BEADED LANYARD

(©2023 Deborah Roberti)

Bead up this simple chain using size 11 seed beads, 3mm beads and SuperDuo beads to attach to a swivel clip and make a beaded lanyard.

MATERIALS
(for about a 22-inch lanyard, not including clasp or badge)
• About 7 to 8 yards of 6 lb. FireLine (or the equivalent)
• About 525 size 11/0 Miyuki “rocaille” seed beads
• About 123 size 3mm beads (any type 3mm bead will work fine)
• 30 SuperDuo beads
• Swivel clip
• Plastic badge holder
• Clasp

To bead up this lanyard, you will start in the middle by attaching the swivel clip to a simple 3mm and 11/0 seed bead center motif, then bead the right lanyard strap and repeat those steps to bead the left lanyard strap. You will need a lot of FireLine to complete the project. I like to leave a yard or more of tail thread so that when I am ready to start the left side of the lanyard, I will not immediately have to add thread but can instead, use this tail thread.

Step 1: Thread your needle with a length of FireLine that you feel comfortable working with.

Leaving about a yard of tail thread that you will use in Step 24, string a seed bead, a 3mm bead, a seed bead, a 3mm bead, a seed bead and a 3mm bead.

Tie the beads into a triangle with a tight double knot:

Step 2: Go back around through the seed bead, the 3mm bead, the seed bead, the 3mm bead and the seed bead highlighted in RED to exit from the bottom-most seed bead:

Step 3: Next you will attach the swivel clip in the center by creating a ring of nine seed beads that will pass through the top loop of the swivel clip finding:

NOTE: I used a ring of nine seed beads but you can use as many seed beads as you wish. I find it best to add an odd number of seed beads, though, because the bottom center seed bead will end up inside the swivel clip loop for the finding that I used. An even number of seed beads may work better for swivel clips with a thinner loop. See how your swivel clip hangs before you continue on.

Step 4: Go back around through this ring of seed beads (highlighted in RED) that connects the lanyard swivel clip finding:

Step 5: To add some extra reinforcement, go back around through the 3mm bead, the seed bead, the 3mm bead, the seed bead, the 3mm bead and the seed bead in this center motif (highlighted in RED):

Step 6: Go back around through the ring of seed beads (highlighted in RED) that connects the lanyard swivel clip finding:

Step 7: Go back around through the 3mm bead, the seed bead, the 3mm bead and the seed bead highlighted in RED:

Next you will bead up the right strap using seed beads, 3mm beads and SuperDuo beads.

Step 8: String two seed beads, a SuperDuo bead and two seed beads. Go around and back through the seed bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 9: Go back around through the beads high­lighted in RED to add some extra reinforcement:

Step 10: Go back up through the two seed beads that you strung in Step 8 and across through the bottom hole of the SuperDuo bead (highlighted in RED):

Step 11: String two seed beads and go across through the top hole of this same SuperDuo bead (highlighted in RED):

Step 12: String two seed beads and go down and around through the seven seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 13: Go back across through the top hole of the SuperDuo bead (highlighted in RED):

Step 14: String five seed beads. Go around and back across through the top hole of the SuperDuo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 15: Go back around through the five seed beads that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 16: Go back around through the seed beads highlighted in RED to exit from the top seed bead:

Step 17: String a 3mm bead, a seed bead, a 3mm bead, a seed bead, a 3mm bead, a seed bead and a 3mm bead. Go around and back through the seed bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 18: Go back around through the beads that you added in the last step (highlighted in RED) to add some extra reinforcement:

Step 19: Go back up through the 3mm bead, the seed bead, the 3mm bead and the seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 20: Repeat Step 8 to Step 19 until the lanyard strap is as long as you want it to be, minus about a quarter inch and the length of your clasp:

Step 21: To attach the clasp, string three seed beads. Go through the clasp and then back down through the last seed bead that you just strung. String two more seed beads. Go back across through the same seed bead that you exited at the beginning of this step (highlighted in RED):

NOTE: To make your lanyard longer, just add more seed beads than directed in this step.

Step 22: Go back around through the seed beads highlighted in RED and the clasp several times:

Weave back into the strap, knot in several places and then cut your thread.

Step 23: To finish the other side strap, flip the lanyard over so that the finished strap is now on the left side:

Step 24: Thread your needle with the extra tail thread from Step 1 (or add more).

Go around through the center beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting down through the right-most seed bead:

Step 25: Repeat Step 8 to Step 22 to finish the lanyard:

Attach your badge holder to the swivel clip.

Beads used in the photo below

Turquoise/Amethyst version:
• About 525 size 11/0 Miyuki “rocaille” seed beads: Miyuki #4201 Duracoat Galvanized Silver
• About 123 size 3mm round beads: Luster Opaque Amethyst
• 30 SuperDuo beads: Turquoise Blue Picasso
• Swivel clip: Sliver-Plated
• Plastic badge holder: Fushing Vertical Badge Holder

Lilac/White version:
• About 525 size 11/0 Miyuki “rocaille” seed beads: Miyuki #4202 Duracoat Galvanized Gold
• About 123 size 3mm fire-polished beads: Alabaster Pastel White
• 30 SuperDuo beads: Pastel Lila
• Swivel clip: Gold-Plated
• Plastic badge holder: Fushing Vertical Badge Holder