Beadwrangler Workshop - Taco Chip Key Chain

Taco Chip Key Ring
by
Lydia F Borin

A Beadwrangler Workshop

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For those of you who purchased my Taco Chip Surprise kit, here is what you can do with leftover gemstone chips. The example is a 3" long key chain with bead loops added at one end. You are actually making a bead crocheted rope.

Supplies

31 small gemstone chips (large chips will not work and will be too heavy)

seed beads size 11/0

Jean Stitch thread (equivalent thread - thinner than #10 crochet thread to accommodate chips, polyester, not cotton; key chains require strong thread)

twisted wire needle for pre-stringing beads

Tools Required

small safety pin
scissors
crochet steel hooks, 1,25mm, use 1.50mm if you work tight
sewing or tapestry needle with eye to accommodate thread
1 white dish to set beads on for stringing

Standard American Crochet Terms Used

ch(s)	chain stitch(es)
sl st	slip stitch
st(s)	stitch(es)

Bead Crochet Term

bsc bead single crochet stitch (American sc st with bead added)

Taco Chip Key Chain

You will begin with a chain of four and work in the round. If you are new to crochet, it may take a little practice to work in such a small space. You will be taking the hook through the back of each stitch half, not under both stitch halves. You will be working in a spiral through Round 21, then you will make a loop and add the key chain ring. You will pre-string more beads, attach thread to the other end and follow key ring dangle instructions to crochet on the loops

Pre-string 13 seed beads size 11/0 and 1 gemstone chip,
then string 6 seed beads 11/0 and 1 chip,
continue until you have 18 chips strung and 6 seed beads between each chip.
End with 19 more seed beads size 11/0. The last 12 are for the loop around the key ring.

Key Chain Rounds

Leave a 5" tail of loose thread for stitching back into the piece.

Rnd		Instructions
1	.....	ch7 and join with a sl st to form a ring.
2		1 bsc in each st around (7bsc)
3-20		1bsc in each st around including 1 chip in 7^th st (7bsc sts in each round)
21		1bsc in each st around (7bsc sts) Do not fasten off.

Key Chain Loop

ch12 and wrap the chains around the metal key chain ring, then sl st into the other side of the crocheted rope so the key chain ring is in the middle. Turn, ch1, work 1bsc into each ch. Fasten off. Use a needle to stitch in the loose thread and cut off the excess.

Key Ring Dangles, 3blps, 3 lengths

Use a needle to stitch in the loose thread at the end.

Pre-string all the following beads and chips in order:

5 seed beads, 1 chip, 1 seed bead, 1 chip, 1 seed bead, 1 chip, 5 seed beads (dangle group 1)

7 seed beads, 1 chip, 1 seed bead, 1 chip, 1 seed bead, 1 chip, (option: 2 more chips added between seed beads) 7 seed beads (dangle group 2)

9 seed beads, 1 chip, 1 seed bead, 1 chip, 1 seed bead, 1 chip, (option: 2 more chips added between seed beads) 9 seed beads (dangle group 3)

Finishing Touch

Stick the hook through a stitch on the end of the key chain, make a slip knot in the thread with the strung beads, grasp the slip knot with the hook and pull the thread through that stitch, now stick the hook in another stitch for an sc st, pull up the last group of beads you strung, (group 3) snug next to the fiber and yo behind the last bead in that group, pull up a loop, then make a 2^nd yo, pull up two loops and bring the hook through both loops completing the sc st and capturing the bead group. Then repeat the process with the other two groups of beads and fasten off. Stitch in the fastened off thread and cut off the excess. Advanced crocheters can carry loose thread along with working thread.

This design is the property of Lydia F Borin and is for personal use only. No part of this project may be used as part of another project, magazine article, book or other printed or electronic publication without the written permission of the owner. For further information contact lydia@beadwrangler.com