Recently I was commissioned to make some rainbow striped lanyards. Simple enough, I thought, but truth be told, getting the right thickness and look took more thought and experimentation than you might expect! Luckily, they turned out rather well, and everyone was pleased!
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When all was said and done, the construction on these couldn’t have been simpler – the only stitches used are chains and slip stitches! This technique means you can get 6 different colored stripes in less than an inch of width. The finished lanyards I made were about 27 inches long – they fit comfortably over the head, but aren’t so long as to cause a problem at lunch. One word of caution – I would not recommend these for young children, unless you alter the pattern to include a safety breakaway buckle. This pattern also makes a great handle or strap for your handmade bags! Or to make them more official looking, add lanyard clips to the keyring!
Rainbow Lanyard
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- US-G, 4.00mm hook
- 5-10 yds each of 6 different colors worsted weight yarn (Recommended: Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie)
- 1″ Split Key Ring (or size desired)
Row 1: With Color A (red), ch 140 or to desired length (will shrink up a lot on next rows). Break yarn and finish off.
Row 2: With Color B (orange), join to BLO of first ch of Row 1 with a sl st. Sl st in BLO of each ch to end. Break yarn and finish off.
Row 3: With Color C (yellow), join to BLO of first st of Row 2 with a sl st. Sl st in BLO of each ch to end. Break yarn and finish off.
Row 4: With Color D (green), join to BLO of first st of Row 3 with a sl st. Sl st in BLO of each ch to end. Break yarn and finish off.
Row 5: With Color E (blue), join to BLO of first ch of Row 4 with a sl st. Sl st in BLO of each ch to end. Break yarn and finish off.
Row 6: With Color F (purple), join to BLO of first ch of Row 5 with a sl st. Sl st in BLO of each ch to end. Break yarn and finish off.
Row 7: Turn work over to WS, so that Row 1 is on top. With Color A (red), join to first ch through both unused loops with a sl st. Sl st through both unused loops of each ch to end. Break yarn and finish off.
Assembly: Weave in all yarn ends on one end of lanyard. Slip the Split Key Ring over the lanyard and overlap the ends so that both RS ends face up when worn. Use the remaining ends of the rows to sew the ends of the lanyard together beneath the ring. If desired, use a little more yarn to sew the lanyard together above the ring as well.
And that’s all there is to it! You don’t have to make a rainbow of course – use whatever colors you like. This pattern is great for sports teams, school spirit, conventions, and matching all your favorite outfits!
Be sure to Like the moogly Facebook page for the latest updates and have some fun with us! Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2012. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please feel free to link to this page to share this pattern with others. For seller info, please see the About page.
Andria
September 14, 2012 at 12:07 pmSo simple yet so pretty!
moogly
September 14, 2012 at 12:20 pmThank you! 😀
Anna @ Cozy Corner Crochets
September 14, 2012 at 1:38 pmOh this looks so awesome. I’m not good at slip stitching, but I want to try this. Do you have a problem with people selling the finished product?
moogly
September 14, 2012 at 2:41 pmThanks! Personal, private & local sales of finished items are fine by me. 🙂
Crafty Gardener
September 14, 2012 at 2:18 pmThis is great, makes me wish I was still working and had use for one at school. But I can see it on my keys. Thanks for sharing.
moogly
September 14, 2012 at 2:41 pmYou are very welcome!
Anna Murphy
September 14, 2012 at 6:29 pmThank you for being so generous.
elnisi
September 16, 2012 at 11:46 ammy nephew in USAF would love this in AF Blue, and I think I will
try this as a belt for my 4yr old grand dtr.just have to find the hard
ware. it’s so pretty.
thank you for this.
baz
September 17, 2012 at 10:02 pmI LOVE MY LANYARD! i get compliments on it EVERY DAY from students and other teachers. best.thing.ever. thanks so much, love! <3
moogly
September 17, 2012 at 10:57 pmYou are very VERY welcome baz! 😀 Any time!
Sara - My Merry Messy Life
September 19, 2012 at 2:00 pmThis is great! Love the colors and how you designed it with the thin chains. Thanks for sharing at Hookin On Hump Day!
jenny
September 19, 2012 at 3:59 pmwhat a wonderful pattern.
thanks for sharing the pattern.
Tania
September 20, 2012 at 8:14 amThis is great! Love the colors!!!
Love
Tania
Mindi
April 25, 2013 at 4:32 pmThank you for always sharing. This is so cool.
Tamara Kelly
April 26, 2013 at 8:36 amGlad you like it Mindi!
ZiZi
June 14, 2013 at 10:09 amThank you Tamara!
I found your pattern just the right time ;o)
It is very simple – but effective!
Harlene
May 8, 2014 at 4:35 pmI’m new to crocheting. Please tell me what BLO stands for. Thank you.
Tamara Kelly
May 8, 2014 at 9:20 pmHi Harlene! That’s Back Loop Only. 🙂 Click here for a video tutorial!
Kyla
June 8, 2014 at 9:07 pmI’m confused on row 7. What are the two unused loops? I know there’s one from the chain but are you talking about the back one that’s right above the second row if that makes sense?
Tamara Kelly
June 9, 2014 at 12:11 pmOn Row 7 you’ve turned it over to work into the loops of Row 1 that you didn’t crochet into in Row 2. Does that help?
Kyla
June 9, 2014 at 12:38 pmI got frustrated and kept it as it was haha. Looks okay to me and only I will know I skipped that row. Thank you!
baz
June 9, 2014 at 9:17 pmoh! you guys. i got a notification of more comments to this post, and i felt the need to come say: i am just finishing up my second full school year and i’ve worn this EVERY DAY for the entire time. i take the attachments off and wash it every now and then, but it’s very much my favorite yarn accessory EVER. love love love. thanks again, tamara!!
Tamara Kelly
June 10, 2014 at 9:55 am😀 <3 Thanks baz!
Paige
March 17, 2015 at 12:56 pmI might be able to understand what it says if I had it in front of me, but just trying to imagine it in my head, I am confused. When you flip it over, you will have an empty loop from the front loop (where you only used the back loop originally). Where does the second loop come from?
Tamara Kelly
March 17, 2015 at 5:42 pmThe third loop, at the bottom of the chain. 🙂
Peggy
March 18, 2015 at 3:22 pmI am still not sure what this means. There are only two loops in a chain, you used one when you did the first row. When you turn it over and work a stitch there is only ONE unused loop. What is the purpose of this last row? I did it without the last row and it looks great; just like the picture. I love this pattern, it lays so nice and flat and is very pretty; doesn’t look crocheted/homemade. Thanks for posting.
Tamara Kelly
March 18, 2015 at 3:34 pmHi Peggy! There are 3 loops – the two on top, aka the “V”, and the bottom or back hump. 🙂 I think crocheting the last row this way looks nice, but of course you can adapt the pattern to suite your own tastes! 🙂 Thank you!
Heather
March 17, 2015 at 5:40 pmI think I will make these for graduation gifts and gifts to my teachers and fellow assistants that are in our classroom.
tracie fortner
March 27, 2015 at 8:23 ami can not wait to try this i am going to make some to sell at A local open air / Farmer’s market! I should be able to whip a few of these out pretty qucik!
Tamara Kelly
March 27, 2015 at 10:57 am😀 I hope you enjoy them!
Heather G.
March 27, 2015 at 3:10 pmI’d like to make this in one single color. Do I need to break the yarn at the end of each row or is there a way I can modify this?
Tamara Kelly
March 27, 2015 at 3:59 pmI think it could work with one without breaking! 🙂
liz
June 16, 2015 at 6:23 amHi! I love it and want to try making some of your designed when i have the materials. Thank you for sharing with us…
Tamara Kelly
June 16, 2015 at 10:41 am😀 You’re very welcome!
Tamara G.
June 16, 2015 at 8:25 amHi Tamara!
I”ve made the lanyard up to attaching the split ring. For some reason i can’t understand how to attach it! I’ve even tried to find a video on how to put one on an open lanyard, but no success. i’m sure it’s easy. Do I sew each end over first? and then slip the split ring on? Any help would be appreciated! Working on the Simple Angled Scarf now and loving it.
Tamara Kelly
June 16, 2015 at 10:40 amHi Tamara (haha, that gave me a second’s pause! 😀 )!
Ok so when the lanyard is just a strip with two ends, feed one end through the ring, and slide the ring to the center of the strip. Then take the ends of the strip and overlap one end with the other, both RS up. Make sure there are no twists in the strip. Sew the ends together. Then slide the ring back down to the ends, and sew the strip above the ring. Does that help?
Tamara G.
June 16, 2015 at 11:18 amYES!! Thanks so much. Done!
Tamara Kelly
June 16, 2015 at 2:09 pmyay!!
Gaetane
July 2, 2016 at 9:05 amWow awesome!!! I’m thinking of trying that as a sling neckband for my sister in the hospital…she had a stroke last august and was left paralyzed on her right side…I crocheted her a sling but her arm is too heavy and keep stretching her neck band…hope it works!! Thank You very much for the tip!!
Tamara Kelly
July 5, 2016 at 9:31 am🙂 I hope it works! Thank you Gaetane!
gIAN kIRAN
September 10, 2016 at 10:57 pmI had made a small handbag for my daughter and was in search of a strap for it. This is so simple and beautiful. Thanks for the pattern.
Tamara Kelly
September 12, 2016 at 10:22 am😀 I’m so glad to hear it, thank you!
kelly
March 7, 2017 at 10:52 pmHow did you do the ring? I’m kind of confused.
Tamara Kelly
March 8, 2017 at 10:37 amHi Kelly! When the strip of crochet is still straight and unattached at the ends, slip the ring over one end and push it out of the way. Then, overlap the crochet ends so that they are both right side up and sew them together. Then, slip the ring down so it’s right above the ends you’ve just sewn together, and then sew the crochet ribbon together right above the ring. Does that help?