Cordage is useful for many purposes during survival situations, including building shelters, trapping animals for food, and rappelling safely down slopes to reach otherwise inaccessible resources. You've probably already got paracord in your bug-out bag, and you may also have jute twine, monofilament fishing line, or other types of cordage. However, these are all finite resources, meaning that they'll run out or wear out eventually.
Even if you're not a dapper Swiss mountain-climber, rope can get you out of trouble in many ways.
In long-term survival situations, knowing how to make your own cordage from natural materials is an extremely valuable skill. Luckily, it's not difficult to do so. Primitive cultures have been making rope and other woven items from natural plant fibers for millennia.
The YouTuber known as NightHawkinLight has made a name for himself by creating hundreds of videos showing how to craft various items, from air cannons and knives to rockets and musical instruments. In his latest DIY video, he shows how to create hand-braided rope from dry grass.
This method can be adapted to any length or thickness of rope, and with a little practice, it'll only take a few minutes to complete a foot of strong cordage. He also emphasizes that the stiffness and moisture content has a dramatic effect on the rope — fresh green grass is more malleable, but if it's not dried before use, it'll shrink and weaken the rope.
The rope is surprisingly strong. Even knotted, it's able to support the maker's full weight.
Check out the video below, and for more DIY projects, check out NightHawkinLight's YouTube channel.
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Written by Patrick McCarthy
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