Pride Month is a really excellent excuse for a crafternoon,* so we gathered a group of LGBTQ friends and allies to create some DIY Pride bracelets and key-chains. These colourful, easy-to-make accessories are the perfect way to express yourself at a Pride parade or celebrate your identity every day.
*An afternoon spent making stuff with good friends, a good playlist and maybe an adult beverage.
You can make these bracelets for your fabulous self or to show some love to the amazing LGBTQ people in your life.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Gather up all your coloured embroidery floss and lay it out in the order you’re planning to wrap it.
A quick online search will turn up designs for all the different LGBTQ flags and the meanings of each colour. But the classic Pride rainbow is just the beginning—add black, brown, white, blue and pink floss to make the Progress Pride Flag.
Measure and cut the cord. To figure out how long your piece of cord will need to be, unravel a bit of it from the spool and wrap it around your wrist, ankle or neck, making it as loose or snug as you prefer. (Get a friend to help if needed.)
Hold the measurement with your fingers while you lay the cord down on your work surface, then cut. Note that if you have long cord ends or clasps, you may need to trim off a bit of cord.
Put a dot of glue about a half-inch from the end of the cord to secure the embroidery floss.
Pro tip
Make the leather lace or suede cord part of the design by letting more of it show.
Wrap your first colour. Secure the end of the floss on the dot of glue. Wrap the floss tightly around the cord to make a band of colour.
Add the next colour.
If you’re finished with your first colour, use another dot of glue to hold that floss and your next colour down, and start wrapping. Snip the first colour once it’s secured by the second. If you’re repeating colours, don’t cut the floss. Just wrap over it with the new colour, then switch threads when you’re ready.
Finish your design. To wrap things up, thread your final colour onto an embroidery needle. Push the needle under a half inch or more of the wrapped floss then out, and carefully snip the thread.
Pro tip
If the wrapped thread looks loose anywhere, add the smallest dabs of glue to hold it down. You can do the same thing at each end of the design for extra hold.
You can never have too many key-chains: main keys, backup keys, dog-walker keys, house sitter keys, garden shed keys, gym locker keys…
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Measure your leather and make the keychain. Cut a piece of leather strap twice as long as you’d like the finished design.
Fold the leather in half over the keyring and add a little glue between the flaps to hold them in place. Use the punch tool to make a hole in the leather, then set the rivet.
Plan your design. Use the tape to mask off stripes—we liked diagonal and chevron designs.
Paint the rainbow. Add your colours, letting each dry completely before painting the next. Once all colours are dry, remove the tape.
Want more Pride Month ideas?
- Try some DIY Pride Month accessories with free printables for gorgeous sunglasses, and ideas for handmade flags and banners.
- Save and share inspiring quotes with friends and allies.
- Send supportive messages. Check out these ideas for what to write in a card.
