021-05-13T13:11:39","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T12:11:39","slug":"paracord-craft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ropelocker.co.uk\/blog\/2020\/04\/09\/paracord-craft\/","title":{"rendered":"The rise of paracord"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How did this paracord become so popular? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paracord may look like nothing more than a flat and flimsy piece of utility cord, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Did you know paracord was used to repair NASA’s Hubble Space telescope? It’s been used by the military for decades. And the stuff has become a staple material for many jewellery makers and other crafty characters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WHAT IS PARACORD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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As the name hints, paracord was originally made for parachute lines back in world war 2 by the US military. Paracord is strong enough to be used for such a job, while it remains incredibly lightweight and easy to carry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the key characteristic of paracord is just how versatile it is. And once the military realised this, this rope became an essential ingredient in their outdoor packs and survival kits. From attaching gear to backpacks, to helping to build shelter. From creating tripwires, to making a splint for a broken limb, there are countless scenarios where paracord could even, potentially, save your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, the military, hikers, and other outdoorsy people carry paracord in the form of a survival bracelet. These are typically woven into the ‘cobra’ design (see in image). Doing so enables you to carry metres of paracord with you wherever you go (so you’re prepared for any scenario) in an easily accessible way which takes up very little room. Accessories can be attached to these bracelets too, such as compasses or even swiss army knives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image: twintiger007 \/ Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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But nowadays, paracord isn’t just known for its practicality. Its ability to be knotted, tied and weaved means you can create all sorts of funky things with the stuff. Jewellery, key rings, bracelets, lanyards, dog leads… the possibilities seem to be endless…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With platforms like Pinterest<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> allowing many of us to share our designs and tutorials online, the paracord community only seems to be growing. In fact, the ‘paracord’ hashtag has been used well over 1 million times on Instagram alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Key uses for paracord:<\/p>\n\n\n\n