It’s Inspiration Friday again, and Sharon inspired this week’s project! She loves keeping her keys close by and ask me if I could sew lanyards. If you use a lanyard today, did you know how easy they are to make? If not, this week’s tutorial will show you how easy it is to Sew Lanyards.
Do you want to keep your keys close to you? Or do you have an identification badge that needs to be with you at all times? Then these easy to sew lanyards will be an excellent accessory for you! Keep all your keys together and within your reach at all times. You could even use these lanyards to carry your passport when you are traveling! They’re a great accessory for people on the go.
Fun fact, did you know where the term lanyard originated? Wikipedia states that the earliest references to lanyards date from 15th century France: “lanière” was a thong or strap-on apparatus.
Lanyards are just a cord or a strap that you wear around your neck. In history, it is told that the French in the 1500s used them to keep their weapons close by. Today we see the most use of a Lanyard to hold our keys or ID tags. I have seen them at all types of events. You will see people with Lanyards that hold their passes for the event.
Benefits of a Lanyard
How many times have you miss placed your keys, cell phone, or your ID card? I have to admit that I miss placed my keys way too often. Just ask my husband! How many times have you said, “Where did I put my keys?” or “Where did I put my ID card?” Lanyards might be a tool to help solve the problem of miss placing certain items.
So let’s get started on learning how to Sew a Lanyard! Check out the video tutorial below or follow the step by step instructions below! You choose how you want to learn to sew lanyards!
Materials and Tools
- Material 4″x40″
- Lanyard Hardware
- Thread
- Sewing Machine
- Iron
- Pressing Pad
- Wonder Clips
*Disclaimer: Links above are affiliate links. By clicking on these links I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Some products may have been provided to me by vendors, however, all opinions and reviews are strictly my own.
Step #1 Cutting Material for Lanyard
Determine the length of Lanyard you would like. I took the tape measure around my neck to determine the size I want for my Lanyard. I decided that 40″ was a great length for me. The width of the Lanyard is 4″. So I cut my material 40″x4″.
Step #2 Pressing Lanyard
Fold your material in half the long way with the wrong sides together. After you fold it, your material should measure 40″x2″. Press the fabric along the fold.
Then open back up the material and fold and press the outside edge of each side back into the fold you just pressed.
This is also the same process you use to make bias tape. See the picture below for a visual.
Now fold the material together, and your material should measure 40″x1″ See the example below:
Step #3 Adding Lanyard Hardware
While your fabric is folded, slide on your lanyard hardware. Depending on the width of your hardware, you will want to taper down the ends of your lanyard so that the hardware will lay flat for you. My hardware is 3/4,” and my lanyard is 1″. So I open up the ends and decrease my folds to accommodate a 3/4″ width at each end. See the example below:
Step #4 Sewing Lanyard
Move your lanyard hardware away for the ends. Then match up the ends right sides together and sew them together. I used a 5/8″ seam.
Once you complete sewing the ends together, you will refold the lanyard and topstitch along each edge of the lanyard to give it a finished look!
You can also add a straight stitch right above the lanyard hardware to help the lanyard lay straight.
There you have it, a lanyard that is ready to have your keys or ID card attached.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on learning how to Sew a Lanyard!
If this project inspired you, then check out some of my other projects for more inspiration!
Don’t forget to checkout my Fun Stuff Craft Store Front on Amazon!
*Disclaimer: Links above are affiliate links. By clicking on these links I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Some products may have been provided to me by vendors, however, all opinions and reviews are strictly my own.
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