How to Make Lanyards: Step-by-Step

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Things You'll Need

  • Two colors of plastic lanyard lace

  • Scissors

Lanyard-making is not just for summer camp anymore. Lanyards are often braided using plastic lace known as boondoggle, which can be found in many different colors. Beginners can work with simple stitches, while advanced lanyard-makers can create intricate woven designs. The square stitch is a basic, beginner stitch and can be used in most forms of lanyard-making. There are three stages to completing a lanyard: starting a stitch, continuing the stitch and ending the stitch.

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Starting

Step 1

Cut two pieces of different-colored lanyard lace the same length. Bring the ends of both pieces of lanyard together, to form four strands. Run your fingers down the strands until you hit where the strands fold. Begin your stitch here, at the middle.

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Step 2

Place one piece of lanyard over the other in the middle to form a cross shape.

Step 3

Hold the center of where the strands cross between your thumb and forefinger.

Step 4

Take one strand and bring it over your fingers to create a loop. Do this on the opposite side to form another loop that goes in the opposite direction. You should now have two loops going in opposite directions that are the same colors. Hold these loops in place with your fingers of the hand that's holding the lanyard.

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Step 5

Take one end of the free strands of opposite color. Bring it over the loop it's closest to and under the loop it's furthest from. Do this on the opposite side to make it go in the opposite direction. Make the opposite strand go over the loop it's closest to and under the loop it's furthest from.

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Step 6

Take all four strands and pull them slowly so they come together. Pull them until they're tight and secure.

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The Stitch

Step 1

Form loops with the same colors you used when you completed the starter stitch.

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Step 2

Follow the same procedure as the starter stitch. Take a free strand and go over the loop it's closest to and under the loop it's furthest from. Take the opposite free strand and make it go over the loop it's closest to and under the loop it's furthest from.

Step 3

Pull the strands together tightly and continue the same procedure. Repeat these stitches until you've reached the length you want.

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Ending

Step 1

Stitch one last square knot, but leave the strands loose.

Step 2

Take one strand and bring it to the left until you reach the strand that's on the opposite side.

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Step 3

Bring the strand you're working with up and through the opposite loop and end with the strand coming through the middle of the stitch. Keep it loose.

Step 4

Continue around the square knot until all four strands are up and through the middle of the stitch.

Step 5

Pull the strands slowly, but tightly to secure the stitch. Cut the ends off to finish the lanyard.

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