How to Make Shoelace Key Chains

A shoelace key chain can be a colorful and interesting way to keep track of your keys. If you have children who enjoy making craft projects from string and beads, making a key chain from shoelaces, beads, and a keyring could be a perfect afternoon activity to keep them occupied and happily busy.

Offer them two brightly colored shoelaces, some pony beads, and a few guidelines and watch the creative key chains they are sure to concoct!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Standard key ring Two brightly colored shoelaces (as long as you can find) Pony beads (approximately twenty) Tape Scissors Lighter (optional)

1. Hold both shoelaces together with ends even and fold them in half.

2. Place the loop at the half way point in the shoelaces over the bottom of the key ring.

3. Grasp the ends of the shoelaces and bring them around the back of the key ring. Push the ends through the loop of the shoelaces. Pull the ends tight to attach the shoelaces to the key ring.

4. Tape the key ring to a work surface to secure it.

5. Separate the shoelaces with two center laces going straight down from the key ring and a left shoelace extending out toward the left and a right shoelace extending out toward the right.

6. Slide the first pony bead onto the two center laces.

7. Tie a square knot under the pony bead with the two outer laces (right lace over the left lace for the first half of the knot and then the left lace over the right lace for the second half of the knot).

8. Add another pony bead onto the two center laces.

9. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 until the key chain is 3 or 4 inches long.

10. End the key chain with a bead.

11. Take all four laces and tie them in a tight overhand knot to finish the key chain.

Tips & Warnings

• If you pass a lighter over the raw ends of the shoelaces at the end of the key chain, you can prevent the laces from unraveling.