275, microcord and type I
Below three millimetres the cord stops being structural and becomes detail work.
The three sizes
| Cord | Roughly | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 275 | 2 mm | fine bracelets, inlays, small key fobs |
| Microcord | 1.4 mm | jewellery, lacing, whipping and detail |
| Type I | 1.8 mm | light lanyards, zip pulls, craft work |
Handling
Thin cord shows every mistake. Tension has to stay even along the whole piece, because a loose crossing cannot be hidden under bulk. Working over a jig rather than in the hand makes a visible difference at this scale.
Finishing
Melted ends on thin cord shrink to almost nothing, so a whipped or glued finish often holds better than a burnt one.
Buying
The thin cords are grouped here: 275 cord (https://www.123paracord.co.uk/paracord/paracord-275-2-mm/) and microcord (https://www.123paracord.co.uk/paracord/microcord-14-mm/).