How to Make a Pony Bead Ladybug

Use our free pattern to make this adorable pony bead ladybug! This cute pony bead craft makes a fun keychain, ornament, or window decoration. It's an easy spring craft, perfect for beginners to beading!

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Yield: pony bead ladybug

Author: Debbie Chapman

Cost: $1

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

Gather your supplies and materials.

Step 2: Prepare your cord

Cut a 28 inch piece of rattail cord. We're using black to match the black beads, but whatever you have will work.
Fold the cord in half.
Attach the loop end of the cord to the jump ring on the keychain hardware using a lark’s head knot.
To do this, slide the loop up through the jump ring and bring it over the keychain. Then pull down on the cords to tighten the knot.
Tape the keychain piece to your working surface. This makes it a lot easier to make knots and work with the beads.

Step 3: Add the first beads

To make your pony bead ladybug you’ll be working with the ends of the cords, first attaching beads to one strand, and then the other.
For Row 1, begin by adding 2 black pony beads to the left cord. (You can also do the right cord if it’s more comfortable to you.)
Now take the end of the right cord and push it through the right side of the beads, so they're attached to both cord ends.
Pull the cord ends so that the beads end up right against the knot.
For the next row (Row 2), add 3 black beads to the left cord. Again, bring the right cord through the beads.
Pull the cord ends again, so this row of beads is snug against the first. You want the cords to be tight enough that they don’t sag, but not too tight that the beads end up buckling.

Step 4: Continue adding beads

Add Row 3 of the ladybug following the same steps and adding beads in the following order: 2 red, 1 black, 2 red.
To make Row 4, add the following beads: red, black, red, black, red, black, red.
Row 5: 3 red, 1 black, 3 red.
Row 6: red, black, red, black, red, black, red.
Row 7: 2 red, 1 black, 2 red.
Row 8: red, black, red.

Step 5: Finish off the ladybug keychain

Adjust the cords as needed, tightening the rows by pulling on the side cords, starting at the top.
Then make knots on either side of the last row to keep the beads in place.
Cut both cords close to the knots.
Then hold a lit BBQ lighter next to the cord end for a couple seconds. This will melt the end of the cord and stop it from unraveling.
Your pony bead ladybug is complete!
Have fun making ladybugs in all different colours!

Notes

Looking for more ladybug crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:

Plastic Spoon Bug Craft

Ladybug Painted Rocks

DIY Ladybug Magnets