Maya Ellison
Plastic lacing is a simple and versatile craft that can be used to create a variety of items such as jewelry, keychains, zipper pulls, and bracelets. It is a fun activity for both children and adults, offering a relaxing and customizable way to pass the time. With just a few basic techniques, such as twisting, braiding, and tying knots, anyone can create unique and colorful crafts. While it only takes minutes to learn the fundamentals, more complex creations can be explored for endless possibilities. This introduction will guide you through the various ways of tying off plastic lacing to create durable and aesthetically pleasing crafts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of strands | 1, 2, 4, or 8 |
| Accessories | Clasp or keyring |
| Length | Start with enough, as the woven laces will be less than a quarter of their original length |
| Techniques | Twisting, braiding, tying knots, melting the ends with a flame, gluing |
| Uses | Jewelry, keychains, zipper pulls, bracelets |
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Plastic lacing crafts
Choosing the Right Plastic Lacing
Plastic lacing typically comes in a variety of colours, allowing you to choose your favourite colours or create interesting combinations. You can use one, two, four, or even eight strands of lacing, depending on the complexity of your desired craft.
Basic Techniques
To begin crafting with plastic lacing, you can follow these simple steps:
- Cross the laces in an "X" at their centre point, keeping them flat and parallel to each other.
- Gently tug on each end to create snug, square "knots".
- Continue folding and weaving the laces, always spinning them in the same direction to create a spiral shape.
- If you want to go back to a square shape, simply fold and weave straight across the square.
Advanced Techniques
Once you've mastered the basics, you can experiment with more advanced techniques:
- Melting the Bottom: For a more permanent finish, adults can carefully use a flame to melt the bottom of the craft, fusing the plastic laces together.
- Adding Accessories: You can add accessories like clasps or keyrings to your crafts. Cross the laces under the accessory, keeping them flat and parallel, and then gently tug to secure.
- Creating Different Shapes: Experiment with different weaving patterns to create various shapes, such as squares and spirals.
Craft Ideas
With plastic lacing, the possibilities are endless. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Jewellery: Create colourful bracelets, necklaces, or earrings by braiding and tying the lacing.
- Keychains: Design unique keychains by weaving and adding charms or beads.
- Zipper Pulls: Add a pop of colour to your bags or jackets by crafting zipper pulls.
- Lanyards: Make functional and stylish lanyards by following online tutorials for specific patterns, such as the box knot Scoubidou.
Remember, plastic lacing crafts are all about creativity and experimentation. So, grab your plastic lacing and let your imagination run wild!
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Bracelets
Plastic lacing can be used to make a variety of bracelets. The most basic bracelet design involves using two pieces of plastic lace, although some bracelets may use more. It is recommended to use two different colours of lace to make it easier to differentiate between the two. First, cut a piece of your base-coloured lace twice as long as the intended bracelet length, plus about 5 inches. Then, cut a similar length of your accent colour, fold the base colour in half, and tie a knot to attach the two laces together.
From here, there are multiple ways to continue. One method is to weave the accent colour in and out of the two ends of the base colour, bringing it down the middle each time. Repeat this process until the bracelet is the desired length, then use the accent colour to tie a knot around the base colour laces. Thread the leftover lace through the loop created earlier, and tie both ends of the bracelet together.
Another method is to tie the bracelet to a table or working surface, then weave the long piece over and under the two shorter pieces. Turn around and repeat this process until you have only a couple of centimetres left of the shorter pieces. Tie the loose ends with the remainder of the long string, then thread the longer piece through the loop and tie it to the ends of the shorter pieces. Finally, cut off the remaining string, leaving some on to tighten later if needed.
To make the bracelet more secure, you can tie multiple knots, use super glue or clear nail polish on the knot, or use crimp beads to hide the knot.
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Zipper pulls
Plastic lacing can be twisted, braided, and tied into zipper pulls. You can use two different colours of plastic lace to make a zipper pull. Firstly, cut a piece of your base-coloured lace twice as long as the intended length, plus about 5 inches. Fold the base-coloured lace in half and then pair it with the accent colour of lace. Tie a knot to attach the laces together.
Next, keep the laces flat and taut, and wrap the accent colour around the right base lace, then bring it down the middle. Repeat these steps, pressing firmly up on the lacing from the bottom to prevent gaps, until the zipper pull is as long as desired.
Then, use the accent colour to tie a knot around the base colour laces to keep the lacing from coming out. Thread the leftover lace through the loop and tie both ends together. You can also add beads to the zipper pull. Thread a large bead on the end of the laces and tie them off.
If you don't want trailing ends or want to be sure your zipper pull won't loosen, you can apply a small bead of hot glue to the base of each end, or carefully melt the bottom of your craft with a flame to fuse the plastic laces together.
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Fusing with a flame
First, ensure that you are working in a well-ventilated area and have a source of water nearby in case of any accidents. It is also recommended to wear protective gear, such as gardening gloves, to protect your hands from any potential burns.
Next, hold the flame of a lighter near the end of the plastic lacing. It is important to hold the flame near the lacing, rather than directly on it, as the flame can quickly get out of hand. A small Bic lighter or a long-neck lighter can be used for this purpose.
Hold the flame near the lacing until the material starts to melt. This should only take about 2 seconds. Once the plastic turns shiny and covers any frayed ends, remove the flame. Be careful not to hold the flame to the lacing for too long, as it may catch fire.
After removing the flame, allow the plastic to cool down for about a minute before handling it. This will ensure that the melted plastic has time to harden and secure the lacing in place.
If you accidentally burn the plastic or singe it, you can use a permanent marker in a matching colour to hide any imperfections. Simply colour over the affected area, and the burn marks will be less noticeable.
By following these steps, you can effectively use a flame to fuse and secure the ends of plastic lacing. This technique is useful for creating keychains, lanyards, and other plastic lacing crafts. Remember always to exercise caution when working with open flames and to have the necessary safety precautions in place.
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Using glue
Materials:
- Clear-drying craft glue
- Plastic lacing in your chosen colours
- Scissors
- Any desired accessories (e.g. clasp or keyring)
Instructions:
- Start by cutting two strands of plastic lacing, each about one yard long. You can use two different colours to make it easier to work with them.
- Find the centre of each strand by folding them in half.
- Cross the two strands in their centre points to make an "X".
- Number or letter each strand to keep track of them. For example, you can label them "A" and "B".
- Take strand "A" and fold it over strand "B".
- Now, fold strand "B" over strand "A" and an additional strand "C" if you are working with more strands.
- Repeat the folding process to create a box stitch pattern or any other pattern of your choice. Make sure to keep the laces flat and parallel to each other to avoid twisting.
- Once you have reached the desired length or pattern, it's time to secure the ends with glue.
- Apply a small amount of clear-drying craft glue to the ends of the laces. Be careful not to use too much glue to prevent any mess.
- Gently press and hold the glued ends together for a few seconds until they are securely bonded.
- Allow the glue to dry completely before handling your plastic lacing craft.
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Frequently asked questions
You can make bracelets, zipper pulls, keychains, and jewelry.
You can tie a knot as close to the base of your craft as possible. You can also melt the bottom of your craft with a flame to fuse the plastic laces together.
Fold the base color lace in half and pair it with an accent color lace. Tie a knot to attach the laces together.
Tie the loose ends with the remainder of the long string. Insert the long string through the loop, then tie it to the ends of the other strings or itself to be able to stretch a little.
Keep the laces flat and taut. If you want to go back to square, start folding and weaving straight across the square.
