Cord wrap

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(Redirected from Cobra Knot - Cord Wrap)

The cobra knot (also known as the cobra stitch) is used to wrap objects. It is commonly tied on the handles of backpacks and knives, where it improves grip and comfort. The wrap is also a great way to store paracord for emergency situations. Click on any image for a larger version.

1) Start by finding an object to be wrapped such as a knife handle, pack handle or strap, knife sheath, or flashlight. Here, we have a leather-cased, nylon suitcase handle about 1.5" wide.

2) Find the center of the cord and fold it at the center. Place one end of the doubled cord on one end of the item to be wrapped. Run the cord down the item, and clamp it so that the center of the cord almost reaches the end (do not let it go too far, or it will stick out of the wrapping). Tie a modified Matthew Walker knot around the handle where the two ends protrude over the handle. Don't let the photo scare you! Just follow the line from one end to the other, and you'll see how it's done. Otherwise, any knot which attaches itself to your object will work fine.

3) Begin the cobra knot. Make a loop toward the rest of the handle with one of the bitter ends. It doesn't matter which strand you use, unless you are using different colors. The color that is used for the loop will be the center of the knot, the non-looped strand becomes the edge color.

4) Lay the other bitter end over the first strand, opposite the loop.

5) Take the non-looped strand behind the handle, and run it through the bight (the U-shape of the loop), then tighten.

6) Continue making loops with the same strand, and running the other one over the free end, behind the handle, and through the bight, then tighten. Even tension will make sure the knots are evenly spaced.

It should look like this after a few stitches. Repeat step 6 until you have reached the end of the object you are wrapping.

7) This is the end of the Cobra Knot/Stitch. I've covered the handle completely, and covered the two strands in the middle with the final stitch.

8) Seal the knot. One could just fuse the ends at the end of the Cobra knot, but that tends to unravel. To secure the knot for use, tie a half hitch on both sides of the handle, making a nice sort of over/under pattern, and then fuse the ends into the first half hitch. This knot can be finished in several ways; feel free to use your favorite knot at this point.