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Here's a snappy little project for anyone who likes alligators, crocodiles, or just making lizard critters out of beads! Our free pony bead alligator pattern uses two colors of beads to give this little gator a long body, four legs, and a tail. The alligator keychain offers a bite-sized dose of delight that's hard to resist. It's a small accessory with a big personality, ready to chomp its way into your heart.
This beaded alligator keychain is a fun project for beginners and experienced beaders alike. Hang your finished gator from a key ring, backpack, purse, or zipper pull. Make a few for gifts, party favors, school projects, or craft bazaars. And don't forget to keep one for yourself!
You'll find quite a few alligator and crocodile bead patterns around, and some look a lot alike. A few beads added here or a row changed there can give each one a slightly different shape. Here's our version, complete with a free bead placement diagram and instructions to help you make your own.
If you make this project please share your photos with us. With your permission we'll add it to the page and credit it to you.
Your craft scissors may cut jewelry wire or pipe cleaners, but that doesn't mean they should. Wire can nick and dull the cutting edges of ordinary scissors, making them less effective when you go back to cutting paper, ribbon or fabric. Wire cutters are designed to handle metal and are a much better choice for jewelry wire and the wire core inside chenille stems. Save the scissors for the materials they were meant to cut—and they'll stay sharp much longer.
Lanyard Hook
OR
Key Ring
Monofilament Cord
OR
2mm Metallic Cord
84 - Green Glitter Pony Beads
44 - Crystal Pony Beads with Gold Glitter
Bead Colors: These are the colors we used for our alligator. Other colors would work just fine!
Scissors
RulerOptional: For a stiffer gator, you can include a little wire or a pipe cleaner with your cord to help it keep its shape.
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. Start with the first row of beads shown in the alligator pattern. String the beads onto one cord, then pass the other cord back through those same beads from the opposite direction, as shown in the illustration. Pull both cords until the beads meet in the middle. Continue weaving one row at a time, following the colors and number of beads shown in the pattern. Each new row should sit against the previous one.
3. To make each leg, string 5 beads onto your cord, then pass the cord back through the 4th bead. Add another bead, then pass the cord back through the 1st bead. Continue following the pattern for the remaining legs.
4. After finishing the alligator pattern, tie a secure double knot or surgeon's knot in the cords at the bottom. Apply a small drop of glue to the knot to keep it from coming untied. Allow the glue to dry, then trim the excess cord.
Optional: If you'd like a stiffer lizard/gator, weave a little wire or a pipe cleaner through one of the widest rows in the middle of your beaded alligator keychain. You probably won't need it, but it's an option if your cord doesn't hold the shape as well as you'd like.
Seed beads or E-beads can be used in place of pony beads to make smaller alligators and crocodiles.
The illustration below shows how each cord is threaded through the beads. You can view a larger, better resolution image if you click on it.
Enjoy making pony bead animal keychains? Try these free alligator, crocodile and gecko patterns to make more colorful beaded critters for keychains, backpacks and gifts.
Beading Wire
Pipe Cleaners
