How to Make a Lanyard

Lanyard can be described as a rope or a cord that is used for securing small portable items. For instance, you can easily secure your keys, cell phone, badge, or whistle with the help of a lanyard. The best part about lanyards is that they can be made at home, easily and quickly, without putting in too much effort or materials. The only thing that you need to keep in mind is that the material used for it should be the thin, elastic, and flexible plastic lace, known as craft lace, lanyard, gimp, or boondoggle. You can either use the homemade lanyards yourself or give them as gifts to your friends and family members. In the following lines, we will explain the instructions on how to make a lanyard.

Instructions On Making Lanyards

Simple Lanyard

Items Needed

Craft Lace

Instructions

Take two strands of craft lace and fold them together into half. Make sure the lace is of considerable length.
Tie a knot towards the top of the craft lace, so as to hold the strands securely together.
With the previous step, you will have four strands, secured at the top. Spread all the strings apart, in such a way that each of them points towards a different cardinal direction.
Hold the ‘west’ string of the lace, close to the knot, and pull it over the ‘north’ string.
Now, cross the ‘north’ string over the ‘east’ string. With this, the ‘north’ string will be covering both the ‘west’ string and the ‘east’ string.
Next, cross the ‘east’ string over the ‘south’ string.
Thereafter, cross the ‘south’ string over the ‘west’ string.
Pull each end of the four strings extremely tight, in order to make the first knot.
Continue doing the procedure, starting with the crossing over of the ‘west’ string and ending with the crossing lover of the ‘south’ string, till the desired length of the lanyard is achieved.

Beaded Lanyard

Items Needed

Beading Wire
Crimp Beads with crimp bead wires
Magnetic clasp
Lanyard Hook
Key Ring
Needle Nose Pliers or Beading Pliers
Assortment of Beads

Instructions

The first step would be to take two equal lengths of beading lanyard. Tie one side of both the wires to the key ring. Now, pull both the ends of the wire to tie a knot. Repeat the same with other wire too.
For securing the knot, you need to string up a crimp bead on each of the wire. Using the beading pliers, pull the crimp bead near to the key ring and tie a knot. The next step would be to lock the crimp beads with the help of a crimp bead cover.
Now, decide the kind of pattern you want to make. Once decided, start the process of beading on each beading wire.
It is advisable not to bead more than one bead at a time, as it might disturb the sequence and the symmetry of the beads.
Once you have beaded, string up a crimp bead on each of the strings and tie both the ends together.
Now, tie the magnetic clasp. You need to bring the crimp beads over the knots and bend them with the help of the beading pliers.
Secure the knots by putting on the crimp bead covers.
Now, trim any excess wire that is close to the knot. However, incise with caution or you might end up cutting the knot.
Ensure that all the knots are tight and secured with the crimp bead cover.
Now, all you need to do is bind the lanyard hook to the key ring.
The funky-looking beaded lanyard key ring is ready to be used.
You can even hang pendants from the lanyard or keep it plain.

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