How to Make a Lariat Necklace

Learn how to make a lariat! It's a funky cord necklace you can make using any bits and bobs you can get your hands on, including beads and buttons, sequins and more!

These lariat necklaces are great because they are so versatile. You just tie them at the length you want them, so you can wear them tied at the neck or the chest, to fit the neckline of any top. If you make them long enough you can even double them up.

This instructional article was very kindly contributed by Suzy, the author of www.gladragsjewellry.co.uk. Do make sure you check out her site, she makes some gorgeous items! She also runs jewellery-making workshops and hosts jewellery parties in the Cambridgeshire region, UK.

Why not try making lariats few in different colours using different beads and bits and give them as gifts?

They would make a perfect Mothers Day gift (perhaps add a few pearls or pastel colours), or even Valentine’s for those budding male crafters out there (use red and hearts), and girls would love them too (you could use pinks and purples and little charms in the shape of flip flops, ice creams, cakes, or whatever they are in to). Just let your creativity go wild!

The instructions below use no tools at all, just your fingers, eyes and imagination...

How to Make a Lariat: Equipment

• 100cm cotton cord in your choice of colour (about 1mm diameter)
• A selection of beads, buttons etc of your choice with a large enough hole for your cord to fit through

That’s it!

How to Make a Lariat: Step by Step

Estimated time to make: ½ - 1 hour depending on how many bits you want to add on.

Step 1: Lay out all of the beads and bits that you want to add to your necklace and have a think about the design you want, decide if you want to make a pattern e.g. with mine I have buttons on their own, glass beads on their own, and a group of three beads together (glass, metal, glass).

You can do any pattern you like, or just make it random, but it’s good to lay the beads out in a line to represent where you might want them on the necklace so that it isn’t too weighted on one side versus the other and you don’t run out of a certain bead or colour too quickly.

Step 2: Start with one end of the lariat, where we are going to create a cluster of beads to create a nice weight. String 3-4 items onto the cord and tie the cord back on itself with a double knot. Add some clear glue to the knot, or clear nail varnish, to secure if you wish.

Step 3: Start to string on the beads and bits in the design you have decided upon, you may want some to move up and down the cord loosely e.g. buttons, in which case they can be strung straight on, but if you want to create a little group of some beads then make a knot in the cord first, and then string on the beads and finish off with another knot in the cord to hold them in place. You may need to do a double knot if the bead hole is large.

Step 4: When you reach the other end of the lariat and have strung on all the beads you wanted, string on another cluster of 3-4 beads and tie the cord back on itself in a double knot, as we did at the start (Step 2), and add some glue if you wish

Step 5: Give/wear with pride!

Thanks again to Suzy for sharing such wonderful and clear instructions with us!

If you too have a gift idea you would like to share with our readers, please get in touch using this form. One of the nicest things about being a crafter is sharing ideas, and we would love to hear from you!

Other Lovely Things You Can Make

How did your lariat necklace turn out? If you enjoyed learning how to make a lariat, you might also enjoy:
Beaded Necklace Instructions
How to Make Earrings

Happy Gifting!