Halloween is a symphony of crisp air, pumpkin spice and the haunting silhouettes of creatures taking flight under the silvery glow of the harvest moon. And what nocturnal icon is more synonymous with the season than the bat? This free pony bead bat pattern brings that familiar Halloween silhouette to life with beads and cord, complete with outstretched wings ready to take flight.
Looking for a fun Halloween pony bead craft that's a little different from the usual pumpkins and ghosts? These little beaded bats are a delight to make! Their spread wings and playful, spooky appearance make them perfect for Halloween keychains, backpack decorations, zipper pulls and small gifts for friends who enjoy a little Halloween mischief.
Tired of the same old candy handouts? Make a few of these pony bead bats for trick-or-treat surprises, party favors or non-candy Halloween treats. They're a fun way to share something handmade that children and adults can enjoy long after the candy is gone.
And don't forget the decorating possibilities! Imagine a whole colony of beaded bats hanging from a Halloween garland, flying across a doorway or dangling from a light fixture. Mix them with pony bead pumpkins, black cats, ghosts, spiders and skeletons to create your own collection of spooky Halloween decorations. These lightweight little bats can come out to play year after year.
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1 - Lanyard Hook
OR
1 - Key Ring
Cord - Approximately 2 1/2 yards
There are lots of different types of cord you can use for your beaded bat. We prefer cord about 1 1/2mm to 2mm thick because it helps your bat keychain keep its shape. Alternatively, you can use thinner cord and weave a little wire or a pipe cleaner into your keychain for extra support. Either method works, so experiment to see which you prefer.
Monofilament Cord
OR
2mm Metallic Cord
OR
1mm Black Jute or Hemp Cord
OR
1.5mm Leather Necklace Cord
OR
1.5mm Satin Rattail Cord
OR
1/8" Satin Ribbon
For ours, we used 1.5mm black cotton jute cord.
Helpful Hint: If your cord end frays easily, try dipping it into a little melted wax and smoothing it out with your fingers. This helps prevent fraying and creates a stiffer end for threading through your beads.
7 - Purple Pony Beads
44 - Black Pony Beads
30 - Gray Pony Beads
These are the colors we used. You can make your beaded bat in other Halloween colors, such as orange, lime green, purple, or whatever colors are perfect for you!
Glue (We used super glue.)
Scissors
Ruler or Measuring Tape
Optional: For a stiffer beaded bat, you can include a little wire or a pipe cleaner with your cord to help the bat keep its shape.
Beading Wire
OR
Pipe Cleaners
1. Locate the halfway point of your cord or lacing and fold it in half. Attach the folded cord to your key ring or lanyard hook using a lark's head knot as shown in the photo. You should now have two cords of about the same length hanging from the key ring.
2. Begin weaving your pony beads following the bat pattern. This beaded bat uses Peyote Stitch, a different weaving technique from the one used for many of our other pony bead keychain patterns. If you're unfamiliar with Peyote Stitch, here's a helpful Peyote Stitch tutorial to get you started.
3. When you've finished weaving your bat, you'll notice that the two cord ends do not finish in the same place. You can bring them together and tie a double knot or surgeon's knot at the bottom, but we found that it looks better to tie off each cord individually at the last row where it ends. Apply a little glue to each knot to help prevent unraveling.
Optional: Weave a piece of wire or a pipe cleaner through one of the widest rows near the top of your beaded bat keychain to help it hold its shape.
You can also follow this same pony bead bat pattern using seed beads or E beads to create smaller versions. These little beaded bats would make a fun pair of Halloween earrings or a necklace pendant!
Looking for more Halloween themed beaded critters? Here are a few more patterns to try.
Make a collection of Halloween pony bead characters and string them together for an easy handmade Halloween garland.
