This choker is another boredom-buster for the men in your life. Little men, that is… My sister Judy is teaching summer school to a bunch of 8-year-old boys. Since her elementary ed training is in music and special ed, she asked me for some craft ideas for Fridays as a reward for the poor little guys having to suffer through school in the summer. (Having raised 3 boys, I’ve got a few guy-friendly project ideas in my arsenal, and am having fun digging through files and tripping down memory lane.) Last week the fellas had a blast making Slime, and this week they’ll be doing these cool hardware chokers. I’ll post 2 more projects in the weeks to come.
You may already have the supplies to make these on hand, and if not, you’ll find most of what you need at Walmart and your hardware store for a couple bucks. (I had to hit Jo-Ann’s as well for the lanyard hooks. They didn’t have them at the Walmart near me.) These are just suggestions to get you started—you may have other choker-worthy supplies in your tool chest. The nice thing is, you can do this without firing up the glue gun, or messing with paint. And your little dude will be sportin’ a new accessory come time for school in the fall.
Suggested supplies
3/8″-16 zinc plated hex nuts (stainless steel are nicer, but more expensive)
1/4″-20 zinc plated hex nuts
1/8″ x 3/4″ zinc plated washers
Lanyard hook
Jump ring
2 pony beads (not pictured in supply photo)
30 inches of Leather lacing
Have kids lay nuts, washers, etc. out in a pattern. Symmetrical patterns will look best in the finished choker, with biggest pieces in the center. String the main middle pieces onto leather lacing and move to center. Tie knots on either side of grouping to hold in place. Leave a little space and tie knots on either side of main section. String more nuts and washers on either side, and tie knots to hold in place. String a pony bead through each of end of choker, and then string a lanyard hook through on one side, and a jump ring through on the other side. Double back with the leather lacing, pushing the ends through pony beads to secure the clasps that have been created with lanyard, jump ring, and pony beads. Adjust lacing as needed so choker is correct length. (You can add a drop of hot glue or Aleene’s Tacky glue to the leather under the pony bead for extra secure finishing.) Cut off excess leather lacing. Choker is ready for wearing!
User testimony: my little guys loved them! They weren’t so interested in symmetry though, for some reason, so I didn’t push it. One boy who always pulls on the key lanyard around his neck found that this leather lacing pulled through the bead at the end by the hook and we ended up spending the last 5 minutes of class hunting for errant washers and beads on the floor of the school hallway. Guess what color the floor is? Yes, flecks of brown, tan, and off-white — same color as everything in the choker! Anyway, could we have used a little hot glue once the beads were in place? Or an extra knot? I’ll take advice for next summer!
Absolutely could have used some hot glue at the ends! I was trying to make it easier on you.
Oh, and upon showing off his choker at pick-up time, one of our kids told his dad,
“But they’re not really for choking, Dad, see?
I can still breathe with mine on!
That’s just what Mrs. Friesen calls it.”
Gotta love a literalist.
Hahaha. I want to meet that kid.