Parachute Cord Craft

Originally used during World War II, parachute cord, or paracord, has since become a useful arts and crafts tool. After making their jumps, paratroopers would recycle as much of their landing gear as possible so they would be prepared for any setback. Rather than lugging around a large wad of cord from a chute, a soldier would whip up accessories such as belts, bracelets, and harnesses to make transporting the material convenient. If stuck in an emergency situation, the accessories could be taken apart to be reclaimed as roping. Parachute cord has become known as survival cord to symbolize its versatility. It is now available on the commercial market in a number of fashion colors and thicknesses. The projects found in this book can be made using either the 550 or 325 parachute cord. The cord number refers to the military specification standards for the minimum tinsel strength.