Lanyard Making – How to Make a Braided Lanyard

Braiding lanyards is easy to learn and they look great. They are also a lot stronger and more durable than other kinds of lanyards, such as those made with jewelry wire. They can be used for heavier items such as a iPod, or cell phone.

Most braided lanyards are made from plastic lace, which is also known as gimp, craft lace, craft strip or plastic lacing. It is made of plastic composite and is a bit stretchy. Plastic lace does not cost much and it is worth buying plenty if you are going to be braiding lanyards because you will need several inches of plastic lace to make one inch of braided lanyard and you can experiment with different colors.

How to Start a Lanyard

Before you begin braiding lanyards you must ensure you have enough plastic lace or whatever material you are using. If you run out you will not be able to complete the lanyard and if you use too much you will waste bits of it. Take two long strands of plastic lace, holding them at their centers and turn one of the strands so it crosses the other one. Flip one of the strands over the crossing strand to make a loop. Flip the other end of this strand in the other direction to make another loop.

Take the strand on the left and put it over the first loop and under the second one. Take the strand on the right and put it over the first loop and under the second one. Pull the strands slowly to make the first stitch but do not pull hard enough to snap the strands. Now you have your starting stitch, you may use whichever other stitch you like for your braided lanyard.

Braiding Lanyards with Box Stitch

Box stitch or square stitch gives you an inch of square for every twelve to fourteen inches of strand so you will need a lot to for making a lanyard. Once you have done your starting stitch, you will have four very long strands to work with. Bring the far strand up and over to make a loop. Take the near strand up and over away from you and make a second loop. Take the strand on the left up and over the first loop and under the second one, then take the strand on the right up and over the loop next to it, then under the other loop, pulling the strands away from one another. Repeat this procedure until you have finished.

How to Finish a Lanyard

A good finishing stitch is just as important as a good starting stitch. Here is how to finish off your homemade braided lanyard.

Do one more normal stitch but leave it loose. Take any strand and thread it around the strand to the left then up through the middle of the stitch. Take the strand the first strand went around and take that one around the strand to its left then through the middle. Do the same for the third strand and the fourth one. All the strands should come out of the center of the loose stitch you made. Pull on the strands to close the gaps and use scissors to snip off the remains.

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