2. Paracord finally...

Finally I get some paracord to my hands. I bought it in my own town in local "army"  store.

The price is much higher then on Ebay or Amazon or some Chinese sites but I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.  So...

 It is Type III 550 Lbs type of paracord. I started to play around with it  and trying to figure out what do I want to do with it. What and how to tie :))

On the end as my first paracord project I started to practice few simple knots and it finished  as small lanyard for my butane torch lighter. 

I tied couple of two strands lanyard knots or "diamond knots" as they call them and then "finished" with two celtic button knots. It looks like heavy installation for that lighter but since my waist bag is full of staff it is easy to find it inside.

After that following great tutorials from internet i manage to tie two color "Round crown sinnet lanyard" .

I have to learn how to precisely melt the ends because it looks pretty bad if You do not pay attention to that details. But I am proud at myself because I manage to do it from first attempt following the video tutorial.

The internet is full of "paracord and rope projects" and I am amazed how many beautiful and practical things can be done with it.

The other thing about it is that it is something that occupies me and give me a peace in mind while playing with it. Sometimes it is frustrating and funny how my brain can not understand the tutorial together with my clumsy fingers. But when the "project" is finished...

My first...

For some time now I am hooked in tying various types of knots and trying to make something pretty and functional at the same time from various rope types.

For that new passion I "blame" my "brothers by interests" from my "home forum"

Survival forum Croatia , Croatian forum full of fantastic girls and guys who does not just talk about bushcraft, survival, knives and various gadgets and equipment, but try to practice that kind of life, enjoying the nature and its gifts to us, making beautiful items from wood, metal (fantastic knives) by their own hands, testing the various equipment, sharing their experience and knowledge, ...

Since I have two beautiful young daughters my nature exploration is now catted to long walks not too far from home , and short trips in to "wild" with my family. I just  hope that some of that love for nature and exploration of it, will still stay in them when they grow up.

So playing with knots and ropes  is kind of "staying connected" with "survival community", and I found great joy in it since the product (however unperfect) of my hands is tangible.

I am still in learning curve but it is much easier to learn something these days (thanks to global connection) especially with so many good people willing to share their knowledge.

That said I have to mention Stormdrane's blog and his great, great work and willing to share its knowledge and experience ,and of course J.D.Lenzen and his Fusionknots  site together with "Tying it all together"   You tube channel.

Those two are great inspiration and example how great things can be made from something so simple as,  plain rope...

Their projects are mainly made of paracord as material, so I will try to follow that path although it is hard to find it (in all colors and sizes).

If anyone knows good (cheap but not China) site from which I can buy them (shipping to Croatia) with reasonably shipping cost, please let me know.

Of course (I hope) that with more knowledge and experience I will try myself in other rope materials too.

So here it is. "My first"...

Of course it had to be "Survival" bracelet (Solomon bar stitch) , because everyone else is doing it and it is easy to follow instructions from internet, so it is very good practice project.

My first "survival" bracelet :)

After I made first one i had to make another one, because my younger daughter wanted one too...

My second one...

  

On the second one I tried the different knot for "button", so called Lanyard knot .

  

My daughters were happy and so do I. It took me some time and effort, just enough to stay "hooked"

 As You can see that is not paracord, just some plain soft peace of rope which my wife gave to me for "playing" :)

Of course, what is the master without proper tools. So for my first project I made myself a JIG.  This is the first one and it is still in use since the "proper one" is still in progress...

It is just peace of plain board with two nails driven in to it. But it works !

My JIG

That's it for now. Hope that You like it :)