Bare with me on this post, it has tons of pictures showing various stages of the process. I will include brief descriptions on each to make it somewhat of a tutorial. I wanted to test this design before I posted anything, and it is now my favorite sling. I was able to throw small rocks that I could barely feel the weight of, as well as rocks over the size of an orange. The responsiveness of the new finger loop style feels great, and the black soft nylon thread makes the release oh so great. The multiple turks head knots on the release end make for easy points of release for various rock sizes, and the double cobra knot gives good traction for holding on with awkward shaped rocks. All in all this is my favorite one I have made out of the five I have done so far. I need to improve my braiding skills, to keep all of the loops more uniform, but I think I found my pouch and loop designs for sure. Now on to my steps. Here are a few shots of the finished sling first though, so you know if you want to follow along.

---

Another finished angle

---

I love how this pouch cradles ammo, note the constrictor knot on the pouch too. I forget to mention that in my "tutorial" sorry it is 2 pages btw everyone.

---

I think it looks purty

---

These knots are pretty nice for a release I think

---

This is my facorite style of finger loop now too. The lucky thing is that my existing cardboard jig was the perfect size for this without any trimming needed. Now onto the steps, sorry, just want to be thorough.

---

To start you get 4, 20 foot lengths of micro paracord. Line them up go 3ish inches from the center and start tying your finger loop with a 4 strand round braid. I also will have cut out my pouch and the leather finger ring by now. The finger loop part has four holes in line, two at each end roughly 1/4" apart. Once you get your finger loop braided to be long enough to go around the leather you unspool 4 of the ends you were braiding. Then you wrap the leather into a loop with the outer most holes on each end lined up over eachother. Then you take the four unspooled ends and feed them through the bottom of the leather, through the holes that lined up. Then you take them out one of the holes on the other side, then feed it around the leather ring and back through the hole on the other side, and back down out of the center. Be careful to not let the loose ends get weaved between the first srands you pulled through or pulling it in place will be extra tough. Once you get everything done to this point it should look like this. Beginner tip, color code all 8 of your spools with rubber bands to help with braiding, also color code the 4 double spools, (as seen here)

---

(Like this continued)

---

(Like this continued again)

---

Do the 8 strand braids from this point until just before you are ready to start tying the split braids for the pouch. Unspool all of your 8 strands. It helps to do them one at a time, here, and above on the finger loop feeding part. Then feed them through the hole on the end of the pouch. It should look like this. Minus the pouch braids lol I skipped a few pictures by accident.

---

Oh the way I came up with this pouch shape was to trace the shape of a braided sling, then retraced the form a few times to make it larger. So you may need to make a couple for this design. Here is a picture of my pouch design used, as well as the finger loop, leathers, and cordage. I have also added holes onto each end of the pouch about a 1/4 inch in.

---

This is how I fed the pouch onto the retention end. I went in through the upper, or inner, part of the pouch. Then I started my 4 strand split. Oh you can also see I cut a v shape in my actual pouch, I just traced the angle from my fold flaps down to a 90 degree angle and cut it out, then punched a small round hole at the corner, that is actually kind of crucial for the forming to come out nice.

---

Now I just braided the pouch to line up with the edge of the sling until the stitch tabs then I folded over the stitche tabs and clothes pinned them in place for later. I did half of one side, then half of the other side. I recomend just doing one side to the desired point, then switch.

---

It is tough to describe how you know when you have enough braided on each side, however, it isn't too tough to eyeball it to make it as symetrical as you can to the beginning of your split. I just braided them until they came together approximately the same distance from the pouch hole as the other side did. Then you do an 8 strand braid for about 3-4 inches and you guessed it, feed the ends back through the pouch. You got the toughest parts done, don't give up!

---

Now you just do the 8 strand braid until your end point, and tie whatever your prefered end knots are. For me I like to tie a turks head knot a couple inches short of my release knot, then another turks head knot at the natural, empty release point, then another one a little ways further down. After the first turks head knot I tie a constrictor knot as tight as possible all the way to the second one, this gives the end flex, but still a good thickness for some of those awkward projectiles. After the second knot I tie a double cobra knot to give a handle that is flat, yet grippy for adjusted ammo size, and to help know if your cord is twisted. Then after the final turks head I tied a small, extra tight constrictor knot with about 4 wraps. Then I lightly melted the ropes and smothed out the knot. I frayed out remaining ends to soften any potential hand slap. To finish the pouch you take a sewing awl, and sew the flaps down where they were clamped. Then I soaked the whole project in warm water for a few seconds, long enough to darken the leather, and wrapped the pouch around a racquet ball. Then wrapped it with paper towels and tightly wrapped electrical tape around that to hold the leather pushed tight against the ball. After taping I went around and fine tuned where everything was laying under the tape.

---

To finish the finger loop, if you are lucky like me, and your loop pattern is perfect sized for this, then you just wrap the leather around the loop, starting on one side of the leather ring. Wrap it until you can put the leather end to end. Then I use a rubber band to hold the leather in place as I move on. I used 3 rubber bands to hold the shape. Then you use a sewing awl to do what I think is called a whip stitch to close it up. Then I tie some constrictor knots to cover any loose ends, and to cover ugly loose ends of leather. And it is done! This one took a couple days to make, while trying to think of what pictures to take, and when. I wish I would have taken more. If this stirs intrest, I will do a more inclusive tutorial with more precise measurements, and better descriptions.

---

Duckhands wrote on Mar 15^th, 2021 at 11:45pm:

To finish the finger loop, if you are lucky like me, and your loop pattern is perfect sized for this, then you just wrap the leather around the loop, starting on one side of the leather ring. Wrap it until you can put the leather end to end. Then I use a rubber band to hold the leather in place as I move on. I used 3 rubber bands to hold the shape. Then you use a sewing awl to do what I think is called a whip stitch to close it up. Then I tie some constrictor knots to cover any loose ends, and to cover ugly loose ends of leather. And it is done! This one took a couple days to make, while trying to think of what pictures to take, and when. I wish I would have taken more. If this stirs intrest, I will do a more inclusive tutorial with more precise measurements, and better descriptions.

You have my address right Duck? Just making sure. I prefer 24-26 inch slings. Thanks man!   ;) :D

Haha, that is actually almost the exact size of this one. I will have to measure it now that it is finished. I would consider trading this bad boy for a glandes mold haha ;D or possibly something else. I just don't want a spanking for posting anything else in the trading post ;) I was truly shocked how perfect my existing finger loop form was for this stitched loop

Morphy wrote on Mar 16^th, 2021 at 1:36am:

Duckhands wrote on Mar 15th, 2021 at 11:45pm: To finish the finger loop, if you are lucky like me, and your loop pattern is perfect sized for this, then you just wrap the leather around the loop, starting on one side of the leather ring. Wrap it until you can put the leather end to end. Then I use a rubber band to hold the leather in place as I move on. I used 3 rubber bands to hold the shape. Then you use a sewing awl to do what I think is called a whip stitch to close it up. Then I tie some constrictor knots to cover any loose ends, and to cover ugly loose ends of leather. And it is done! This one took a couple days to make, while trying to think of what pictures to take, and when. I wish I would have taken more. If this stirs intrest, I will do a more inclusive tutorial with more precise measurements, and better descriptions. You have my address right Duck? Just making sure. I prefer 24-26 inch slings. Thanks man!   ;) :D

I got these colors, plus the two used on the sling, oh and it is 26 1/2" on the dot, but I don't think I'll part with this bad boy. Even though the braids aren't the best I am liking how it feels, after today's test throws.

---

Brilliant!

David Morningstar wrote on Mar 16^th, 2021 at 3:00am:

Brilliant!

Thanks man, I still think yours is a work of art, once I get my braids more uniform I might try some more traditional materials as well. I love that look. Oh do you need a pc to post multiple pics per message? I have one, but use my phone here for the most part.

To the side of the text box there's Attachments and a box with a plus sign in it. If you click the box it adds more rows to add attachments.

Beautiful work.  I am impressed.

Kick wrote on Mar 16^th, 2021 at 12:15pm:

To the side of the text box there's Attachments and a box with a plus sign in it. If you click the box it adds more rows to add attachments.

Thanks for the tip, that should make my posts less obnoxious in the future. Thanks Ratman i for sure got the sling making bug, and quick too haha.