Crafting A Colorful Boondoggle Turtle: A Fun Guide

Boondoggles are a quintessential summer camp craft with tons of variations. One of the most basic and common types is the square or box boondoggle, which can be made into a keychain or lanyard. To make a boondoggle turtle, you will need two strands of plastic lacing, each about 3-4 feet long, and a keyring or metal clip. You will also need scissors and a measuring tape. The first step is to place the two strands in a plus sign formation, with one strand on top of the other. Then, you will create a weave by folding the ends of the bottom strand over the top strand and then repeating with the other strand, going over and under the first strand. Pull all four laces tight to secure your first weave. From there, you will continue to weave the strands in a specific pattern until you reach your desired length. Finally, you will add a keyring or lanyard clip to create your boondoggle turtle!

Gather supplies: two strings, a keyring, scissors

To make a boondoggle turtle, you will need to gather the following supplies: two strings, a keyring, and scissors. The strings can be purchased at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or Wal-mart. You can choose any colour you like, and it is recommended to have two different colours to make a square-knot boondoggle. You will need about 3 to 4 feet of string. A keyring or metal clip will be used to secure the strings and form the base of the turtle. Scissors will be needed to cut the strings to the desired length.

For a square-knot boondoggle, you will start by cutting one string of each colour to the desired length. The recommended length is 4 feet, but you can adjust it slightly if needed. Once you have your strings, you will need to slide the keyring or metal clip onto the centre of the strings and fold them in half, so you have four strands to work with.

Now you are ready to start creating the square knots. First, arrange your strings so that they form an "X" shape, with each string laying flat and one on top of the other. Take the bottom string and create two loops by folding it over the top string. Then, take one end of the top string and go over the first loop and under the second loop. Do the same with the other end of the top string. Pull the strings tight, and you will have created your first square knot!

Repeat this process, creating more square knots until you reach your desired length. Once you have achieved the desired length, you can finish off the boondoggle by tying a regular knot or creating an ending knot. To create an ending knot, simply make another knot but keep it loose. Then, take one string and go under the string to its right, bringing it up through the middle. Do the same with the other three strings, pulling them tight, and cutting off any excess string.

Cut strings to 4 feet

To make a boondoggle turtle, you'll need to start by cutting your strings to size. For this project, you'll want to cut two strings, one of each colour, to 4 feet (48 inches) in length. This will give you enough length to work with as you create your turtle design.

Having the correct length of string is important for a few reasons. Firstly, it ensures that your finished turtle is the right size. You don't want your turtle to be too big or too small, so starting with 4 feet of string is a good baseline. Secondly, having the right length of string makes the crafting process easier. If your strings are too short, you might not have enough length to work with when creating your knots and weaving your design. On the other hand, if your strings are too long, they could become cumbersome and difficult to manage.

So, once you've measured out and cut your two strings to 4 feet each, you'll be ready to move on to the next steps of creating your boondoggle turtle. This will typically involve folding your strings, arranging them into a specific pattern, and then weaving and knotting your strings to create the turtle's body and shell.

Remember, it's always a good idea to have scissors on hand that are suitable for cutting string or lacing. You don't want to use scissors that are too dull, as this could make cutting the string difficult and may result in an uneven cut. Sharp scissors will help you achieve a clean cut, making your crafting experience smoother and your final turtle creation more precise and aesthetically pleasing.

Fold in half, then turn upside down

Now that you've folded your strings in half, you'll have four strings in total. Turn the whole set-up upside down. You want to arrange your strings so that they are laying flat, with one string laying on top of the other, forming an "X" shape. It's important to keep things neat and tidy at this stage, so take care to ensure your strings are laying flat and are not twisted or tangled.

The next step is to create two loops with the bottom string. Take the bottom string and fold it over the top string, creating two loops – one on each side of the top string. Now you should have something that looks like a figure-eight shape with a crossing in the middle.

At this point, you can add a little twist to your creation by using two different colours for your strings. For example, if you have one teal string and one purple string, you can create a more vibrant pattern. Take the bottom teal string and make two loops over the purple string, then take one end of the purple string and go over the first teal loop and under the second teal loop. Repeat this with the other end of the purple string, pulling them tight to create your first knot.

If you're happy with how your knot looks, you can continue with this pattern, repeating the process of looping and threading until you reach your desired length. Remember to keep the strings flat and untangled as you work, and soon you'll have the base of your boondoggle turtle!

Arrange strings in an X shape

To make a boondoggle turtle, you will need two strings, each about 3 feet long. You can use boondoggle string in two colours, or plastic lacing. You will also need a key ring or metal clip, scissors, and a measuring tape.

To begin, place the two strands down with one on top of the other, making a plus sign, with the strings crossing at the centre. Now, you will need to arrange the strings in an X shape. Take the bottom strand and fold it over the top of the plus sign, above the centre, then do the same with the other strand but this time, fold it below the centre. This will create an X shape with the strings.

Now that your strings are arranged in an X shape, you can continue with the next steps of making your boondoggle turtle. The X shape is the base for creating the square knot, which is the most common type of boondoggle. You can add a key ring or lanyard clip to the beginning lace to create a keychain, or continue weaving to create a longer lanyard for your keys or other items.

To continue with the square knot, take the other strand and place it over and then under the first strand. Repeat this step with the other end, going over and then under the other side. Pull all four laces tight to secure the knot. You can repeat this process to create a longer lanyard or keychain, or move on to creating an ending knot to finish off your boondoggle turtle.

Weave the strings to make a square knot

To make a square knot boondoggle, you will need two strings of different colours, each cut to four feet (48 inches) in length. You will also need a measuring tape, a key ring or metal clip, and scissors.

To begin, slide the clip onto the strings and fold them in half so that you have four strings to work with. Arrange the strings so that they are laying flat, one on top of the other, forming an 'X' shape.

Now, take the bottom string and create two loops, folding it over the top string. Then, take the top string and go over the first loop and under the second loop created by the bottom string. Repeat this with the other top string. Pull them tight, and you've made your first square knot!

Keep repeating this process until you reach your desired length. You can finish with a simple knot, or you can do an ending knot, which we'll explain below.

To make an ending knot, make another knot but keep it loose. Then, take one string and go under the string to its right. Bring it up through the middle. Do the same with the other three strings. Pull it tight, and you can cut off the excess string, leaving about an inch as a tassel if desired.

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