Make a Lanyard!

It just wouldn’t be camp without making a lanyard. That flat colorful cord, twisted and tied, seems to be a part of every girl’s summer arts and crafts. Even camp alumni speak fondly of learning to make decorative lanyards.

There are lots of patterns to tie also. Have you seen these four?  That first pattern to the left is called the “Diamond Braid” or “Round Braid.”  Like most of these braids, getting started is the hardest part.  This one is unique too because it’s more braiding that tying knots, and will require a knot at the end to keep it from unraveling.

The second one is usually called the “Cobra Braid” because it makes a flat lanyard reminiscent of a cobra’s head.  Some people also call it the “Ladder Knot.”  If you know how to tie a square knot, or even how to tie your shoes, you’ll be able to make this lanyard.

The third pattern is probably the best known camp lanyard pattern.  Known as the “Box Braid” or the “Square Braid,” it makes a regular 4-sided strand.  The important things for this arts and crafts project is keeping your strands straight and your knots tight.

The last pattern shown here is a variation on the box braid, and is usually called the “Round Braid.”  To make it, use the same 4-strand weaving knot, but each new knot makes a slight turn crossing over (rather than parallel to) the previous knot.  Like all these patterns, you repeat the knot and braiding over and over until your lanyard is long enough or you run out of cord.

Don’t forget that these are just starting points. You can combine them, switch from one the other, add a twist to a strand, or maybe even add a bead to create your own summer arts and crafts project. Go ahead and experiment, and you’ll have something really cool.

How to Make a Bracelet

There’re loads of different techniques for making string friendship bracelets. We describe one right here on the Rockbrook Camp website: How to make a Friendship Bracelet. But there’s another way that uses a knot you probably already know and use for a different purpose. Tying your shoes! Yep, the same basic knot, pulling one strand over and around the second is it. Then you just alternate which string you move… like this (holding the two strings in each hand): right over the left, left over the right, right over the left, and so on. This makes kind of an alternating square knot, and depending on what colors you choose, it looks very cool.  So hey, go get some string and get started!