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Get udderly creative with this delightful pony bead cow keychain made with beads and cord. Forget sophisticated artistry. This is pure, unadulterated fun, a project that summons a smile with every pony bead threaded onto the cord. The image of the cow is already imprinted in my mind: a plump, friendly face, speckled with mismatched spots, and ears that perk up with a hint of mischievous curiosity.
This little cow is incredibly practical too. Attach it to your keys for an instant pop of personality, adorn a backpack to make it uniquely yours, or use it as a cheerful zipper pull or fan pull. Make one as a thoughtful handmade gift for a cow lover, use it for summer camp or group crafts, or make several for farm-themed events, giveaways and fundraisers. If you're looking for free pony bead keychain patterns, this cow is a fun addition to your collection of farm animal keychain pattern crafts.
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.
Some patterns in our collection date back far enough that a material originally called for may no longer be available. That can become an opportunity: modern beads, trims, cords and finishes can bring an older project forward without losing the idea that made it appealing in the first place.
1 - Lanyard Hook
OR
1 - Key Ring
Monofilament Cord
OR
2mm Metallic Cord
43 - White Pony Beads
27 - Black Pony Beads
2 - Pink Pony Beads
Scissors
Ruler or Measuring Tape
Craft Glue (We used super glue.)
Beading Wire
OR
Pipe Cleaners
Helpful Hint: If the end of your cord frays easily, dip it into a little melted wax and smooth the end with your fingers. The wax helps prevent fraying and makes the end stiffer and easier to thread through the beads.
1. Find the halfway point of the cord or wire you are using and attach it onto the key ring using a lark's head knot (shown in the photo).
2. Begin threading the beads onto the cord following the pattern below. You can click on the image at the bottom of the page for a larger, better resolution photo.
3. After finishing the pattern, tie a double knot or surgeon's knot in the cords at the bottom. Add a small drop of craft glue to the knot to prevent it from coming untied during use. Let the glue dry, then trim away any excess cord.
4. (Optional) Weave your wire or pipe cleaner through one of the widest rows in the middle of your beaded cow keychain to make it stiffer and help it hold its shape. Three or four beads can be strung onto the end of the cord as a finishing touch.
The illustration below shows how to thread the cords through the beads to form the legs. It's just an example to help you understand the weaving method, so follow your cow pattern for the correct number of beads.
The illustration below shows you how each cord side is threaded into the beads. Click on it to see a bigger, better resolution image.
Seed beads or E beads can be used in place of pony beads to create smaller characters.
