Last year we ran a couple of demos on how to make lanyards and name badges for a swap for the group. We decided we weren’t going to do another swap this year (as most of our members have one now) but we’re hoping we could encourage existing members to help bring in additional lanyards and/or name badges for new members as our group continues to grow. The following are instructions on the two demos we offered.

Lanyard Info. (Sarah’s Demo):
I said I’d share a link to the tutorial for the demo I did which I grabbed from this great blog post by Simply Cotton here.

Just a couple of things to note that I did differently than the tutorial:
1) During the demo, I just showed how to do one solid strip of fabric. This tutorial shows you how to do a pieced lanyard. It’s the same basic instructions, I just skipped the first few steps and simply cut my strip 2 1/2″ x 36 1/2″. (You can cut it wider depending on your swivel clip width too! Just multiply the width of your swivel clip by 2 and you’ll get the number of the width of the strip you should cut to fit your swivel clip)

2) She suggests using Pellon Lightweight Fusible Stabilizer (which you are more than welcome to use) but what I used in my demo is called Shape-Flex Woven Interfacing (this is fusible even though it doesn’t say it in the name).

Lastly, the name of the claps I bought at Joann’s is made by Dritz and is called a “Swivel Hook”. I also ordered a bunch from an Etsy store for wholesale price. Just search “Swivel Clip” or “Swivel Hook”.

Name Badge Holder Info. (Tricialyn’s Demo):
Tricialyn did a great job at typing up directions for her demo. I’ve provided them here in case you missed it or have misplaced your copy.

Materials:
2 – 5″ square fabric scraps
1 – 2″ x 38″-40″ strip for neck strap
1 – 2″ x 5″ strip for binding on vinyl
1 – 4″ x 5″ piece of vinyl Tissue paper to help feed vinyl through the machine – optional
Walking foot – optional

Press 2″ x 5″ strip in half, then press the edges to the middle to form the binding. Place the binding over the top edge of the vinyl and topstitch in place. Vinyl likes to stick to the machine, so if you tape some tissue paper down it will help the vinyl go through the machine. A walking foot is also helpful.

Place front facing 5″ square on the table right side up, place the vinyl on top with the binding at the top. Next place the back 5″ square on top face down. The vinyl makes everything slippery, pin all layers together inside the seam allowance. Sew a 1/4″ seam down the right side, turning 1/4″ from the bottom, continue sewing across the bottom and up the left side, back stitch at beginning and end. Clip corners. Turn everything right side out, being careful not to crimp the vinyl, and poke the corners out. Flatten out, and press quickly with a warm iron using a pressing cloth. Make sure to be very careful when pressing because the vinyl can melt. Turn the top edge in 1/4″ and press.

Press the 2″ x 40″ strip in half, then press the edges to the middle. Topstitch down the edge to make the neck strap.

Insert one end of the neck strap into left side of the main body of the badge holder 1/2″ – 1″, pin in place. Place other end into the right side, pin in place. Make sure neck strap is not twisted. Topstitch about 1/8″ from top of body, to secure strap in place.

Admire.

*Note: If you’re making a lanyard, please remember to buy the plastic name badge holder that the name badge goes in. They can usually be found in the office aisle of many drugstores as well as office supply stores. Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions about any of the info. provided.

Thanks!
Sarah