Quick Macrame Keychain Tutorial

Add a touch of bohemian charm to your keys with a quick and easy macrame keychain, a craft that's been around for centuries. It's a fun way to recycle old materials and create something stunningly unique to carry with you wherever you go.

Macrame is an ancient form of textile production using knotting rather than weaving or knitting. Despite its age, it's seen a resurgence in popularity with today's eco-conscious crowd. So, let's dive into creating this stylish and sustainable macrame keychain perfect for your keys, purses, or as a quirky gift.

Materials Needed

Crafting a macrame keychain uses minimal materials. Here's what you'll need:

• Cotton cord in your desired color. Anywhere from 3mm to 5mm thickness works well.
• Scissors
• A keyring

Determining the Length and Size

First, decide on the length and width you want for your keychain. For a standard keychain, 24-30 inches of cord is plenty. Make sure to consider how long you want your keychain to be when determining the overall length.

Each cord will need to be 4 times the final width, plus extra for fringe and the keyring. So, for a 1-inch wide keychain, you'll need four 4-inch pieces of cord, plus extra length for the fringe and keyring attachment.

Preparing Your Cord

Divide your cord into four equal pieces. Each piece should be the length calculated in the previous step. Lay them out flat and confirm they're all the same length.

Of the four pieces, two will be the outer cords, and two will be the inner cords. The outer cords will be the main frame of your keychain, while the inner cords will form a decorative braid within the frame.

Creating the Braid

Start by forming a lark's head knot at the top of your keychain. This is a simple half-knot that will hold everything in place and allow you to hang your keychain later.

To form this, fold each cord in half, then bring the folded end over the top of the keyring and pull the cord through the loop, tightening it into a knot.

Creating the Frame

Once the lark's head knot is secure, lay out your cords. The outer cords should be on the top and bottom, and the inner cords should be in the middle.

Take the right outer cord, bring it over the first inner cord, and under the second inner cord. Then, pull it through the loop on the far side of the second inner cord. Tighten it to create a square knot.

Braiding the Inner Cords

Next, bring the left inner cord to the right, creating a right-facing loop. Take the right inner cord, bring it over the left inner cord, and through the loop on the far side. This creates another square knot, turning your inner cords into a braid.

Repeat this process all the way down the cord. Each time you reach the end of your cord, tie a knot to secure it until you're ready for the next section.

Adding the Fringe

Once you've reached the end of your braid, it's time to add the fringe. Again, divide your cord into four pieces - two outer and two inner.

Take each piece of cord and tie it at the bottom of the keychain, with equal lengths hanging free. This will be your fringe, giving a full and textured look to your keychain.

Finishing the Keychain

Trim the ends of your fringe to the length you want. You can keep them even or cut them into a shaggy, uneven style for a hippie-inspired look.

Finally, secure your keyring to the top of your keychain, just above the lark's head knot. Now you're ready to carry your new macrame keychain with you wherever you go!

Creating a macrame keychain is a rewarding way to spend a few hours, and the result is a beautiful, personalized accessory that's completely unique. So why not get started on your next project today, and see where your knotting skills take you?