How to Make a Dragonfly Keychain With Craft Lace

With their jewel-tone colors and graceful, transparent wings, dragonflies are unique and beautiful insects. Using craft lace, you can make an equally beautiful dragonfly keychain. Real dragonflies come in a multitude of colors and you can make your dragonfly body in any color you choose. Its wings, however, should be made from white or off-white craft lace in the most delicate weave you can find. Because your dragonfly will be on a ring with keys and is likely to take a little abuse from everyday wear and tear, the dragonfly's delicate wings will be sprayed with a stiffening agent for durability.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 12-inch chenille stem
• Colored flat craft lace
• White flat craft lace
• Thread to match body lace
• White thread
• Needle
• Ruler
• Stiffen Stuff stiffening spray

1. 
    
   Fig. 1

   Fold chenille stem in half. With two fingers in the looped end, twist the stem together, leaving an approximately 1-inch ring at the end where your fingers are inserted. This loop will serve as the ring on which to put your keys. Fold over the other end of the chenille stem twice (a 1/4 inch) to form the base for the dragonfly's head. (See Fig. 1.)

2. 
    
   Fig. 2

   Fold 2 inches of colored lace over the end of the chenille stem that will be the dragonfly's head, laying the lace parallel with the chenille stem. Sew down the lace around the chenille stem to form the head. Turn the lace sideways after sewing. (See Fig. 2)

3. Beginning at the bottom of the dragonfly's head, tightly wrap colored craft lace around the chenille stem, working down toward the loop at the opposite end of the chenille stem. Overlap lace slightly as you wrap. Cut the lace when you reach the loop. Make a few stitches at the end to secure.

4. Cut two 6-inch lengths of white craft lace. For each piece, fold the ends inward to meet at the center. You now have four loops that will be the wings. Sew the center of each set of wings to the underside of the dragonfly's body, placing one set just below the base of the dragonfly's head and the other set directly below the first set.

5. Position the wings as desired. Spray wings with Stiffen Stuff. Allow to dry.