How to Make a Pony Bead Lizard (Printable Pattern!)
90s pony bead lizards are back, and they’re so easy to make! This step-by-step tutorial will have you rocking a new lizard friend in no time.
Pony bead lizards are officially cool again—and not just in a throwback kind of way. You can find them clipped to backpacks in stores or hanging from keychains like it’s 1999. But here’s the thing: why buy one when you can make your own for pennies?
Back in 5th grade, I actually had a full-blown business making and selling these little guys (along with these cute snakes) at lunchtime. It lasted a whole two weeks before Mr. Curtis shut me down. So you could say I’m something of an expert. Whether you’re reliving your childhood or introducing these to a new generation, I’ve got you covered with the steps, tips, and tricks to make your own beaded lizard creations.
How to Make a Pony Bead Lizard
Materials
- 30 main color pony beads
- 16 contrasting color pony beads
- 2 eye color pony beads
- 2 feet of ribbon, yarn, or string
- printable lizard pattern
- scissors
- keyring (optional)
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1 | Cut Your Ribbon
Measure and cut a length of curling ribbon about 2 feet long. This will give you plenty of material to work with for your lizard.
Note: If you plan to use a keychain, follow the optional keychain start instructions below.
Step 2 | Start beading
Slide your first main color bead to the center of your ribbon. Let it rest on the table.
Slide 2 more main color beads onto just one end of the ribbon. Leave them close to that end.
Take the other end of the ribbon and slide it into those same two beads, but from the opposite direction, like this:
Pull the ends of the ribbon through the beads until they are resting just below the first bead. You can move the beads, pulling and loosening, until they lie flat right up against that first bead.
Step 3 | Follow the pattern
Continue using that same technique. For each row, slide the beads you need for that row, in order, onto one end of the ribbon. Slide the other end of the ribbon through in the opposite direction, and pull the ends until the beads are resting below the row before. The printable pattern will tell you what color beads you need for each row.
Step 4 | Make the Legs
After row 5, and again after row 8, you will need to make legs. The legs are done differently than the rest of the lizard.
First, slide all the beads for the legs onto one end of the ribbon. Push them down until they are close to the lizard’s body.
Then, using that same ribbon end, go through ONLY the two beads closest to the lizard’s body, as in the picture below:
Finally, pull the ribbon tight, and manipulate the beads so that the three beads on the end fan out, and the 2 beads nearest the lizard sit tight against the lizard’s body.
Repeat this on the other side to make two legs. Then, move on to the next row and do it just like you do all the other rows.
Step 5 | Finish Off
Complete the pattern with several single-bead rows. When you feel that your lizard’s tail is long enough, tie the ribbon off using a double square knot. If you don’t know how to tie a square knot, this tutorial is fantastic!
Cut the end, and then your pony bead lizard is ready to go on adventures!
Optional Keychain Start
If you’re using a key chain, you will have a different start. Instead of simply sliding the first bead to the center, you will tie the keychain in the center of the ribbon. Your first bead will then be done like the other rows, with the ends of the ribbon going through it from opposite sides. From there, it’s just the same as the non-keychain version!
More Free Beading Patterns!
Variations
Once you’ve mastered the basic pony bead lizard, you might be looking for some next steps. Here’s a few ideas!
- Mini Lizards: You can make these lizards using thread, a beading needle, and seed beads. These are small enough to make adorable dangle earrings.
- Play with Beads: Try using a different type of bead! Ceramic beads, metal beads, wooden beads — they’ll all work, as long as they are either circular or oval in shape.
- Play with String: You can use rainbow elastic, silky ribbon, curling ribbon (my favorite!), or yarn to make lizards. Each ribbon gives you a different lizard vibe.
