If you are one of the millions of people fed up with tangled headphones, there is a solution. No longer will you have to spend hours untangling cords as long as you learn how to make a Chinese Staircase bracelet and have some embroidery thread.
EditSteps
EditPreparing the Headphones
- Check for cracked wires or rips in the protective covering. Rather than spend the next 20 to 30 minutes covering your headphones with embroidery thread, only to have them break tomorrow, check their condition first. Toss any pair that is on its last legs and invest in a new set.
- Measure your headphones, including the ear buds. This will allow you to obtain the most accurate fit.
EditPreparing the Thread For Wrapping
- Cut the thread to size according to your measurements. Be sure you make a clean cut so you don’t have unraveling thread at the base of the wires.
- Cut a little extra thread, just in case.
- Cut a little extra thread, just in case.
- Double knot the strings and wire them together. Consider starting at the base area where your headphones will plug into your audio system (or iPod).
- Stabilize the headphone wire. Place the headphone wire with a knot in either a clipboard to stabilize it or tape it down to a hard surface. You don’t want it moving around or slipping while working on the wrapping.
EditWrapping the Headphones
- Divide the strings into threes, leaving the headphone wire in the middle.
- The division into three is recommended but you can divide it more if wished.
- Braid. Cross one color string over the other string. Then cross it under the third. Pull the thread through the loop and push the knot up toward the top knot.
- Continue weaving the same string in the same fashion approximately 10 to 15 more times, pushing the knot upward.
- Grab another color string and perform the same action of weaving it under and over the other two strings. Keep the headphone wire in the middle so it begins to be consumed by the string.
- Wrap until you get to one end of the headphones. Choose which earpiece (left or right) will be finished off with the pattern and tie a double knot toward the ear piece to secure it into place.
- Trim off any loose string so you don’t get string in your ear when you use your headphones.
- Trim off any loose string so you don’t get string in your ear when you use your headphones.
- Begin the process where the first pattern split off in order to cover the other side of the headphones.
- Tie an initial double knot and then begin to weave the three strings together with the headphone wire in the middle.
- Cut and tie the other end the same way as you did the first end. Remove any loose strings.
EditVideo
EditTips
- Coat the ends with a small amount of clear nail polish to prevent fraying.
- Use this method on any other small cables/wires that seem to tangle easily.
- Consider adding a light coat of Scotch Guard to your headphones to make them a little more water or sweat resistant.
EditThings You'll Need
- Either a new pair of headphones or your current pair, de-tangled
- Embroidery thread in as many colors as you’d like, consider up to three colors for the simplest knots; you'll need enough thread to cover three times the length you will end up wrapping
- A roll of scotch or masking tape; after making the initial knot you'll need to stabilize the headphones on a hard surface
- A clip to clip the headphone wire with embroidery string to a clipboard (optional)
EditSources and Citations
- http://ift.tt/JHGyRK ApartmentTherapy.com – research source
Doing this to your headphones/earphones is very useful going on holiday or packing your headphones/earphones away as they stay unknotted👍