This paracord snake is so cool and it’s a great introduction to paracord knotting! Use beginner friendly, basic knots and learn how to make a paracord snake with only 3 simple steps!
Kids will have a blast bending and shaping their snake and making it slither around. This knotted craft is easy and fun, perfect for summer camp and Scouts!
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How to Make a Paracord Snake
Materials:
- 16 feet Paracord (2 colours, 8 feet each)
- 3 inches Red paracord
- 2 Googly eyes (5 mm)
Equipment:
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Set-up your paracord
- If your paracord doesn't come in 8 foot lengths, cut 2 pieces of paracord to be 8 feet each. If the ends feel hard, like they've already been melted, cut off the melted part. Hold the cut ends of the two colours beside each other, then carefully hold the flame of a BBQ lighter over the ends until they start to melt - about 3 seconds.
- Quickly and carefully press the cords together until they cool off, keeping your fingers far away from the hot, melted ends.You should now have a 2 colour cord that's 16 feet long.
- Fold the long cord in half and pull the melted connection (where the colours meet) 3 to 4 inches up so that the bottom loop is all one colour.
- Keep the loop on the bottom and measure up about 12 inches. (Or however long you want your snake to be). Tie the cords in a knot.
- Secure your knot by taping it to your working surface.
Step 3: Tie a cobra knot
- Bring the left cord (dark green in this case) over top of the center cords. Lift the right cord (light green) over top so the light green cord is over the dark green cord. Now bring the right cord (light green) under the center cords and up through the left loop.
- Pull both cords tight up to the top knot. You've just tied a cobra knot!
Step 4: Make alternating half-hitch knots
- Bring the left cord under the center cords to make a loop on the left. Pull the cord back to the left over the center cords and down into the loop.
- Pull this knot tight and push it up against the previous knot.
- Now, bring the right cord over the center cords to make a loop on the right. Pull the cord back to the right under the center cords and up into the loop.
- Again, pull the knot tight and push it up.
Step 5: Repeat
- The rest of the paracord snake is made using the same three knots you just tied. Repeat step 3 by making a cobra knot and pull it tight.Then repeat step 4 and tie alternating half hitch knots, starting with the left side. Pull them tight.
- Continue this pattern, repeating steps 3 and 4, until you're a couple of inches away from the bottom loop.
Step 6: Add the snake's tongue
- Cut a 3 inch piece of red paracord. Hold the end over the flame of a BBQ lighter for 2 to 3 seconds until the end is melted (but not burned).
- Press the melted end against the side of the BBQ lighter to give it a smooth edge.Melting the paracord ends keeps the unfinished edges from unravelling.
- Place the red paracord under the center cords and continue tying the same knots around them.
- Be sure to hold the red cord in place and make sure it's secure as you pull the knot tight.
- Repeat the same knotting pattern until you reach the bottom loop of the center cords. Be sure to end on a cobra knot.
Step 7: Finish off the snake
- Cut off the extra cord, close to the last knot.
- Melt the ends of the cord for approximately 2 to 3 seconds, then press the lighter against them to flatten the ends and keep the knots in place.
- Use glue tape, or a stronger glue (see more information below!), to attach googly eyes to the snake.
- Your paracord snake is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- CAUTION: Paracord gets really hot after being melted and can burn your skin. Melting the paracord should be done by an adult. Be VERY careful when you’re melting the cords. Keep your fingers away from the melted areas until they’ve cooled.
- Pull your knots tight and push them up the center strands as you’re working for the best looking knots.
How much paracord do I need to make a paracord snake?
You will need roughly 1 foot of paracord per inch of snake. We started with 8 feet of each colour of paracord (16 feet total), but ended up with around 3 feet of each colour leftover when making an 11 inch snake.
Basically, the amount of paracord needed will depend on how long you make your snake and how tight your knots are! With the full 16 feet of cord you should be able to make a snake up to 16 inches long.
What glue works best to attach the googly eyes to the paracord snake?
We used glue tape to attach the snake’s eyes, and it works well enough if you’re just displaying the snake. However, if you’re actually playing with the paracord snake the glue taped eyes fall off very easily.
We’d recommend using hot glue or tacky glue. The hot glue dries almost immediately. Tacky glue takes several hours to fully dry allowing the eyes to slide around a bit. Both of these options hold up pretty well, though they can still be picked off if you try.
Is a cobra knot the same as a square knot?
Interestingly, it will depend on who you ask! A cobra knot, also known as a Soloman bar, is the same as a square knot in macrame. However, a regular square knot (known as a “reef knot”) is different because it isn’t tied around a center strand.
This information won’t affect anything in this craft as long as you’re following our tutorial. But it helps to keep an eye out for the different knot names if you work on future knotting projects.
This is a fun craft for boys and girls who love snakes and the outdoors. Choose your favourite colours of paracord and make a paracord snake in less than half an hour!
Here’s even more knotted craft ideas:
How to Make a Paracord Bracelet
How to Make a Macrame Keychain
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound |  Amazon Canada
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