How to Make a Paracord Watchband

You'll Need:

About 10 feet of paracord,

Scissors,

Lighter,

Tape measure,

Hemostats,

Watch,

5/8" side release buckle.

Instructions

The amount of paracord that will be used depends on your wrist size, cord, and tying technique (tight/loose). For a wrist size of about 8.5 inches, approximately 8 or 9 feet is needed after finishing the bracelet/watchband.

To Begin

Measure about 20 inches from one end of your length of paracord. This is where you'll loop onto one end of your side release buckle. Once attached, you'll have the longer section, which will be your working end, and the shorter end, which is just attached to the buckle ends and will be tucked in when finishing the bracelet/watchband.

Add the Watch and Adjust for Wrist Size

If making a watchband, take the strands of paracord from the looped section of the buckle and run them over the watch pin, under the watch, and over the other watch pins. Then, loop the paracord around the other buckle end twice.

At this point, measure the distance between the buckle ends for your wrist size. This distance should equal your actual wrist measurement. The weaving process will stretch the original spacing of the bracelet/watchband by about another inch after tightening as you reach the finishing point.

Now, bring the cord ends back through the watch pins, alongside your first pass, and around the starting buckle end.

Begin Weaving

Begin weaving the long working end of your paracord. The shorter end will be left out until it's time to finish the bracelet/watchband and will be tucked into the weave.

This weaving process is called 'weaving with three warps.' You'll go around the outer cord with your working strand, under the center two cords (treated as one cord), and around the other outer cord.

Weave it back over the center two strands and around the outer cord, continuing this process back and forth. Keep slack to a minimum to maintain a uniform weave. Every couple of weaves, push your work tight towards the starting buckle end.

Threading the Watch

Once you've reached the point where your watch will be centered, push the watch tight against the woven cord and bring your working strand through the pin alongside the other cords under the watch and back through the other pin.

Continue on the Other Side of the Watch

Continue weaving the paracord, keeping a uniform appearance, and tightening as you go. A pair of hemostats can help maneuver the cord as you approach the buckle end, making the last couple of weaves easier.

Finishing Up

To finish, take the working strand around one of the outer cords, ensuring it emerges from the underside of the bracelet/watchband.

Use your hemostats to work them through about three of the center weaves toward the buckle end. Grasp the working strand and pull it back through the center weaves.

Trim the end with your scissors, quickly melt the end to prevent fraying, and tuck it under the weave.

Next, repeat the process with the shorter end of the cord, and you're finished.

If you measure again, you'll see that the finished length is about 1 inch longer than the starting measurement. This will vary depending on how tightly you tightened the weave as you went along, but it should result in a loose, comfortable fit.