Macramé fever has broken out in our house. You also got the desire to knot? Let's make a fancy pendant. Macramé keychain DIY made easy! You can find the instructions here.
Macrame is already a while in the trend and we are also addicted to the knotting. There is nothing better than to sit down after a long day at work on a macramé project and just relax.
The knotting technique challenges your dexterity, creativity and imagination.
Once you master the technique, you can knot many beautiful and practical things yourself. Tapestries, hanging baskets, bracelets or key rings.
As a beginner, you start best with a macramé keychain DIY. Here you can slowly approach the knotting techniques and try out different patterns. I'll show you how to make your first keychain.
By the way, he also looks adorable as a pendant on the handbag!
Table of contents
How to sew easily your first DIY turban hairband!
What is macramé?
Macra...what? Macramé is an ancient knotting technique that comes from the Orient. It was once used to make ornaments, carpets, textiles, wall hangings or jewelry.
The word comes from the Arabic "migramah" and means something like weaving. The knotting technique reached Europe from Arabia via Spain and is now making a modern comeback. Especially loved are hanging baskets, dream catchers and key rings.
If you want to knot a fob for your key, you don't need much. Carabiner or key rings, macramé yarn, scissors, tape measure and a holder, but more about that in a moment.
The choice of yarn is paramount to any macramé project. In fact, it is crucial to the outcome of your project. So let me say a few words about it.
What macramé yarn for keychains?
For your first macramé project, choose a cotton yarn. This comes in two different types: braided and twisted. Choose a yarn between 3 and 5 millimeters thick for your keychain.
In twisted yarn, several threads are divided into three parts and then twisted into each other. Therefore, most twisted yarns are relatively strong and are good for starting. They give the final product a clear structure and a certain strength. And they are forgiving of minor mistakes.
A firm yarn is much easier to handle. It does not tangle so easily and is heavier in the hand.
The braided yarn is the safest if you want to prevent the ends from unraveling. As a rule, it is softer and easier in the hand. However, the braided threads are unsuitable for fringe work, because they have a solid core that can not be combed out.
Allowed is what you like. I chose a braided macramé yarn for my first keychain.
That's how fast you can learn to knit!
The right yarn count
The cotton yarn is available in different thicknesses. For your first attempts, it is best to buy different strengths. This way you can try different versions and quickly find out which strength suits you best.
I opted for a thickness of 5 mm.
The stronger the yarn, the coarser your project will look. After a little practice, you will quickly find out which yarn you like the most. If you like, you can tie the same pendant with twice: 1x with thinner threads and 1x with thicker ones. It's amazing how different the knots look due to the thickness of the yarn.
Various colors
There are no limits to the colors. Just choose what you like. Once you have understood the basic technique, you can also experiment a little and incorporate decorative elements. Especially good are wooden balls in different shapes, colors and sizes.
Macramé thrives on a natural look, which is why the threads are often dyed only pastel colors. I have seen many colored projects, but in my opinion they are most beautiful in natural colors.
How long does a macramé keychain take?
With a little practice, you'll be done with your first keychain in half an hour. Macramé has a lot to do with learning by doing. You will quickly notice how fast you develop and become faster. Once you've had a lot of practice, it takes longer to get the threads to the right length than it does to knot them.
How well or poorly you attach the yarn has a very big impact on how long your macramé project will last.
While knotting the keychain, you'll need a way to attach it somewhere. A permanently mounted wooden pole, branch, or clipboard works well for this. Or my emergency solution: a heavy dumbbell bar. If you don't have anything available, try the door handle.
Do you love to sew? Check out these DIY scrunchies!
Tutorial: How to make a DIY macramé keychain knot
Have you prepared all the materials and want to make a pretty macramé pendant? Then prepare a cozy place and bring some time and patience.
Material requirements for a trailer:
- 4 cords (thickness 5mm), each 120 cm long
- A snap hook
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Optional: brush for fringes
- One way to attach the carabiner
I will show you step by step how to knot your macramé keychain. If you want, you can watch this tutorial. It has helped me as a beginner in very well. Here you will learn step by step.
If you're a fan of the written word, below the video you'll find very detailed instructions with photos I took while tying the knot.
How much macramé yarn for the keychain?
First, you need to cut the threads to the appropriate length. How much macramé yarn you need depends on how long you want the keychain to be. For the keychain on the picture you need 4 strings with 120 cm length each. Once you have cut one piece of yarn, it will serve as a measurement.
Step 1:
Double the threads to make a loop. Attach it to the carabiner or key ring with the lark's head knot. To do this, run the loop through the carabiner and put the ends of the string through the loop. As shown in the photo on the right.
Now you have eight threads with a length of about 60 cm in front of you.
Step 2:
The two middle strings serve as a guide on which we knot half strokes, the so-called "hitch knots" to both sides diagonally outward.
You always keep the guide a little tighter while tying the knot.
Now knot the first of the three left threads around the guide.
In the process, the thread is pulled first under, then over, and then through. Sieve the finished knot upwards. You do this step twice for each thread, so that there are two knots per thread. This makes six knots per side.
Do the same on the right side. Two knots per thread.
Step 3:
Put the left and right outer threads aside. They are not needed for this step. Tie a square knot around the middle 4 threads.
To do this, first put the right thread over the middle 4 threads and under the left thread. Now pull the left thread under the right thread and the 4 middle threads to the right. This creates a loop in which the 4 middle threads are.
Now do the same in reverse. So you start with the left thread and put it over the 4 middle threads and under the right thread. Pull the right thread under the left and the middle threads to the left.
Now carefully tighten both knots.
Step 4:
Now knot the right and the left side with the Hitch Knots back to the center. Three threads should be double knotted per guide.
Step 5:
Now comes the slightly more complicated part if you want to make a macramé keychain yourself.
The left account row must be knotted down to the right. To do this, take the fourth thread from the left and knot the sixth, seventh and eighth threads twice diagonally to the right with the Hitch Knots.
The fifth thread from the left becomes the guide with which you knot under the left row to the left.
Both rows are then knotted crosswise.
Step 6:
From here on, start again with the square knot explained in step 4 and knot all rows again as before.
The pattern is repeated a total of three times.
Step 7:
Tighten the last knot a little tighter. Cut the strings into shape with scissors. You can bevel them a bit and fray the ends. Your macramé keychain is ready.
To make knotting a little easier for you, we've picked out a video with step-by-step instructions:
In a few minutes to DIY makeup removal pad!
Important info for beginners
If you want to make a macramé bowl pendant for beginners by yourself, you will need one thing above all: patience. You will need a bit of time to learn the knot technique and understand it. There are very many knots and techniques that end up creating very different patterns and pendants.
Start with simple knots, without wooden beads and with less than three different knots. My pendant consists of only two different knots and looks great too, right?
Once you have some practice, you can start personalizing the pendants. Wooden beads in different sizes, shapes and colors are just as suitable for this as colored yarn or feathers.
Get to grips with heavier projects bit by bit. If you don't make progress with the keychain, that's no reason to bury your head in the sand. My tip: In this case, start with a simple hanging basket. For many you also need only two knots and because the threads are longer, it is easier for most beginners.
The length of the trailer
How long your knotted keychain will be, you can decide for yourself. However, it depends on the length of the threads, which you have to determine at the very beginning. For my macramé knot keychain I decided on two elements, three would probably have looked good, but it should not be more. Because from a certain length it will interfere with the keychain.
By the way, the pendant also looks really great on bags! Try it out on your favorite handbag.
Our conclusion
This macramé keychain tutorial is of course only one of many knotting options. There are countless ways to make your keychain simple and individual. After a little practice, you can also tackle completely different macramé projects, such as cup coasters, flower pot and pillow covers, wall hangings or hanging baskets.
However, knotting a keychain is not only perfect for getting started with macramé, but also by far the most beautiful DIY gift.
Have fun making them!
To browse further:
* Advertising & affiliate links: Our website is financed by advertising and affiliate links. As a partner of linked stores (e.g. Amazon) we earn from qualified sales.
Read more
