How to Make Neck Lanyards

A neck lanyard is designed to allow an ID badge to hang around a person's neck, making it visible at all times. Whether it's for a visitor's badge to tour various buildings or attractions, or an ID badge to get in and out of an office building, making lanyards more personal has sparked the imagination of thousands of crafters.

Things You'll Need

• Beads Crystals Beading wire Crimp beads Crimping tool Ribbons Glue Cone finding Yarn Crochet hook Flexible jewelry wire 3 yards of cloth strips Tacky glue Magnetic Clasp Jump ring or 1/2 of a toggle clasp

Instructions

1. 

   Choose your clasp. Magnetic clasps are the most popular and safest of the clasps available for neck lanyards. They hold together well (depending upon the weight of the lanyard you are making), and they release when the lanyard is tugged upon. A regular clasp will stay hooked no matter what, allowing the wearer to be drawn in should the badge and lanyard be caught somewhere. When wearing a neck lanyard, a magnetic clasp is a vital safety feature.
   Purchase a magnetic clasp that will support the weight of whatever style of lanyard you are making. This is especially important if making a lanyard out of beads, which can be heavy. Clasps come in a variety of colors, such as gold, silver, platinum, copper and pewter, and should be chosen to enhance the design of your project.

2. 

   Select what your badge will hang from. In the center of each neck lanyard is either a solid jump ring or half a toggle clasp. The jump ring should be either 18 inches or larger and usually only comes in a variety of colored metal. Toggle clasp are made to be decorative, and therefore come in a variety of shapes, designs, sizes and materials that can enhance your project. Keep in mind that you will only be using the solid half of the toggle clasp. The straight half of the clasp can be used in another project.
   Ways to secure the jump ring to the project vary. When working with ribbon, cloth or yarn, the jump ring must be secured within the design itself (i.e., crocheting it into the lanyard or making sure the cloth/ribbon braids wrap with the ring metal inside). A toggle clasp, on the other hand, is especially easy to use when beading, as it can slide right onto the beading wire while you are working on the project. In all other cases, a small non-solid jump ring must be incorporated into the project, and then the toggle clasp is suspended from this jump ring.

3. 

   Decide on a cone finding. While this is technically optional on a beaded lanyard, it can be used on all types. Basically a cone finding will protect the ends of your lanyard and keep them from fraying during use. They come in various sizes, colors and designs and should be chosen to enhance your project.
   To use the cone finding, insert the ends of your lanyard (once completed) into the wide end of the cone, so the wire or beading material exits from the small end. This is then threaded through the magnetic clasp and returned through the cone to be attached to the main lanyard material.

4. 

   Size your lanyard before beginning to create it. Most lanyards will be about 27 inches in length from end to end. Take a piece of string or material and experiment with the size that is most comfortable to you. The ID badge should hit no higher than mid-chest when hanging from the lanyard.
   If creating a beaded lanyard, your beading thread or flexible wire should be measured out at least 12 inches more than your desired size. This will give you additional length to work with at the end. If working with ribbon or cloth, the measurement should be approximately 24 to 36 inches more, according to your directions, as these items will be braided or sewn together and may therefore require the extra length. If crocheting or knitting your lanyard, follow the directions regarding material length.

5. Place the jump ring or toggle clasp. Divide your desired final length in half. This will mark the halfway point of your neck lanyard and will be where the jump ring or toggle clasp should be added. Keep in mind that you will have a length of material at each end of your project, and unless this is being incorporated into the length of your lanyard, it should not be counted in the measurement.

Resources

• Source for lanyard-making supplies