You have a crafting skill that lends itself to making lanyards, which can be put to practical use. You can incorporate beads, using several different kinds, to dress up the practical items, such as key chains. Beads and lanyards also lend themselves well to jewelry.
Lanyard Materials
Several discount or craft stores will stock the materials you need to make your beaded lanyard gimp. Stores such as Walmart, Hobby Lobby or Michael's have plastic craft string (also called boondoggle, gimp or tiger tail), a variety of beads suitable for stringing on the gimp and notions such as clasps and eyes to secure your lanyard. You will also have to buy crimp beads and needle-nose pliers or beading pliers. Don't be afraid of stocking up with a wide variety of beads. These can include alphabet beads, polished stones, frosted and clear glass beads, crystals, beads with a metallic tone, gemstones, faux pears, colored glass beads and glow-in-the-dark beads. Look for beads in varying shapes. The visual interest in your beaded lanyard will come from the variety you incorporate, both in the colors and the shapes of the beads.
Technique for Lacing
Before you begin to work on the lanyard itself, take some time to practice the stitch you will be using. You will be more likely to use the crown knot or the round knot for this type of project. To practice, take two lengths of gimp and knot them together, then begin practicing your chosen stitches. Work on your practice lanyard for as long as it takes you to become comfortable with the stitch. When you begin working on the project, you will secure the knots with your crimp bead and crimp bead cover.
Decide on a beading pattern before you begin placing beads on the gimp. You can also choose to place random beads (random sizes, shapes and colors) to increase visual interest in the finished product. Design your project to be as individual as you can. Your only limitations are your imagination, the colors you are using and the patterns you select.
Variations on Patterns
When you are choosing gimp and beads, look for as many different types of beads as you can find. Your lanyards can be the more simple and less expensive metallic beaded lanyards, which you can use to secure objects such as key rings.
You can opt to make creative lanyards using crystals, plastic beads and metallic beads. This kind of lanyard also lends itself well to inexpensive jewelry.
Some artisans have branched their artwork into making a more expensive jeweled lanyard. For this type, you need to use gemstones, crystals, metallic beads and glass beads. Incorporate a very individualized look for each piece by using beads that will be especially selected for the project and recipient, if it is a gift. You can also create a very precious gift using semi-precious beads or Swarovski crystals.
Tags: making, beaded, lanyard, gimp, glass beads, beaded lanyard, crimp bead, lanyard will, lanyards which, lends itself, metallic beads, this type
