Scrappy Patchwork Lanyards and Key Fobs

My second daughter is in sixth grade this year and is now required to wear an ID badge on a lanyard. I decided to make her a scrappy lanyard. I looked around on the internet to find a basic lanyard tutorial, and I really like construction method used in Ellison Lane's tutorial. I made a couple of adjustments (for length and scrappiness), but my hardware is attached using the tutorial method.

I pulled out a few scrap bins and had my daughter dig through to find fabric for her lanyard. (Our doodle wanted to be part of the process.)

She selected so many fabrics that I made a super scrappy lanyard. I cut (36) 1.5" tall x 2.5" wide strips. I chain pieced, added interfacing to the back. To attach the hardware, press down the center lengthwise, open and press the outside edges in to the center crease, as in bag strap construction. Slide the lanyard hardware on, attach the two ends of the fabric together with 1/4" seam, and topstitch both sides, moving the lanyard hardware out of the way as you stitch. Then stitch the hardware in place.

I also made her a 1.25" scrappy key fob using (10) 1.5" tall x 5" wide strips. I now know I prefer a bit narrower key fob and have subsequently made 1" key fobs using (10) 1.5" tall x 4" wide strips. I added interfacing, pressed in the same manner as the lanyards, topstitched, and added key fob hardware. For some of the key fobs I have made subsequently, I substituted interfacing with with 1" cotton webbing inserted after pressing, just prior to topstitching, and I prefer the feel of the webbing. To attach the hardware, I used the instructions in The Liberty Craft Blog post for key fobs. 

I love how her lanyard and key fob turned out!

I had so much fun making them that I decided to make some for birthday party favors for her friends in colors to suit each of their color and style preferences. I didn't want to make them quite as scrappy, and used 18 fabrics for each. I played around with some different piecing methods to quick piece using precuts and to make multiple lanyards at one time.

Mini charm lanyards

One lanyard uses (18) 2.5" mini charm squares. One mini charm pack will make two lanyards. Piece end to end, press seams, add interfacing.

Charm square lanyards

Four lanyards:
Cut 18 charm squares into two 2.5" tall x 5" wide strips to make two sets
Strip piece each set of 18, press seams, add interfacing, and cut each set in half lengthwise to make two lanyards.


Two lanyards without waste:
Cut 9 charm squares into two 2.5" tall x 5" wide strips and use each print twice for each lanyard.

One charm pack makes eight lanyards.

Making multiple lanyards using larger cuts of fabric

Super scrappy with (36) 1" finished strips
Cut (36) 1.5" tall fabrics x  multiples of 2.5" for the number of lanyards you want to make.
        ex: three lanyards = (36) 1.5" tall x 7.5" wide
Strip piece, add interfacing, subcut lengthwise into 2.5" wide strips for each lanyard.

Scrappy with (18) 2" finished strips
Cut (18) 2.5" tall x multiples of 2.5" for the number of lanyards you want to make.
       ex: four lanyards = (18) 2.5" tall x 10" wide
Strip piece, add interfacing, subcut lengthwise into 2.5" wide strips for each lanyard.

Scrappy with (9) 4" finished strips
Cut (9) 2.5" tall x multiples of 2.5" for the number of lanyards you want to make.
      ex: two lanyards = 4.5" tall x 5" wide
Strip piece, add interfacing, subcut lengthwise into 2.5" wide strips for each lanyard.

A friend of mine also asked me if I could make a shorter lanyard for her son, who uses them for his keys. The finished length is half as long as the regular lanyards - 12" long x 5/8" wide. I used
(24) 1.5" tall x 2.5" wide strips.

Making multiple 1" key fobs

Super scrappy with (10) 1" finished strips

Cut (10) 1.5" tall x  multiples of 4" for the number of key fobs you want to make.

        ex: four key fobs = 1.5" x 16" wide

Strip piece, add interfacing, subcut lengthwise into 4" wide strips for each key fob.

Alternatively, strip piece, subcut in 4" side strips for each key fob, press, insert webbing prior to topstitching.

Scrappy with (5) 2.5" finished strips 

Cut (5) 2.5" tall x multiples of 4" for the number of key fobs you want to make.

       ex: two key fobs = 2.5" tall x 8" wide

Strip piece, add interfacing, subcut lengthwise into 4" wide strips for each key fob.

Alternatively, strip piece, subcut in 4" side strips for each key fob, press, insert webbing prior to topstitching.

Single fabrics

Cut one fabric 10.5" tall x multiples of 4" for the number of key fobs you want to make.

      ex: three key fobs = 10.5" tall x 12" wide

Strip piece, add interfacing, subcut lengthwise into 4" wide strips for each key fob.

Alternatively, strip piece, subcut in 4" side strips for each key fob, press, insert webbing prior to topstitching.

Once I started making lanyards and key fobs, I had a hard time stopping! I have made several for gifts and have extra on top of that.