The braided rope will be sturdier and more flexible to use for any purpose. There are several ways to braid rope if you only have one piece of rope, or you can combine several ropes to make something stronger.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Making Three Strand Braids of Rope
Step 1. Start with the selected rope
Three-strand braids are the most common way of braiding, perhaps most often associated with classic schoolboy braids. You can use this method to make a strong braid. The braided rope is suitable for use in high-friction situations. You can use any type of rope material for this method, including synthetic rope, natural rope, and plastic rope. The rope should be flexible enough so that it can be braided. If the ends of the rope are frayed, tie them together before braiding.
- With synthetic cords, you can hold the ends together by holding them over the wax so they melt slightly and stick together.
- You can tie mattress floss (you can also use dental floss) at the end of the string to hold it together. This method is known as “whipping.”
- You can also use adhesive tape to secure the ends of the rope and prevent fraying.
Step 2. Tie the three ends of the rope
Use a knot or adhesive tape to secure the ends of the three ropes. Electrical cord tape and cloth tape are both good choices, depending on how thick the cord is. When the rope is tied on the left hand side, stretch the rope towards the end of the right hand.
- The three strands of rope must be side by side and not overlapping to be the starting position.
- Labeling A, B, and C, on the three strands of rope will be very helpful.
- You can also color code the straps or use a different color if you want to create a pattern.
Step 3. Cross the rope that is on the outside on the rope that is in the middle
Start by crossing string A over string B in the middle. Now the string order is B, A, C. Next cross the other rope that is on the outside on the new rope in the middle, C over A. Now the sequence is B, C, A. This is the basic repetition of the braiding pattern for the triple braid. rope.
Step 4. Repeat crossing the rope on the outside according to the pattern
Continue to repeat the pattern of crossing the outer rope over the middle rope and then crossing the other outer rope over the new middle rope.
- In this example, you are now crossing string B over C, so that B becomes the string in the middle.
- Then cross the rope A over the rope B so that A becomes the rope in the middle.
- You can continue this pattern until you reach the end of the rope.
Step 5. Tie the rope
When you reach the end of the rope, you can tighten the braid by tying the three strands together. You can do this by gluing the ends of the rope together using electrical cord tape or fabric tape, or by tying a strong knot at the end of the braid.
Method 2 of 4: Making Four-Strand Braids
Step 1. Start with a flexible rope
This method requires four strands of rope with good flexibility because you will be braiding several strands so it is important to make sure the type of rope used is flexible enough to be braided. It is very difficult to make a tight braid with something that is too stiff.
- Four-strand braids are a great choice for high-friction applications, such as cranes and pulleys.
- Make sure that each strand of rope is tied together at the ends, either by melting the ends of the synthetic rope or by tying or gluing natural rope.
- Excess string in a three-strand braid will make the rope thicker and stronger.
Step 2. Join all the ends
For this method of braiding, you will need to make a knot or join four strands of rope. There are several ways to do this, but the easiest way is to make a knot to tie the four strands together at the end. You can also secure it with power cord tape or cloth tape.
- You can braid with four separate strings or bend two strands of rope in half and make the two ends of the rope into two strands so that there are four strands of rope.
- You can also use eight strands of string as long as you're braiding them in groups of two strings that basically make two strands of rope together.
- For the purposes of this tutorial, the four strands of rope will be labeled A, B, C, and D. Straps B and C form the center of the two strands.
Step 3. Cross the rope in the middle
Cross rope C over rope B. Wrap rope C around rope B so that rope C crosses over rope B before wrapping it behind it and returning to the starting position in the group.
- When you're done with this step, the ends of the four ropes are still in the same order as they started.
- The order is A, B, C, D.
Step 4. Cross the end of a rope over the rope in the middle
Cross rope A over rope B. Do not cross rope A over rope C. At the end of this step, the order of the ends of the rope is B, A, C, D.
Step 5. Weave another rope
Cross the D string behind the C rope. Take from the other side of the C rope and cross it over the A rope. Do not cross the D rope with the B rope.
- At the end of this step, the string order is B, D, A, C.
- There is a braid at the end of this step.
Step 6. Repeat this pattern along the length of the rope
Follow the same pattern as you used to finish the first braid along the rope until you make the braid as long as necessary or until the rope is nearly short.
- At the start of each round, re-label the strings A, B, C, D in their current order.
- Wrap string C around string B.
- Cross string A over string B.
- Cross the D string behind the C string and over the A string.
Step 7. Join at the other end
When the braid is complete, you will need to join the four strands of rope at the end of the finished braid. You can tie them together or make a knot to hold the rope in place.
Method 3 of 4: Making a Standard Single Rope Braid
Step 1. Start with a flexible rope
The single braided rope provides the strength of the braided rope, but it is lighter because it only requires a piece of rope. Synthetic or natural cords can be used, but they must have a high degree of flexibility so you can braid them. Stiff cords will not work this way. It can be any length, depending on what it will be used for.
- Single braids are often used for rigging on boats, pulling goods, and climbing.
- Do not use a homemade rope to climb unless it has been checked by an expert who can vouch for its suitability and safety.
Step 2. Make a knot with rope
If you are making a single rope braid, you will be braiding a section of the rope. If you know how long the section to braid is, make a knot in the rope that matches that length.
- You can do this simply by tucking the two ends of the rope toward the center.
- For this example, the right side of the rope is above the left side.
Step 3. Insert an end into the knot
Once the knot is made, bring the end of the rope from the right side and through the left side of the knot in an up and down motion. Now the main knot has a smaller knot on the left side and the end of the string on the right is under the knot.
Step 4. Twist the knots
Bend the top of the knot so that it crosses over the bottom end of the original knot. Make this cross near the first braid and not toward the end of the open knot. This will create the start of the braid-like pattern and create a hole through which the right end of the string will be inserted.
- When crossing ropes, the top of the original knot will cross over the bottom of the original knot, adjacent to the new cross.
- The result is a new knot or hole that is smaller than the original braid chain.
Step 5. Thread the end of the rope through the hole you just made
Thread the right end of the rope through the hole just made in the previous step. This step forms another chain on the braid.
- The right end of the string will go into the hole by crossing the bottom of the knot and under the top of the knot.
- Now the end of the right side runs up, over the rope.
Step 6. Repeat along the rope
You'll need to keep making new little knots out of the big knots by twisting the string and threading the end of the string on the right side through the hole you made. The braid is finished when there are no more big knots to work with and use to make new small knots.
Step 7. Tighten the braid
When twisting the knot one last time, tie the right end of the rope through the last small knot. Carefully pull both ends of the rope to tighten the braid.
Method 4 of 4: Making Ape Braids
Step 1. Start with a piece of flexible rope
To make a monkey braid (or chain sinnet) you only need a piece of string. Monkey braids can add volume or shorten a rope. These braids are often used as a way to hold the rope without tangling. You can use synthetic or natural rope, but make sure the material is flexible so it can be braided. Plastic cords tend to be a bit stiff so they won't produce tight braids.
- You can use a monkey braid to make a pretty chain, which comes back straight when pulled.
- This braid is often seen on military uniforms.
Step 2. Make a knot
For this method, you will need to start making a knot in the rope by pushing the right end of the rope toward the left until a knot is formed. The starting point of this knot will be the starting point of the braid, so make sure the knot starts near the left side of the end of the string.
Step 3. Push the long side through the knot
When the knot is formed, take the long end of the rope (right side) and push the end of the rope into the knot. You push the part of the rope closest to the knot on the right side. Use only a small portion of the rope.
- You'll need to pull the small U-shaped piece of string through the previous knot to make a second knot.
- Pull it down, through the knot and out, tugging it toward the side of the rope to tighten it slightly.
- Note that it is easier to tighten each knot when using this method of braiding. Tightening the knot when you're done making the entire braid can make the braid loose and uneven.
Step 4. Bend the U-shaped part into a new knot
Once the U-shaped section has been pulled into the knot, pull it to the right so that it is parallel to the braid and knot you just pulled.
Step 5. Make another knot
Take another piece of rope from the end that you worked on (right side), again making sure it is directly next to the newly made knot. Push from behind, in and out of the knot at the end of the braid, tugging lightly to tighten it.
Step 6. Repeat along the rope
The other braid is completed by making new knots from the side of the worked rope and pulling the knots through the larger knot. Take another piece of rope from the end of the worked rope. Push this section from the bottom and into the previous knot made on the rope.
Repeat this step if needed along the length of the rope
Step 7. Thread the end of the rope into the final knot
When the braid is long enough on the rope, make a final knot specifically for the ends of the rope. To make a knot at the end of the braid, thread the end of the worked string (right side end) through the top of the last knot and thread it through it. Pull both ends of the rope to tighten the braid.
