How to End a Lanyard

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: December 28, 2022 Tested

Lanyards are a fun, practical craft project that people of all ages can do. You can make them to hang on key chains, belt loops, and even water bottles. If you’ve started a lanyard and are getting close to the end, you may be wondering how to finish it off. As long as you make 1 more stitch on your lanyard, make small knots, or use a lighter, you can finish your lanyard in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Ending a Box or Square Stitch

Download Article

Using the stitch you were using to make your lanyard, create 1 more stitch but leave it loose so that you can still work with the strands. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Wrap a strand of 1 color around its same color on the opposite side. Take a strand of 1 color in your lanyard and wrap it around the strand on the opposite side that is the same color as it. For example, if your 2 colors are black and green, hold 1 green strand in your hand and wrap it around the other green strand that is on the opposite side. ^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If you are using more than 2 colors, wrap 1 strand around another that is on the opposite side of it.
Advertisement
3
Bring the strand in your hand up through the middle of the stitch. Take the strand that you are holding in your hand and push it up through the middle of your lanyard stitch. This will secure your strand in a kind of small knot. ^{[3]
X
Research source}
- You don’t have to pull this knot tight yet. Keep it loose so you can work with the other strands.
Take a strand of the opposite color as the one you just used and wrap it around its same color on the other side. ^{[4]
X
Research source}

For example: If your 2 colors are black and green and you just worked with green, choose 1 of the black strands and wrap it around the opposite strand of black.
Take the strand that you are holding and push it up through the middle of your stitch to create another small knot. This strand might be harder to push through since there are more strands to go through now. ^{[5]
X
Research source}
6
Repeat with the strands that are left hanging out. There will be more strands that are left out after you do your first 2 knots. Repeat the steps of wrapping the strands around the correlating color and pulling them through the middle of the stitch. ^{[6]
X
Research source}
- If you are working with more than 4 strands, your knot will be slightly bulkier.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/End-a-Lanyard-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-End-a-Lanyard-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/End-a-Lanyard-Step-7.jpg\/aid11360572-v4-728px-End-a-Lanyard-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

7
Pull all 4 strands until your knot is tight. Pull on your strands that are hanging out with gentle force until they are pulled taut and can’t be moved around easily. You may have to pull each strand 1 at a time until they are tight. ^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Make sure your knot is tight enough that the strands won’t fall apart, but not so tight that it makes your lanyard pucker or warp.
Use a pair of sharp scissors to cut of any excess strands of your lanyard that you don’t want. You can leave them long or cut them down to the base of your finishing stitch, depending on how you’d like your lanyard to look. ^{[8]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Finishing a 3 Strand Stitch

Download Article

Using the same 3 strand stitch you used to make your lanyard, create 1 more stitch, but don’t pull this one tight. ^{[9]
X
Research source}
2
Wrap each strand around the one closest to it. Take each strand individually and wrap it around the one next to it, going in a clockwise direction. Keep all of the wraps loose so that you can keep working with them. ^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Going clockwise is the easiest way to keep track of your strands and remember which ones you’ve already worked with.
Grab 1 strand and bring the end up through the center of the knot. Pull it so that it comes all the way through, but it don’t tighten it all the way. Do this for each strand. ^{[11]
X
Research source}
Take all 3 of the strands in your hand and pull them until the knot is tight. You may have to pull each strand individually. ^{[12]
X
Research source}

Tip: Pull your knot tight enough so that it doesn’t come undone, but not so tight that it bends your lanyard.