Hey, man.
I make walking sticks fairly often, and a hand wrap really improves the comfort and gripability. I can tell you how I do it, which is certainly not the only way or maybe even the best way.
Nylon cord is easy to handle, strong and lightweight, comes in many colors, but it's not as "grippy" as leather thong. If you are wrapping 1/8" cord on a 1-1/2" diameter stick, you oughta start out with a little more than 20 feet of it to get a 6" long wrapped area on the stick. Melt the ends with a cigarette lighter if they're frayed, as you don't want the end unraveling when you get it on there.
Leather thong is more grippy, and results in a more natural look on the stick, but more difficult to find in long lengths and strong enough not to break when you pull it tight. One thing you can do with leather is to soak it, which makes it stretch, and wrap it wet. It will shrink as it dries and make the wrap really tight.
This next is kinda hard to describe in words - a picture would be better. Basically, you start by making a 10" bend and laying it parallel to the stick. Then start wrapping the long end around the stick about 2" from the short end toward the loop end. Wrap it all the way up, taking care to keep the original bend parallel with the stick. When you get to the last wrap, thread it through the loop of the original bend and hold it tight. Then pull the tail of the cord where you started wrapping, which will tighten the loop down on your last wrap. Pull it good and tight (I use a vise-grip plier). Leave the ends out or cut them off, depending on the look you prefer.
Let me see if I can take a picture after breakfast, that'll make it clearer.
Parker