How to Sew a Lanyard – Free Tutorial!

If you need a lanyard for your keys but are frustrated with the lack of variety out there, it’s time to get crafty! This tutorial will show you how to sew a lanyard of your very own!  

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my link. This doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps me cover the costs of running the blog! It’s a win-win!

I made my first lanyard three years ago, around the time when I first really started to take sewing seriously. It seemed like a simple enough project and solved a problem that I was constantly dealing with.

I live in an apartment building and have to run downstairs, and go outside, to throw out my trash. A common enough thing, I think, and I was constantly trying to figure out what exactly to do with my keys.

If I’m just running downstairs, I don’t want to take my purse. And while men’s pants have decent-sized pockets, women’s pants often don’t. I could hold the keys, but what if accidentally tossed them in the dumpster while I was throwing my bags away? (It may seem like a weird fear but knowing me, it was a risk.)

Finally, the solution came to me. I could put my keys on a lanyard, and then just hang that around my neck when I ran out!

Easy, right?

Not so much.

I was sure a lanyard would be an easy find. But they actually aren’t terribly common, at least where I am. The only ones I could find were ugly, over-priced things at the office supply store.

Why should I sew a lanyard when I can buy one?

Because you’re a creative, and you like making things!

But no, seriously, this is an inexpensive project that is a lot of fun to make. You get to practice sewing straight lines, and you can create something unique to you.

I’ve found that having my keys on a lanyard has been useful for more than just running downstairs. It makes it so much easier to find my keys in my purse, for example. And it’s easy to see them from a distance if I put them somewhere other than where they’re supposed to go.

Lanyards make great gifts.

Not only is this a super simple, practical project, but it also makes a great little gift or gift add-on. If you attach a little card holder, it’s great for anyone who needs to carry around an ID card or a transit pass. You can also add a penholder attachment (which I have a FREE pattern for, just click here!) or a coin purse.

It’s an awesome gift for teachers, dance instructors, coaches… and anyone who regularly loses their keys!

Okay, I’m convinced. Let’s get into the tutorial!

I knew you’d say that. Let’s go!

To make a lanyard you’ll need:

• Cotton Fabric: Two pieces, each 22.5″ long by 4″ wide. If you want your lanyard to be longer, make each of your two pieces a little longer. If you want it to be shorter, make each of your pieces shorter. This lanyard, when finished, is about 26″ long from the top to the end of the hardware.
• Lanyard Hardware: You will need a D-ring with a lobster claw clasp (like this). The D-ring hardware needs to be one inch wide, which will be the finished width of our lanyard.
• Other Things: The usual–sewing machine, thread, scissors, etc.

Directions

Step 1

Gather your materials. If you’ve washed and dried your fabric first, or if it’s wrinkly from storage, make sure to iron it flat before cutting your pieces and assembling your lanyard.

Step 2

Cut two pieces of fabric, each 22.50” long and 4” wide.

Step 3

Lay your two strips of fabric pretty sides together. Sew them together at the top, using a 0.25” seam allowance. Do not sew them together at the bottom!  

Step 4

Using an iron or a heat press, press the seam open.

Step 5

You should now have a long strip of fabric that is 40.5” long and 4” wide. Fold that strip in half, pretty sides facing out, so that you have a strip of fabric that is 40.5” long and 2” wide. Press it so the fold is crisp.

Step 6

Now open it back up. You should have a crease from where you pressed it.

Step 7

Fold the right side into the crease and press with your iron.

Step 8

Now fold the left side into the crease and press with your iron.

Step 9

Now fold it in half again and re-press. What you should have is a strip of fabric that is 40.5” long by 1” wide.

Step 10

Slide your D-ring lobster clasp onto this strip of fabric and let it settle somewhere in the middle.

Step 11

Open up the fabric a little on either end. Place them pretty sides together and sew another seam, leaving a 0.25” seam allowance. Make sure when you do this it creates a nice loop of fabric. Do not get it twisted!

Step 12

Press that seam open, and then adjust your fabric so that you have a continuous piece of fabric secured nicely in a loop.

Now re-fold everything along the creases you’ve already created.

Step 13

Sew close to the edge along both sides of this fabric loop.

You’ll have to side the hardware out of the way as you go, but this should be easy to do.

Step 14

Slide the D-ring hardware down to the middle of the loop. It should lay over one of the two seams. Sew across the lanyard about 0.5” above the metal hardware to keep it in place.

Step 15

Congratulations, you’ve just made a lanyard!

Will you sew a lanyard?

This technique will work regardless of the length of your lanyard. You can cut the strips longer, or shorter, based on what you need. If you have enough fabric, you can also cut out one large strip instead of two that you have to sew together. You can also sew together a bunch of different fabrics if you’d prefer more of a quilted or patchwork look!

If you make a lanyard following my tutorial, I’d love to see it! Use the hashtags #theserialcreative #lanyardDIY and #handmadelanyard on Instagram!

Made this project? You should also make a lanyard penholder attachment to match! Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I’ve got a free pattern and tutorial—just click the button below!  

Happy Making!