A lanyard for your keys Do you keep your keys on a lanyard? I started a couple of years ago when I was in and out of the car with a baby in a capsule and a small child. I needed two free hands and easy access to car and front door keys. The long length of lanyard could always be grabbed on the way out, then slung around my neck when shuffling between front door, car, pram, drop off point. Even if you’re not juggling those things, I think it’s worth having keys at the ready when you’re getting in and out of your home or car. Less time spent rummaging through the dark bottomless pit of a handbag alone, the better. However, fast forward a couple of years and I still seem to be sporting the same freebie lanyard with a logo of a football team. With red and white stripes, it clashes perfectly with most of my clothes. Nice accessory! (not). Time for the “eye catching” lanyard to go and be replaced with something more appealing. Since tassels are the thing right now, they are the decorative detail to add to a key ring and then make a lanyard. Making the Tassel There are different way to tackle tassel-making depending upon whether you use thread or cut leather. For this tutorial I used the tassel making technique perfected here by Fall for DIY (blog) when they ran a “tassel happy challenge” on Instagram. I’ve used Francesca’s cardboard template design. It’s a bit like making a pom pom. I’ve also played around with different styles for tying them together, embellishing (decorating) and attaching the tassel to a clip. Do the same and see what you prefer. Enjoy having a smart tassel lanyard for your keys. A note about materials I bought some “D” ring clips from Lincraft (Haberdashery and Craft supplies in Australia) but you can easily use metal circle clips, or swivel hooks. I’ve re-used the swivel hooks from old promotional lanyards. I also used a copper adhesive tape for effect on the tassel. My roll came from Japan, but you can buy copper and aluminium tape at hardware stores. Otherwise fabric tape is another option. I’ve used mock-suede leather thonging I found from haberdashery supplies, but real leather thonging would be a nicer option.

2. 1. Materials

3. 2. Cut template from card
This template is from Fall for
DIY (blog). The length of card
will be length of the tassel.

4. 3. Attach the clip with tape.
Use a D ring or a lanyard
swivel hook.

5. 4. Take leather thonging or
thread, double it over, double
it over again (if you have
enough). This saves time
threading through the
template

6. 5. Wind around the template
Take one end and thread it
through the metal clip
(attached to the template)
and tape it to the edge of the
template. Continue to wrap it
around the template until
you’re at the end of the
thonging. Tape this end to the
edge of the cardboard.

7. 6. Cut another strip of leather
thonging, about 20cm.

8. 7. Tie around middle.
Tie this around the middle of
looped leather at the cut out
section of the template

9. 8. Cut the looped thonging /
thread
Using scissors cut the
thonging at the end opposite
where you have attached the
clip. Peel off the tape and
slide the tassel off the
cardboard. You can cut it off
the cardboard if you only
want to make one. If you
want to re-use, keep the
template intact by sliding the
tassel off.

10. 9. Cut strip to use for wrapping
around tassel.
Work out which is the front and
the back of the tassel. There will
be one side that tends to face
out when you’re wearing it on a
lanyard. Take the material you
are using to bind the middle of
the tassel (fabric tape or
adhesive tape). I’ve used
adhesive copper tape. Cut it into
a strip about 2cm wide and
about 20cm long.

11. 10. Wrap around tassel
middle
Wrap it around the middle of
the tassel, covering the tie, so
it overlaps at the back.

12. 11. Use the decorative
thread.
Cut 50cm of each of silver
and black thread. Hold them
together so they are even, tie
the lengths around the tassel
by holding down one end
with your thumb onto the
back, wrapping the other
around the tassel middle a
few times and then tying in a
knot.

13. 12. Tie in a knot
Tuck in the ends and use a
dab of glue on the knot to
secure it. If you used fabric
tape to wrap around the
tassel, use a dab of glue on
the tape to close it, then paint
it with mod-podge to re-
inforce the tape

14. 13. Measure lanyard cord
Take the lanyard cord,
measure and cut enough for
it to sit low down on your
chest when hanging straight.
Thread it through the clip and
tie in knot at one end.

15. 14. Ta da! Tassels.
Clip on your keys with
a metal circle clip or a
new swivel hook
attached to the fitted
"D" ring or clasp