Chloe Zhang
Plastic lacing crafts, also known as boondoggle, have been around for a long time. They are a fun and creative way to make keychains, with people of all ages enjoying the process of crafting them. The process involves meticulous weaving and knotting of plastic laces, which can be purchased from craft stores. The basic technique starts with a simple square knot, and the crafter can then add more strands and weave them in the same way. The plastic lacing locks into place as you pull on it, creating a secure and tight weave. The finished product is a colourful and whimsical keychain with a practical purpose.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of plastic lace | Boondoggle, gimp string, craft lace, plastic cord, color lanyard string kit, scoobies, gimps, gymps, plastic lanyards, plastic string |
| Number of strands | One, two, four, or eight |
| Length of plastic lace | 36 inches |
| Length of keychain | 3 to 4 inches |
| Length of loose lacing at the end | 3 inches |
| Techniques to finish the keychain | Tying the laces together with knots, weaving one more box pattern and pulling the lacing up into the center of the woven square |
| Techniques to secure the lacing | Applying glue, melting the plastic laces together with a flame |
| Shape of the keychain | Square, spiral |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic lacing crafts
To get started with plastic lacing crafts, you'll need some basic supplies: plastic lace, scissors, and perhaps a small pair of pliers for attaching keyrings or lanyard hooks. The plastic lace comes in various colours and finishes, including glow-in-the-dark, glitter, translucent, neon, and opaque options. You can choose a finish that suits your preference or mix and match for a contrasting look.
When creating a keychain or lanyard, it's recommended to start with the basic two-strand weaves. You can opt for a simple box design or explore more intricate patterns like the brick stitch. For a basic box stitch, you'll create a tightly woven square by folding the lace and alternating between going over and under adjacent strands. Repeat this pattern until you achieve your desired length, leaving some lace loose at the end for finishing.
To finish your plastic lacing keychain, there are several techniques. One method involves creating one more box weave, leaving it loose, and then pulling each lace over the adjacent one and into the centre of the square. Another technique is to create a pair of "rabbit ears" with the last loop, forming a loop with the non-looped end, and then tying the two loops together securely. Finally, trim the excess lace, and your keychain is ready!
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Basic box stitch pattern
To make a basic box stitch pattern for a plastic keychain, you will need plastic lacing in the colours of your choice. You will also need scissors and clear-drying craft glue.
First, cut two 36-inch plastic lacings. You will need to start with a square box stitch, so arrange your plastic lacing at their halfway point. You can refer to photos or videos for the correct overlap. Cross the contrasting strands to make an "X". You can number or letter each strand to make the directions easier.
Now, take the lacing on the right and the lacing on the left and fold them up and over the first woven square so that they are going in the opposite direction. Fold the top lacing down, but as you do so, go over the first lacing and then under the second, bringing it into its new position. Then, take the lacing from the bottom and fold it up, but as you do so, go over the first lacing and under the second lacing to bring it up to its new position. You will have woven another little square. Pull the lacings tight until they lock into place into a small woven square.
Repeat the basic box pattern until your keychain is the length that you want it to be. You can make a 3 to 4-inch long keychain with 36-inch plastic lacings. Remember to keep same-colour strands from crossing and try to prevent the lines from twisting before you tighten each layer.
Finally, trim your lacings to be about 2 inches long. You can put a drop of glue into the centre section to make it permanent.
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How to start weaving
Plastic lacing crafts are a fun way to create intricate keychains. The process involves meticulous weaving and knotting, which can be a great creative outlet. You can use a variety of plastic laces with different finishes, such as glow-in-the-dark, glitter, translucent, neon, or opaque.
To start weaving, you'll need to cut plastic lacings to the desired length. For a 3 to 4-inch keychain, you'll need approximately 36-inch lacings, leaving at least 3 inches of lacing loose at the end. You can use two strands of plastic lacing to begin with, and as you gain proficiency, you can add more strands for a more complex design.
The basic stitch pattern for a keychain is a box stitch or a square knot. To start, find the centre of each lace and thread your keychain accessory or clasp onto both laces. Position the accessory at the middle of the laces. Cross the laces in an "X" pattern under the accessory, ensuring that they lay flat, one over the other, with the ends parallel. Gently tug on each end to tighten the knot, being careful not to over-tighten.
Once you have your first square knot, you can continue the pattern to create the desired length for your keychain. Take the lacing on the right and left and fold them over the first knot so that they are going in the opposite direction. Now, fold the top lacing down, going over the first lacing and then under the second, bringing it into its new position. Repeat the process with the bottom lacing, folding it up and going over the first lacing and under the second. This will create another square knot, locking the previous one in place.
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Different ways to finish a keychain
There are many ways to finish a keychain, depending on the materials used and the desired design. Here are some methods for finishing a plastic lace keychain:
Tying and Weaving
Some people finish their plastic lace keychains by simply tying the lacings together with knots. Another method is to make one more box weaving pattern and leave it loose. Then, take one lacing and bring it over the lacing next to it on the right, pulling it up into the centre of the woven square. Repeat this process for the rest of the lacings. As you pull on the lacing ends, they will lock into place in a permanent fold position.
Glue
Some people put a drop of glue into the centre section to make the keychain permanent and secure.
Trimming
Finally, you can trim your lacings to be about 2 inches long.
Clay
To make a clay keychain, you will need mold-and-bake clay (polymer clay), a small cookie cutter, a large needle or toothpick, and a split ring or keychain assembly. You can buy larger split rings that a decorative clay shape can be directly attached to.
Fabric
You can make a fabric keychain using one or two pieces of fabric. Cut your fabric scraps to be about 3 inches wide and various lengths from 1-1/2 inches to 4 inches long. Then, piece the scraps together using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. You can also use fusible interfacing to match the weight of the fabric. Sew the pieces of fabric together, press the seams, and trim the fabric to the desired size.
Acrylic
You can finish an acrylic keychain by applying various materials to the back, such as paints, glitter, resin, or Diamond Glaze, to achieve unique effects. For example, you can mix Rub'n Buff paint with UV resin to create a coppery, patinaed effect. You can also use vinyl, such as permanent vinyl, glitter vinyl, or holographic vinyl, on the front of your keychains.
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Using glue to secure the weave
When weaving plastic into a keychain, it is important to ensure that the weave is secure and does not come loose. While some sources suggest that the plastic lacing will lock into place as you pull on the lacing ends, creating a tight and secure weave, others recommend adding a drop of glue to the centre section for extra security.
To secure your plastic weave with glue, it is important to first identify the type of plastic you are working with. Different types of plastics require different types of adhesives, and using the wrong glue can result in a weak bond or even damage the plastic. The easiest way to identify the type of plastic is by looking for a recycling symbol or code on the plastic packaging.
Once you have identified the type of plastic, you can choose the appropriate adhesive. For example, if you are working with flexible plastics, such as those used in shoes or toys, you would want to use an adhesive specifically formulated for these materials, such as Loctite Vinyl, Fabric & Plastic Flexible Adhesive. On the other hand, if you are gluing hard, high-density plastics, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, you would need a stronger adhesive like Loctite Plastics Bonding System, a two-part cyanoacrylate adhesive.
Before applying the glue, it is important to clean the plastic surface to ensure that the glue bonds effectively. You can wash the plastic with soap and water, use a specialised plastic cleaner, or soak the plastic in isopropyl alcohol. Allow the plastic to dry thoroughly before applying the glue. To create a rough surface for better adhesion, you can lightly sand the plastic with fine-grit sandpaper or use a product with an activator that roughens the surface, like the Loctite two-part plastic bonding system.
When you are ready to glue, use a small paintbrush or the tip of a needle for precise application, especially if you are gluing detailed or intricate weaves. If you are using a two-part epoxy or adhesive, carefully read and follow the instructions for mixing the components in the correct blend ratios. Apply the glue to the desired areas of the weave, making sure to follow any specific instructions provided by the glue manufacturer. Allow the glue to dry and cure completely before handling your plastic keychain.
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Frequently asked questions
Start with the basic two-strand weave, forming a square shape.
Take the lacing on the right and the lacing on the left and fold them up and over the first woven square so they are going in the opposite direction.
There are several techniques. One way is to make one more box weaving pattern but leave it loose. Take one lacing and bring it over the lacing next to it on the right. Then pull it up into the centre of the woven square. Repeat this pattern until your keychain is the length that you want.
You don't want the weaving to be loose. As you pull on the plastic lacings, they will lock into place in a permanent fold position. You can also add a drop of glue to the centre section to make it permanent.
