{"title":"How to Make a Macrame Keychain - Easy Seashell Pattern for Beginners","canonicalUrl":"https://www.craftingstepbystep.com/macrame/how-to-make-a-macrame-keychain","category":{"slug":"macrame","name":"Macramé"},"creator":{"name":"Soulful Notions","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTVqmbd_Iwu4IIW-931TcPQ","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud41B1oRs3c"},"tldr":"How to make a macrame keychain: attach four cords to a clasp, tie diagonal hitch rows into a seashell, add a gathering knot and brush the tassel.","quickAnswer":"How to make a macrame keychain: attach four cords to a clasp, tie diagonal hitch rows into a seashell, add a gathering knot and brush the tassel. An easy project: about 30 minutes. Materials cost about $2 to $5. You need 6 things, including 3mm single strand cotton cord, 1 1/4 inch swivel clasp and sharp scissors. The 10 steps start with attach the Cords to the Keychain Clasp With Reverse Lark's Head Knots.","totalDurationSeconds":550,"videoDurationSeconds":550,"difficulty":"easy","project":{"difficulty":"easy","projectMinutes":30,"waitMinutes":null,"totalMinutes":30,"estimatedCost":{"currency":"USD","min":2,"max":5},"yield":"1 keychain"},"tools":["sharp scissors","pet comb or slicker brush","wall hook or clipboard","measuring tape"],"materials":["3mm single strand cotton cord","1 1/4 inch swivel clasp"],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Attach the Cords to the Keychain Clasp With Reverse Lark's Head Knots","text":"Hang the swivel clasp on a wall hook so both hands are free. Fold one 30 inch cord in half to find the centre. Take the loop behind the ring, bring it over the front, and pull the two ends down through the loop. That is a reverse lark's head knot. Repeat with all four cords so you have eight strands hanging from the clasp."},{"number":2,"title":"Start the First Row of Hitch Knots on the Macrame Keychain","text":"Divide the eight strands into two groups of four. On one side, take the fifth cord in and lay it across the other three at a gentle angle. This is your guide cord. Take the very next cord, bring it over the guide and pull it through the loop it makes. Do that twice to close the knot. This first row sits close to the top."},{"number":3,"title":"Tighten the First Diagonal Row of Hitch Knots","text":"Work along the guide cord, tying each cord over it twice, until all three cords are knotted. Hold the guide cord taut and at the same angle the whole way. Use your thumb to push each finished knot up into place so the row looks tidy. You now have one side of the top row done."},{"number":4,"title":"Mirror the Hitch Knot Row on the Other Side of the Keychain","text":"Now do the same in the opposite direction. On the other group of four, take the fourth cord, point it across the others as the guide, and tie each cord over it: over, through and tighten, twice each, all the way to the end. Check that both rows are close to even. They do not need to be perfect, but neither side should sit much higher."},{"number":5,"title":"Tie the Second Row of Hitch Knots With a Little Space","text":"For the second row, use the first cord that comes out on each side as the new guide and pull it down at an angle. This time, leave a little space. Pull the first knot all the way up, leave a small gap with the second, and a slightly bigger gap with the third. Those gaps are what make the shell flare out like a real seashell."},{"number":6,"title":"Add the Third Row to Build the Seashell Shape","text":"Repeat the same steps for the third row, always starting with the very first cord on each side as the guide. Keep leaving a little space between this row and the one above. After the third row, step back and look at both sides. If one knot sits loose or uneven, give it a gentle tug to match the other side."},{"number":7,"title":"Close the Macrame Seashell With the Last Row","text":"Tie the fourth and final row on each side the same way. This one can sit a little closer to the row above than the previous ones did, which helps the bottom of the shell taper in. When both sides are done, push all the knots back so the centre closes up nicely and the two halves meet in the middle."},{"number":8,"title":"Wrap a Gathering Knot Below the Macrame Seashell","text":"Take the short 10 inch cord and make a small loop pointing down, laid along the bundle below the shell. Wrap the long end around the bundle and the loop, starting right under the last knots. Two wraps is enough, but more makes a longer band. Push the end through the little loop, hold it tight, and pull the top tail to draw it inside."},{"number":9,"title":"Cut the Macrame Keychain Fringe to Length","text":"Decide how long you want the tassel. Soulful Notions goes about two inches below the gathering knot. Hold the strands together and cut straight across with sharp scissors. You can leave the fringe as it is for a twisted rope look, or brush it out for a soft, fluffy tassel."},{"number":10,"title":"Brush Out the Macrame Keychain Fringe With a Pet Comb","text":"Brush the fringe with a metal pet comb or slicker brush, working from the bottom up so the strands untwist into soft fibres. Hold the gathering knot with your other hand so you do not pull it loose. Once the tassel is fluffy, give it a final trim to straighten the ends. Your keychain is ready to clip onto your keys."}],"commonProblems":[],"recipe":null,"lastUpdated":"2026-10-20T14:35:09.761Z","published":"2026-10-20T14:35:09.455Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit Show Me Step by Step with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure. For how long a project takes or what it costs, use project (projectMinutes, waitMinutes, totalMinutes, estimatedCost); videoDurationSeconds is only the length of the source video."}