Pony Bead Santa Keychain Pattern and Instructions

1. Locate the halfway point of your cord or lacing and fold it in half. Attach the folded cord to your key ring using a lark's head knot as shown in the photo. You should now have two cords of about the same length hanging from the key ring.

2. Using the bead diagram for the Santa keychain located at the bottom of these instructions as your guide, begin weaving the rows of beads one row at a time. The first bead is done differently in that you thread both of your cords into the first bead, then pass one cord through the row of beads, then pass the other cord through the same beads from the opposite direction as shown in the illustration. Gently pull both cords until the new row rests against the previous one.

3. Continue following the Santa pattern from the top of his hat downward. As you finish each row, check the bead colors and count before pulling everything snug. It is much easier to discover that Santa has an extra bead in his hat while you are still working on that row than after you have added several more below it.

4. Keep the tension on the two cords fairly even as you work. The rows should sit snugly together without being pulled so tightly that Santa begins to curl or twist. If a row doesn't want to sit straight, loosen it slightly, straighten the beads with your fingers and then gently tighten the cords again.

5. Continue through Santa's face, beard and suit, following the bead placement shown in the diagram. When you reach his arms and legs, take a little extra time to follow the cord path in the pattern. These areas branch away from the main body and thread back through themselves again before continuing the body.

6. For the legs, each leg is done with the same piece of cord, threaded through each row, down to the bottom, and then back through each row up to the top of his legs where they will meet in the center and can be tied together less obviously. You can still adjust the tension between rows, straighten his arms and legs, or correct a bead that isn't sitting properly.

7. Tie the cords together securely with a surgeon's knot or a good double knot. Add a small drop of craft glue to the knot for a little extra security. Let the glue dry, then trim away the excess cord.

The diagram below uses blue and green to make the two ends of the cord easier to follow as they travel through the beads. Don't let the number of lines intimidate you. Follow one row at a time and use the colors to keep track of which cord goes where. Click the diagram to open a larger version whenever you need a closer look.

Ready to make another one?

Here are a few ideas for inspiration. Show your Christmas spirit (or not) and carry Santa or even the Grinch with you wherever you go as a keychain, backpack charm or rear view mirror decoration. Pony bead Christmas characters actually make great ornaments and decorations that can add a handmade touch to gift packages, Christmas trees, garlands, wreaths, mantels, windows and holiday displays. An easy to make collection of Santas, elves, reindeer and Christmas trees can decorate a classroom tree, brighten a store or craft show display, or become part of a family Christmas tree filled with handmade ornaments. They're small projects, but there are plenty of places for them to turn up at Christmas.