The Fun Craft of Scoubidou or Boonedoggle

Scoubidou or Boondoggle

Scoubidou, also known as boondoggle, is a braiding and knotting craft that is made with plastic cording, sometimes called gimp.  Although it is often a craft done at camps by children, anyone can become engaged with this fun and easy craft project.

The most common kind of thread used for the craft is flat and comes in many colors. Rexlace is the preferred type of flat plastic cording, also known as gimp.

There is a less common kind of thread that is used which is a round and hollow plasticized PVS tube around 80 centimeters in length.  Both types of threading are available in a wide range of colors and sizes.

Some projects made with scoubidou are key chains, zipper pulls, friendship bracelets and lanyards.  If you want to go wild with this craft, there are many more complicated shapes and items that can be created!

History of Scoubidou

Scoubidou became a huge fad in France, where it originated, in the late 1950s. The French singer named Sacha Distel, whose first hit in 1958 was a song named “Scoubidou”, is credited for the name of this craft that has continued to be popular the world over.

Scoubidou Basics 

Scoubidou uses knots that are the same used in macrame; however, they each use different cords. Scoubidou cording is plastic and harder than the soft fiber used in macrame, so they each produce very different results.

The commonly used knots in Boondoggle are:

• The Square Knot
• Snake Knot
• Diamond Knot
• Butterfly Knot
• Box Knot
• Triangle Knot
• Chinese Knot

Because Boondoggle or Scoubidou uses only cords, this is a wonderful craft for children.  It is not messy and can be done anywhere.  As a bonus, the necessary supplies are quite inexpensive and easy to obtain. We have many other crafts for children found here.

Our links below include books on this subject, sites with knot techniques, various project directions, as well as supplies for the craft.

Check it out!!