How to Make Boondoggle Lanyard Keychains DIY Tutorial! 

Boondoggle lanyards are synonymous with Summer!

The plastic cord, the bright colors, the possibilities for bracelets boondoggle keychains.

Learn how to make your own boondoggle keychains using plastic lacing cord for the perfect Summer craft!

Oh my goodness you guys.  I love Boondoggle! I was pretty involved in a little business venture around the age of 10 making keychains. 

I would buy boondoggle lace at the store and sell it by the yard on the playground at elementary school.

  
I sold it by the yard so kids could make their own boondoggle keychains.  I can't remember selling actual finished product though, because the real fun is in the making them.

Some people call these boondoggle keychains scoubidou's, craft lace, plastic cord, color lanyard string kit, plastic weaving, scoobies, plastic lacing cord, gimps, gymps, gimp string, plastic lanyards, plastic string and more!

What do you call them?

I love the bright and vibrant colors--pick the colors you are excited about!  

Supplies Needed for Boondoggle Keychains:

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• Boondoggle Lace (Rexlace is my favorite brand!)
• Lanyard Hooks
• Jewelry Pliers
• Small Scissors

Or

• Get started with this Boondoggle kit! (this plastic lace may be a bit stretchier than Rexlace, which is why I favor that brand)

You will want to get at least 2 colors for a great contrasting boondoggle.

There are various finishes on the plastic string...some glow-in-the-dark, some glitter, some are translucent, some are neon, some are just opaque bright colors.

I like to get all my boondoggle in the same "finish family", so the keychain lanyards and bracelets match.

It's fine to mix any of the finishes together though, just pick what you love!

I bring boondoggle supplies to family reunions, summer camps and family campouts.  Most of my nieces and nephews know about boondoogle because of family reunions with all the supplies at the ready. Bring them in their original packaging or get a tote bag to haul it all around.

I always include a small pair of scissors for easy plastic cord cutting and a small pair of pliers for easy lanyard hook installing.

It's great for kids and teenagers...it keeps them busy with their hands while we play outside, watch movies or just wait for dinner.  I had kids starting about age 5.  

They needed some help holding it while they weaved the laces, but everyone felt successful! ~ The first step in learning how to make boondoogle keychains is to start with the basic 2 strand weaves.  

I always teach the square first, if the person gets it down, we can move on.

 

Step 1: How to Start a Boondoggle Keychain:

I always start the boondoggle off for everyone.  It's just the hardest part and I want to keep it a positive environment. 

I save the lanyard hook for the end...it's the reward for finishing the project.

 

Here's how to start a 2 strand: For the ease of taking pictures, I used painters tape to hold the laces in place while photographing.  But basically you will just hold the cords in your hand while starting it.   

Cut 2 strands of lacing cord 1 yard each.

• Place them like a plus sign.
• Take the lace that is resting on the bottom of the plus and loop the top lace down and the bottom lace up.
• Next take the lace from each side, weave the lace over the blue lace and then under the second blue lace.
• Repeat for the lace on the other side, weave it under the blue lace and then through the last remaining loop.  This last weave through should secure the laces

(refer to picture below)

 

Once pulled tight it will look like this!  Then pull it a little tighter.  

I pull 2 laces in each hands and then rotate and pull again, that way all the laces are pulled evenly and tight.

Step 2(a) How to Weave a Square Boondoggle:

Now we can proceed to the SQUARE weaving.  This is the simplest and the one I recommend starting with.

Pull tight from the starting knot.  

Flip the pink laces over themselves.  Weave the blue lace at the bottom over the first pink lace and under the second pink lace.  

Next weave the blue lace at the top over the closest pink lace and under (or through) the last pink lace.  

This secures all the laces in place and pull tight.  (refer to the picture below)

With 1 yard of lace, you can make about a 4 inch keychain in the square pattern.

Step 2(b) How to Weave a Round Boondoggle:

Let’s move on to the ROUND weaving.  After mastering the square boondoggle, try the round.

It starts with the exact same 2 strand weave from the beginning.  

Now instead of bringing the laces straight across, they are wrapped on an angle.

The blue top lace crosses diagonally across the pink one next to it.  

Then the pink one is brought diagonally across the next blue lace while crossing over the last blue lace.  Then the blue lace you just crossed over is brought up diagonally across the next pink lace.  

The final pink lace flips over the blue lace and then through the loop that the first blue lace made.  (refer to the picture below) 

It’s still a square weaving pattern, but done on an angle which will make the whole thing twist around.

 

Step 3: How to Finish Off a Boondoggle Keychain:

This pink and blue one has a fun combination of 3 round weaves and then 3 square weaves to give it a cool pattern. 

  Now let’s finish it off.  Instead of a bulky knot, there’s a beautiful way to finish it off.  Stop weaving when the laces are about 4 inches long, they will be uneven.

Do one last weave and don’t pull it tight.  Then take each loose lace and wrap it around the lace to it’s left and then weave it up through the center of the laces.  

Repeat for all 4 laces. Then pull tight.

 

Step 4: Add the Lanyard Hook

For the final step, use pliers to hook the lanyard on the end.

 

Perfection! Now you have the perfect little Scoubidou! Scoobie, Gymp, Plastic lanyard, or whatever you call it!

I love making these short ones for the perfect zipper pulls for hooking on backpacks, jackets or even sleeping bags!

 

Just like Deb on Napoleon Dynamite--you can go door to door selling handwoven handicrafts!

Or you can make a finity of these at scout camp!

They are so much fun to make!

And then you can hook them on your keys like a boss! Or, if you are like me, they all get put on one keychain as a sampler.

 

Boondoggle plastic lace keychains, often dismissed as mere craft projects, exemplify the intricate balance between creative expression and purposeful utility. 

These keychains, crafted from colorful plastic laces, transcend their perceived simplicity and emerge as tangible tokens of individuality and personal flair. 

While some may dismiss them as trivial or unnecessary, these artifacts represent a fusion of artistic endeavor and practicality.

In the hands of a craft enthusiast, the seemingly mundane act of weaving plastic laces into keychains becomes an outlet for creativity. 

 

The vibrant array of colors and intricate patterns transforms the boondoggle process into a personalized art form. 

The repetitive yet meditative nature of crafting these keychains offers a therapeutic escape, allowing individuals to channel their artistic inclinations into tangible, functional items.

Beyond the realm of artistic expression, boondoggle plastic lace keychains serve a practical purpose. 
As functional accessories, these creations provide a means of organizing and identifying keys, enabling individuals to carry a piece of their creativity with them wherever they go. 

The amalgamation of form and function in these keychains challenges the notion of boondoggle as mere wasteful activity, showcasing how seemingly trivial crafts can blend utility with personal expression.

The process of crafting boondoggle keychains fosters essential skills such as patience, attention to detail, and fine motor coordination. 

As individuals engage in the meticulous weaving and knotting required for these creations, they hone skills that extend beyond the craft room into various aspects of life. 

The act of transforming plastic laces into intricate keychains becomes a microcosm of personal growth and skill development.

In essence, boondoggle plastic lace keychains emerge as more than just whimsical crafts; they embody the harmonious convergence of artistry and practicality. 

Crafting these keychains offers a meaningful outlet for creative expression while simultaneously fulfilling a utilitarian purpose. 

This perspective challenges the notion of boondoggle, highlighting the inherent value found in the intersection of creativity and functionality within the realm of plastic lace keychain craftsmanship.

 

Once you have the basic weave in mind, just add additional strands and weave them the same way.

You'll be surprised at how easy it is to expand without having to learn anything new!

That's it!

 

So much fun! It's the fidget spinners of the early 1990's! 

I love making all the boondoggle keychain lanyards and hanging them on my boondoggle storage bag!

Did you ever make boondoggle?  Which is your favorite!?

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