Idiot Cord

Okay I have a simpler craft idea today as it's something that is useful in many different aplications. I've used it to make tails on both crochet and plastic canvas animals I've used it for simple straps or ties on bags or for super easy book marks or friendship bracelets. They are called idiot cords becasue any idiot can make them though when showing them to kids I've called them friendship cords as they are more fun to make in pairs particuly for a long one. The pictures I have today are showing how i made the tail of this little guy:

Mr. Wiskers my baby mouse

Idoit Cords are made with two pieces of yarn and for Mr. Wiskers I used two grey pieces but you can also make an interesting combination by doing two different colours. For my gingerbread man ornimant I mad his bow out of red and white yarn to give a candy cane look.

Firt cut your yarn to the size you need. It will need to be double the lengeth you need atleast and it's usually best to make it even longer than that as you will loose some lentght to your knots and triming. also try to make the pieces the same length or very close to the same length.

If you cord will be on something like my mouse or if you're making a book mark with a charm on the end thread that on and put it in the middle. With a Mr. Wiskers I had to use a needle to put each thread in the right place and the you tie the ends together with a simple square knot making sure your strangs are even with each other and your item is in the center or very close to the center.

Both pieces of yarn are in place and tied evenly

Next you need two objects like pens, something you can slip in betweein the strings and will hold them. I used a crochet hook and a mecencal pencile but straws, utensles, chopsticks, markers or in a real pinch fingers can do this but I find it's easiest with something that has a little hook or nib on it like the part on a pen that will hook on your pocket.

And then you just twist one in each direction so that the yarn starts to twist together. i don't have any pictures of this step as i needed both hands to do it and couldn't work the camera as well but it's not hard to do at all particuly on a short piece like this. However for something longer that's when an extra pair of hand can come in handy or in a pinch i have held one end between my toes and done all the twisting on one end. You can do that though it takes a litle longer. Keep twisting untill the two strands are tightly wound together. This should only take a minute even for a long string. When iyou're don't twisting you bring your pens together while pulling the middle down.

This is what it should look like now

 Then you simply let go of the middle while holding the two ends and it will wind up on itself in a few seconds creating one idiot cord.

Almost Finished cord

Then all you have to do is carefully slide the pens out. Tie a not in the end of the cord and make sure it's past the first knots you tied and then trim off the excess simple as that.



What you wind up with looks like it was braided or woven somehow but the yarn does most of the work when it twists up on itself. Quick easy and versitile something you can use to make a tail for a baby mouse or a friendship braclet that you and your friend made together.