Paracord Hose Weave

Paracord Hose Weave

The latest innovation for your Paracord

            When I sit down to blog every week I try to either think of an innovative or unknown product; or I try to find some idea or concept that is relevant to your life that might just benefit you in some small way (the secret is out…). After scouring the internet for new ideas this week, I believe I have found one that will help you out. The idea is simple and not one bit revolutionary, but it might just save you a few bucks over the years: wrap your garden/outdoor hoses with Paracord. This is a great idea to keep in mind as many of us are dusting off our hoses for the first time this spring.

Image Source: dan_w84

            The knot itself is quite simple and can be accomplished through a multitude of different ties including the Cobra Weave (I have included a link below to the instructables page where user dan_w84 has wrapped a drink bladder tube), but the concept is a solid one and holds various implications. First, it is a good way to protect your hoses which are frequently dragged across rocks, bricks, tar, etc. Hoses are vulnerable to being punctured and torn, particularly the thinner, more flexible garden hoses. Second, it is an easy way to color-code your hoses so you always know what is running to where. Lastly, (this may seem like a cop-out) but depending on the hose and where you are using it you will have a small length of Paracord on you, and that is always a good thing!

Image source: dan_w84

Short and sweet as they say, I hope this blog gives you a little something to do this weekend that might actually make a difference for you in the long run!

Thank you for reading! Be sure to like your Facebook page so you never miss a deal!

 Many thanks to dan_w84 for his inspiration!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Drink-Bladder-Tube-Cover/step4/null/

Paracord Fid (Needle)

Image Source: Paracord Planet

Paracord Fids (Needles)

Making your next bracelet just got easier

At least once a week, I try to highlight an innovative or exciting product; this week I want to call attention to one that is going to make your Paracord projects significantly easier. I know this will simplify your life, because we receive this question on a regular basis: “What is the point of a fid, or needle or whatever you call it?” This is a good question, because if you work with Paracord on a limited basis you may think there isn’t much to it. But the more work you do, the more you understand how a fid can help you. I will provide you with some background on the fid and explain how it can improve your projects for very little cost.

Image Source: Maine Historical Society

Fids are traditionally made of bone or wood--obviously the most readily available materials to people living in the rural parts of the world. The basic idea behind a fid is similar to that of a needle—to enable the individual to weave something that they are otherwise unable to weave with their hands—but with rope or cord rather than thread. This ability is particularly important when working with Paracord, because of how fine the cord is and how tight the weaves generally are.

Image Source: Paracord Planet

So why use a fid? Plain and simple, it will enable you to make Paracord projects you currently cannot and it will make your current Paracord projects easier. Everyday examples of this include finishing your bracelets. Yes, it is a small thing, but tucking the ends of your Paracord back into the bracelet to achieve a clean, professional finish can be frustrating; by utilizing a Paracord fid in your work, this becomes a breeze. Another very real way a fid can help you includes when you want to work that beautiful breast-cancer awareness ribbon into your Paracord bracelet while maintaining the tightness and integrity of the Paracord weave. The fid is great for getting in between the Paracord without disrupting your bracelet. A fid can also be quite beneficial for certain weaves such as the Turk’s Head and other tricky ties. A small tool that can make a big difference.

My hope is that this blog answered any questions you may have had about what a fid is or how to use it; you can find all your fids at Paracord Planet. Feel free to comment any questions you may have or tell us what project you are going to use your fid on! Like our Facebook page for great deals and enjoy your new tool!

Exclusive Interview with TIAT's J.D. Lenzen

Exclusive Interview with J.D. Lenzen of Tying It All Together

 J.D. Lenzen, creator of the famous ‘TIAT’ YouTube videos stops by to answer a few questions for us!

J.D. Lenzen of Tying It All Together

We took a week off, but the Paracord blog is back and better than ever, this week featuring an exclusive interview with J.D. Lenzen. J.D. is the creator of the ‘Tying It All Together’ (TIAT) videos on YouTube, the author of the Paracord Fusion Ties books with another coming out this year; and an inspiration to millions of people worldwide. J.D. was kind enough to grant us an opportunity to get to learn a little more about him, how his knot tying began and where it is headed.

Sam: How did you get into knot tying originally?

J.D.:

Having a restless nature, I suppose. When I was a kid, about 7 or 8, I started tying lanyards to pass time and occupy my mind, but I quickly grew bored with the limitations of flat (lanyard) cords. So I started fiddling with rope. By my teens, I’d memorized nearly all of the practical and decorative knots in The Ashley Book of Knots (ABOK). In my early twenties I began breaking knots down into their component parts—studying the techniques for tying them, then reorganizing them by to their fundamental structures. By my late twenties, I’d established a style of tying I call Fusion Knotting, or innovative knots and ties created through the merging of different knot elements or knotting techniques. I still enjoy tying historical knots, but my primary passion is Fusion Knotting. This style of tying provides me more creative freedom and has allowed me (and others) to shift knotting from a finite field of study, to an expansive and infinite expression of creativity. I'm still restless, but now I have something to show for it.   

Sam: You work full time as an environmental chemist, how did your hobby of knot tying become a second full-time job?

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