How to make a Fabric Lanyard

It's easy and fun to make a neck lanyard!

Take a look around and neck lanyards are being used by everyone!  Increased security at work, holding IDs, and keeping keys close at hand are all reasons people are wearing lanyards.

Lanyards are typically worn around the neck.  By simply attaching a keyring or clip to the lanyard, it can be used in many ways, such as securing keys, badges and whistles. Fabric lanyards are so much fun to make.

And keep in mind that lanyards look pretty cool too!

Kids who prefer something different than fabric crafts may like to make a lanyard using scoubidou instead of fabric.  A scoubidou lanyard is something I made long ago during summer camp.

This tutorial teaches how to make a beautiful and useful fabric lanyard.

Fancy fabric lanyards can be very expensive at stores. It is easy to learn how to sew a fabric lanyard at home with these simple lanyard instructions.

You will be able to choose the perfect fabric, never having to settle for the only fabric lanyard designs that the stores offer.

My son just asked last week for a key lanyard to keep his keys.  He had been using a wallet to hold the house key, and at times didn't have his wallet with him when he needed to get into the house!

He was having a hard time finding a lanyard that he liked, so I decided to sew a special fabric lanyard as a gift for the upcoming holiday.  

I went on a search for fabric that he would like in a key lanyard and found a great charcoal gray fabric with the stages of the moon.  I quickly went to work sewing a fantastic DIY fabric key lanyard. 

The lanyard instructions are easy to follow, and the finished fabric key lanyard will look fantastic!

Watch this video tutorial and read the following step-by-step instructions to see how to make a fabric lanyard.

step 1: Measuring the fabric

It is important to find the measurements of the swivel hook that will be attached to the fabric.  Measure the width of the swivel hook where the fabric will be attached and multiply this measurement by 4.

For example, if the hook is 3/4" wide, the calculation is 3/4" x 4 = 3".  This will be the width of the fabric strip for the lanyard.

Using the rotary cutter and cutting mat, cut a piece of fabric the width of the fabric (selvage to selvage), which should be about 44", by the width of the strip that was determined from the calculations made given the swivel hook size.

step 2: folding the lanyard fabric

After cutting the strip using the rotary cutter and mat, lay it on the ironing board with the wrong side of the fabric facing up.  Fold the strip in half lengthwise, with wrong sides together, and press with the iron.

Open the strip and fold each raw edge to the center crease.

Press these two edges well with an iron.

Then, fold the fabric in half again lengthwise so the folded edges align and press with an iron.

The lanyard piece should be four layers of fabric.  Pin folded fabric to hold the layers together.

Step 3: edge stitching the lanyard fabric

Edge stitching will be done to secure the sides of the lanyard. This type of stitching is done on the top of the fabric, both holding the fabric together and making a decorative and finished look to the neck lanyard.

At the sewing machine using a straight stitch and a coordinating thread, edge stitch on top of the fabric 1/8" from the edge on both sides of the lanyard strap.

STEP 4:  ATTACH STRAP TO SWIVEL HOOK

Once the lanyard strap has been edge stitched, it is time to attach the swivel hook. Fold the strip in half with the raw edges together, making sure not to twist the fabric.

Slip the raw edges of the strap into the swivel hook

and fold the fabric over about 2".

Next, fold under the raw edges 1/2". Pin this fold in place.

step 5:  Attach the swivel hook

To secure the strap to the swivel hook, two rows of stitches will be made. For the first row, stitch close to the fold. Using a straight stitch, stitch forward,

then stitch backward over the previous stitches,

then forward again.

For the second row of stitches, sew 1/4" away from the first row that has just been sewn. Follow the same instructions by stitching forward, then stitch backward over previous stitches and sew forward again.

Fantastic job!  The lanyard is finished and ready to use!

Make the lanyard for yourself, your children or make as gifts for family, friends, kids or co-workers. They make great stocking stuffers, too!

If you think a key chain would be a better match, check out our creeper key chain instructions!

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