Heart paracord key fob- macrame style

Let’s make a love themed paracord key fob!
Today’s project is done in macrame. Using a simple knot multiple times we can get a nice looking “I heart you” pattern going. This is an ideal gift for Valentine’s day and pretty much any other day of the year!

The main knot for this project is the double half hitch, which I use 160 times! The key fob has 20 rows and each row consists out of 8 knots.
I would consider this project about medium in difficulty. While the technique is simple to learn, you do need to do a number of knots, which takes patience and persistence. But hey, if you put a lot of work into it, it kinda shows you care as well, does it not?

In any case though, in this tutorial I will show you how to make one. Let’s start with the supplies!

Supplies needed

The supplies for this key fob are really basic. A few cords and a bit of hardware.

As far as the cords you will need, I recommend using cords 1-1.5 mm in diameter. The thicker the cords, the larger the key fob. In my case I am using cord 1.2 mm in diameter, which worked really well. So, you will need the following:

1 piece of micro cord for the pattern. This one is 5 feet long (1.5 meters) and usually red.
4 pieces of micro cord, each 4.5 feet long (1.35 meters). These can be black, blue, green. A nice contrast with red is recommended.
a piece of hardware for attachment to your keys. You can use a key ring or a lobster claw hook.
scissors and a lighter are the last items you will need. They are used to cut and melt your cords.

Now, onwards to the tutorial!

“I heart U” key fob tutorial

Below you will find a full picture tutorial as well as a video one. The first few rows of the key fob are demonstrated in more detail, so that you get to know the basic knot- the double half hitch. Then, after a few rows, we will speed things up, while still being quite clear at what needs doing.

Start by attaching your 4 main cords onto your key ring or hook. For this task we use the Lark’s head knot. We end up with 8 working ends.

Place your other, pattern cord over your ends. I call this one the guiding cord.

We will now begin tying. Remember that each row has 8 knots in it.

Row 1: work from left to right. Attach your first end onto the guiding cord using a Double half hitch. First one hitch.

The second hitch.

And tighten up.

Repeat with all of the ends to make your first row. This is a full, spacing row.

Row 2: work from right to left. Pass your guiding cord over your ends.

Attach your first end onto the guiding cord using a Double half hitch. Make your first hitch.

The second hitch.

Tighten up.

Repeat with all of the ends to create the second row. This is a full, spacing row.

Row 3: Work from left to right. Attach your first end onto the guiding cord.

We will now switch things around and attach the guiding cord onto our ends. First pass your second end over your guiding cord.

Attach the guiding cord onto the end using a double half hitch. First one hitch.

The second hitch.

Tighten up.

Attach your guiding cord a total of 6 times. Then finish off by attaching your last, 8th end onto your guiding cord. This makes our letter “I”. Basically we did a sequence of 1-6-1.