How-to Wrap a Porch Swing Chain with Rope

Are you looking at how-to makeover a typical porch swing into something special? Wrapping the swing chain with rope is not only easy, but gives your swing a custom coastal vibe.

Apparently, I must really not like swings the way the home improvement stores make them. Wrapping the chain with rope is just ONE of the things I did to makeover my porch swing. Hey, my name is Porch Daydreamer after all 🙂 I take this porch swinging thing pretty seriously! 

Let’s look at how I’ve modified my swing:

1. Upholstered the seat
2. Wrapped the chain in rope
3. Repainted with a driftwood faux finish 

My porch swing now looks like a very expensive custom swing. It started out as a basic black swing from Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. Don’t believe me? Here was the swing at the beginning of last summer…basic and getting tired looking.

Here it is now…feels like it belongs at a beach house.

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How-to Wrap a Porch  Swing Chain with Rope

When I started this project, I had no idea how or if this idea was going to work. The rope was very inexpensive, so I thought the worst that could happen is I’m out a few bucks. When I want something I just go for it!

After trying a couple of options, in just a few minutes, I had a plan.  It was EASY, but you do need to be patient with the wrapping. THe good news is it goes fast!

Supplies 

If you’ve been reading my how-to guides, you have probably seen these tools before. I used to work for Rubbermaid in the Tough Tools division and still use them. Great tools, but no longer available. That’s an unemployment story for another time 😉

Total cost will be around $30 for supplies. Not bad right? 

• Rope 1/2 inch x 100 feet (I had a lot left over!)
• Cable Ties
• Dress Maker Tape Measure
• Cutting Pliers
• Tape Measure
• Ladder

I have a question. Have you ever braided your own or someone else’s hair? If not, that is a principle that is needed to get you through this process. Here is a diagram to help you “see” this before I start explaining! The rope comes apart in 3 sections.

Step 1:

Measure the chain using the dress maker measuring tape. Measure it in sections and you’ll see below why I recommend a flexible tape measure.  You will have to measure through the 4 holes on the swing.

Measure the distance from the where the chain is hanging from the ceiling, then from the split. I’m calling those the Y-connectors that go through the arms to hold the swing level. One measurement is for the front part of the Y and one for the back part. 

Write the 3 section measurements down on a piece of paper and ADD 5 INCHES to each piece, so you have enough rope to tie knots and trim. I’m ASSUMING if you measure one side you can use that for both – that worked for me!

You can see the driftwood finish is in process. Come back next week for that tutorial! So you don’t miss it, please consider signing up for my weekly e-newsletter when my face pops up 🙂

Step 2:

Cut the sections of rope using the cutting pliers. I’d recommend doing this outside because it’s pretty messy.  My kitchen counter and floors were a mess after this project, so I’ll save you the trouble of having to vacuum and dust.

You will have an identical set (one for each side) of these pieces for a total of 6:

1. Front Y 
2. Back Y
3. Long hanging chain

As you go through these instructions, I won’t be repeating the process for each area but show you the principles for the sections.  So know you will go through the process 6 times!

Step 3:

Begin with the front or back Y and split the rope into 3 sections. Who knew a rope had 3 sections??? This I did, before attaching it to the swing. 

Step 4:

With precision, jam the three pieces through latch that connects the hanging chain to the Y-connection. Yeah, just jam them! No skill required. CABLE TIE THE ROPES TO THE LATCH. Sorry, I missed this picture! The cable ties will get covered later.

Step 5:

First, pull one of the 3 rope pieces down flat against the front of the chain. Run it through the hole in the arm and secure it to the eye-hook by tying a knot. 

Step 6:

Time to get “kinda” braiding. Taking the 2 unsecured pieces criss-cross them over the front, then over the back of the chain. The goal is to cover as much of the chain as possible! Go all the way through the hole by feeding the 2 pieces of rope through. Secure by tying the 2 pieces in a knot around the eye hook. THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT TAKES FOREVER, BUT IT’S QUICK.

Step 7:

After completing all 4 Y-connection sections, move to the hanging chain. You will obviously need a ladder for this one! Up at the top, follow the SAME process and jam the 3 pieces through a chain link. HOLD IN PLACE WITH A CABLE TIE.

Pretend this picture is a the top because I wasn’t risking dropping my camera 😉

Step 8:

Take one of the 3 pieces and pull flat on the front side of the chain. Secure with a cable tie near the latch.  This is JUST to hold the single rope piece taught. You can see the cable tie is holding the 2 Y-connector ropes in place “kinda” in this picture.

Step 9:

REPEAT STEP 6 FOR BOTH HANGING CHAINS. Clip off the “anchor” cable tie (pictured above) and wrap a final cable tie to secure the three pieces in place above the latch.

Step 10:

Finishing touches. Now it is time to cover the cable ties.  Here are all of the locations you will need to cover. 

Cut enough rope to create a knot around each cable wrapping the rope TWICE and then tying. See pictures below. I’m guessing it took about 6 inches. 

Step 11:

Snip off remaining long pieces of rope and the ends of the cable ties in all locations using the cutting pliers. You can clip very close on both items. I PROMISE there are cable ties underneath keeping everything secure, but they just disappear after they are wrapped in rope ties. 

Here is the chain from the side. Hopefully, you can see that the reason I started with the single piece on the “face” of the chain is to provide the most coverage when looking directly at the swing. 

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ENJOY!

That wasn’t so bad was it! I promise it took maybe 2 hours start to finish mainly because you have to go up and down a ladder. 

I did call in my friend George to help up at the top because I’m a little person. 

He could reach more safely to secure the top with the cable ties. I did the braiding 😉 Thanks George! 

Shop the Look

Do you have that living at a beach house and sand in your toes feeling when you look at your swing now?

Want to see how my porch swing looks now and have all of the tutorials in one place?

How-to Makeover a Basic Porch Swing

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Porch swing chains are just plain boring. How to easily wrap the chain with rope in just a few steps.

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How-to Upholster a Porch Swing Seat

Make your regular porch swing look like a day bed by upholstering the seat. Plus make it more comfortable too!

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Easy Driftwood Paint Finish for Outdoor Furniture

Makeover a porch swing or outdoor furniture with paint. Follow this easy 3 step layering paint process to create an outdoor driftwood gray finish.

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Until next time…

Porch Daydreamer

Tracey