Looking for a cute and colourful craft that’s easy, fun, and perfect for spring or summer? This pony bead flower keychain is just the thing! With bright beads and simple knots, you can create cheerful little flowers that dangle from your keys, backpack, or gift bag. It’s a great project for beginners, and the finished result is totally adorable!
This beaded keychain craft is not only fun to make, but it’s also a great way to practice square knotting and pattern repetition. Whether you’re making one as a friendship keychain or whipping up a whole bouquet of them in different colours, these flower charms will definitely brighten someone’s day. So grab your beads and let’s get started!
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How to Make a Pony Bead Flower Keychain
Materials:
- Hemp cord
- Cord end crimps
- Jump rings
- Split ring keyring
- Pony beads (multiple colours)
Equipment:
- Needle nose pliers (2 pairs)
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Attach cords to keyring
- Cut 3 strands of hemp cord, 13 inches each.
- To attach the cords to the keyring we’ll use a cord end crimp. Open the crimp (if it isn’t already) with pliers and place the cords inside, with the ends going a bit past the crimp.Use pliers to close the crimp, and cut off the excess cord ends.
- Now attach the crimp to a jump ring that’s attached to a split ring keyring. Use pliers to close the jump ring.
- Secure the keyring to your working surface with painter’s tape and separate the cords.
Step 3: Make the first knots
- Begin the keychain by make a square knot. Start by putting the left cord over the center cord and under the right cord. Keep a loop at the left.
- Then bring the right cord under the center cord and up through the loop made by the left cord.
- Pull the outer cords so that the knot forms right against the cord end crimp.
- To make the second half of the square knot, put the new right cord over the center cord and under the left cord.Then put the left cord under the middle cord and up through the right loop.
- Pull this knot tight against the first one. This completes the square knot.
- Then make a half square knot, which is exactly what it sounds like — the first half of a square knot.(Put the left cord over the center cord and under the right cord. Bring the right cord under the center cord and up through the left loop. Pull the knot tight against the previous one.)
Step 4: Attach beads
- Now we’re going to add our beads. Begin by adding 2 coloured beads (blue, for us) to the left cord.Whatever colour you choose will be the outside of the flower.
- Then add blue, yellow, blue to the center cord. Yellow will be the flower’s center.
- Finally, add 2 more blue beads to the right cord. This same pattern of beads will be used to make the next flowers.
Step 5: Repeat the knot pattern from step 3
- Begin by making a square knot.After the first knot you’ll see the pony bead flower form.
- Then make a half square knot, pulling it tight against the other knots.
Step 6: Repeat the flower pattern and knots
- Make another flower, following the same pattern as before. You can use the same colour, or pick a different one. Always use yellow (or another chosen colour) as the flower’s center.Then make 1 square knot, followed by a half square knot.
- Make another flower or 2 (however long you’d like your keychain to be), tying the knot pattern in-between flowers.
Step 7: Finish off the keychain
- After you’ve finished with one and a half square knots, cut the cords below the knot, leaving 1 inch tails (or however long you’d like).
- Your pony bead flower keychain is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- The tutorial above makes a keychain that’s about 5-1/2 inches long (excluding the keychain hardware, but including the tails). Each pony bead flower is about 1 inch long.
- Want to make a bracelet instead? Just skip the keyring and make your beaded flowers the same way. When you’re done, add another crimp end at the bottom, then attach a lobster clasp to turn it into a fun, chunky flower bracelet!
What type of cord works best to make a pony bead flower keychain?
We recommend using hemp cord for this keychain project. It’s strong, slightly textured (which helps hold knots well), and thin enough to fit through standard pony beads easily. Look for hemp cord that’s around 1 mm thick — it’s just the right size for easy knotting and beading.
You can also use waxed cotton cord or nylon cord as alternatives, but be sure whatever cord you choose is stiff enough to thread through pony beads and durable enough for a keychain.
What knots do I need to know to make this keychain?
You’ll only need to know two simple types of knots to make this flower keychain: the square knot and the half square knot.
- The square knot is made using two easy steps that loop the outer cords around the center cord. It holds your flower beads snugly in place.
- The half square knot is just the first step of the square knot — quick and simple — and adds a cute spiral effect to the design.
Don’t worry if you’re new to knots! We walk you through both of them step by step with clear instructions, so they’re very beginner-friendly — even if you’ve never macrame or other knot tying crafts before.
Do I need to use a crimp end to make this keychain?
No, you don’t have to use a crimp end if you don’t want to! The crimp end helps give your keychain a polished, professional finish and keeps the cords neatly attached to the keyring, but there are a couple of easy alternatives.
You can simply double knot the cords onto the keyring and use a dot of super glue to secure the knot. Or cut the cords longer to begin with and use a wrapping knot to attach them to the keyring. Check out our macrame headband post for instructions on how to tie this gathering knot.
Whether you’re making one for yourself, gifting it to a friend, or adding it to a backpack for a pop of colour, this pony bead flower keychain is such a fun and cheerful project. With just a few simple knots and a handful of beads, you can turn plain cord into a tiny bouquet that travels with you wherever you go.
The best part? You can completely customize your flowers with your favourite colours and get creative with how long or fancy you make your design. Once you’ve made one, you might find it hard to stop — these beaded blossoms are just that satisfying to make!
Here’s even more pony bead craft ideas:
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Where to buy:
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