As Halloween creeps closer and we begin looking for seasonal crafts to satisfy our creative itch, here's a simple, spellbinding pony bead cat pattern for making a Halloween keychain that captures the spirit of the season purr-fectly.
Bring a little Halloween mischief to your crafting table with this adorable black cat pony bead pattern! You can create a playful little kitty that's ready to tag along wherever you go. This free beaded cat pattern is a fun addition to your collection of pony bead animal keychains, and you can even change the colors to make a kitty of your own.
This beaded black cat is a small, mischievous companion crafted from pony beads and cord. Make one for a Halloween keychain, backpack or zipper pull, use them as trick-or-treat handouts and non-candy Halloween treats, or turn your little black cats into spooky decorations. They're a natural fit for cat lovers, Halloween fans and anyone who enjoys a little witchy fun.
At home, hang your beaded black cat from a doorknob or light fixture, add several to plain garland, or string them together with pumpkins, ghosts, bats, spiders and skeletons to create your own Halloween garland. Change the colors and these adorable little cats can come back out to play after Halloween too.
If you are looking for Halloween themed hangers or ornaments scroll down to the bottom of the page where we've assembled a group of them for your convenience.
Note: For your convenience and to assist you in being able to locate the material required for this project, some (or all) of the materials listed may be linked to other websites or contain affiliate links. All will open into a new window so that you don't lose this pattern page.
1 - Lanyard Hook
OR
1 - Key Ring
Cord - Approximately 2 yards
There are lots of different types of cord you can use for your beaded black cat. We prefer cord about 1 1/2mm to 2mm thick because it helps your cat keychain keep its shape. Alternatively, you can use a 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 type cord.
Helpful Hint: If your cord end frays easily, try dipping the end of your cord 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.
2 - Yellow Pony Beads (For the eyes.)
53 - Black Pony Beads (For the cat's body, head and tail.)
These are the colors we used. You can make your beaded black cat in traditional Halloween colors or try 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 cat, you can include a little wire or a pipe cleaner with your cord to help the cat 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. Using the bead diagram for the black cat keychain below, begin weaving the rows of beads. Pass one cord through the row of beads, then pass the other cord through the same beads from the opposite direction as shown in the illustration. Pull both cords until the new row rests against the previous one. Continue following the pattern to form your beaded black cat.
The diagram below shows how the two ends of the cord are threaded through the beads to make your black cat pony bead keychain. Click the diagram to open a larger version in a new window whenever you need a closer look.
3. When you've finished weaving your black cat, the two cord ends should meet at the beginning of the cat's tail. Tie them together using a double knot or surgeon's knot. Apply a little glue to the knot to prevent it from unraveling. Once the glue has dried, trim the excess cord.
Optional: Weave a piece of wire or a pipe cleaner through one of the widest rows near the top of your beaded cat to help it hold its shape.
You can also follow this same pony bead cat pattern using seed beads or E beads to create smaller versions. These little beaded cats 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.
