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Craft Tutorials | Crafts for Kids | Back to School Crafts | Braided T-shirt Keychain

Braided T-shirt Keychain

Author by Amanda Davis on February 12, 2014 Updated on January 15, 2019

5 from 4 votes
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How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

 

When you have kids, you go through a lot of t-shirts. Usually they outgrow them faster than you can replace them, but sometimes they end up with stains you can’t get out before they’ve finished their useful life. Some people turn them into cleaning rags, and then there’s people like me who see other ways to make use of them.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

I had been throwing shirts into a basket in my craft room for quite some time. So luckily for me I had a lot of colors to choose from. I’m also one of those people that likes to have a big, visible keychain so I can quickly find my keys. So making this braid was the perfect project for me.

[There are full printable instructions at the end of this post]

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Cut a long t-shirt strip in half (set the second half aside) and stretch it out. Make a lark’s head knot by folding the strip in half and slipping the looped end through key ring.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Now thread the two loose ends up through the loop and pull tight.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Take 15-16 long t-shirt strips and stretch them all out. Gather them all together, side by side. Fold the top few inches down and tie the strip that is on the key ring around all the strips. Tie a knot and add a little hot glue, then tie another knot and glue again. Trim the ends of the key ring knot completely off.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Turn it over and add a little hot glue to the strips where the bend is.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Trim the short ends of the strips off as short as you can.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Take the other half of the strip that you set aside in step 1 and using hot glue as you go, wrap it around the trimmed edges, hiding them.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Lay the keychain down facing right side up.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Separate the strands into two sections.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Grab two strips from the BACK left and cross them over and add them to the strips on the right.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Grab two strips from the BACK right and cross them over and add them to the strips on the left.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Repeat this process, working your way down until your braid is as long as you want it.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Turn the keychain over. Take another strip, stretch it out and wrap it around the end of the braid, tying in a knot and securing with hot glue. Trim off the ends of the knot.

How to make a T-shirt Bone Braid Keychain by @amandaformaro - Crafts by Amanda

Trim the fringe and you’re all done!

Printable version after these additional ideas!

More T-shirt Craft Ideas

Braided Recycled T-shirt Headband

Braided Recycled T-shirt Headband

Braided Recycled T-shirt Headband

Tie Dye Decoupage Monogram Frame

Tie Dye Decoupage Monogram Frame

Tie Dye Decoupage Monogram Frame

Upcycled T-shirt Dress – from Infarrantly Creative

Upcycled T-shirt Dress

Upcycled T-shirt Dress

How to Make T-shirt Yarn – from Dollar Store Crafts

How to Make T-shirt Yarn

How to Make T-shirt Yarn

Recycled T-shirt Button Skirt – from 100 Directions

Recycled t-shirt button skirt

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All sorts of T-shirt Crafts – from Fun Family Crafts

All sort of T-shirt Crafts

All sorts of T-shirt Crafts

Print Project
5 from 4 votes

Braided T-shirt Keychain

Supplies

  • Recycled t-shirts cut into long strips, about 15" long
  • metal key ring
  • Hot glue gun
  • Scissors

Instructions

  • Cut a long t-shirt strip in half (set the second half aside) and stretch it out. Make a lark's head knot by folding the strip in half and slipping the looped end through key ring. Now thread the two loose ends up through the loop and pull tight.
  • Take 15-16 long t-shirt strips and stretch them all out. Gather them all together, side by side. Fold the top few inches down and tie the strip that is on the key ring around all the strips.
  • Tie a knot and add a little hot glue, then tie another knot and glue again. Trim the ends of the key ring knot completely off. Turn it over and add a little glue to the strips where the bend is.
  • Trim the short ends of the strips off as short as you can.
  • Take the other half of the strip that you set aside in step 1 and using hot glue as you go, wrap it around the trimmed edges, hiding them.
  • Lay the keychain down facing right side up. Separate the strands into two sections.
  • Grab two strips from the BACK left and cross them over and add them to the strips on the right.
  • Grab two strips from the BACK right and cross them over and add them to the strips on the left.
  • Repeat this process, working your way down until your braid is as long as you want it.
  • Turn the keychain over. Take another strip, stretch it out and wrap it around the end of the braid, tying in a knot and securing with hot glue. Trim off the ends of the knot.
  • Trim the fringe and you're all done!
  • Author
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Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
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Filed Under: Back to School Crafts, Camp Crafts, Crafts for Seniors, Easy Crafts for Kids, Recycled Crafts for Adults, Recycled Crafts for Kids Tagged With: adult, adult craft ideas, adult crafts, adults, camp, camp crafts, crafts for adults, kid's crafts, recycle, recycle crafts, recycled, recycled crafts, t-shirt

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Comments

  1. Emily says

    July 13, 2019 at 2:53 pm

    You give an estimate of how long to cut strips, but do you have an approximation of thickness?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      July 15, 2019 at 9:29 am

      Hi Emily! I’m not sure i understand your question. The thickness is determined by the t-shirt you are using. Unless I misunderstood?

      Reply
      • Beth Kovacic says

        October 14, 2019 at 9:09 am

        How wide is the strip? 1″ wide?

        Reply
        • Amanda Formaro says

          October 20, 2019 at 10:48 am

          Roughly yes :)

          Reply
  2. Kathy Nolan says

    March 4, 2014 at 10:33 pm

    THANK YOU SO MUCH for making it so easy to print directions to your projects!! Love your projects….

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      March 8, 2014 at 12:25 pm

      Thanks Kathy! So glad the printable version is helpful too :)

      Reply
  3. Alexis @ Persia Lou says

    February 18, 2014 at 8:44 pm

    Love the way this looks! I wouldn’t have ever thought of the fishtail braid. So cute!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      February 21, 2014 at 7:15 am

      Thanks Alexis!

      Reply
  4. Gloria Anderson says

    February 12, 2014 at 1:07 pm

    Enjoying the crafts.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      February 17, 2014 at 6:16 am

      Thank you Gloria!

      Reply
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