Crafting Morse Code Keychains & Bracelets

These instructions will guide the user step-by-step through the construction of a Morse code keychain or bracelet. Don’t know Morse code? No problem! With the help of our Morse code translator, you’ll become a pro in no time. We recommend an adult be present, but anyone ages five and up and interested in making a personalized keychain or bracelet can complete this craft.

Contributors

Katelyn Yount - kvyount@ncsu.edu

Evan Jonson - ecjonson@ncsu.edu

Abby Zlamal - afzlamal@ncsu.edu

Hannah Willis - htwillis@ncsu.edu

Required Materials

• Beads (at least three colors)
• Thread (embroidery, beading or craft)
• Glue (or nail polish)
• Keychain ring (or bracelet clasp)
• Scissors

Choosing Colors & Materials

You will need three different colored beads, each of which represents a Morse code symbol. One bead color to represent “.” One bead color to represent “-“ and the other bead color to represent empty spaces. When selecting the colors, there are several ways to choose. Overall, it is up to the person creating the keychain, or bracelet. It can be three random colors like their favorites, or it can be based off the color wheel. When selecting three colors from the color wheel, one color is chosen, and then the two other complimentary colors are selected by forming an equilateral triangle. Using a color wheel can help you select colors.

Decide on the word(s) you want to use

• [Keychain] The length of the keychain is dependent on the number of letters in the words you chose, plus the spaces in between.
• [Bracelet] Diameter of the wrist needs to be considered for the length of the morse code message.

(Optional) Utilize the Morse Code Translator.

• Choose your desired colors and type your word(s) into the Morse code translator.
• The pattern displayed is what your keychain will look like.

(Optional) Learn morse code through drawing. Students may choose to illustrate their keychain using the “paint mode” on the Morse Code Keychain Assistant.

• Pick the color you would like to draw with.
• Input the dimensions of your canvas (units of height, units of width).
• Click on the blocks you would like to change to a different color.

To learn morse code, students may then translate their design row by row into morse. If a line does not translate, then the student may adjust their design until it is able to be read in morse. For example, you could translate the above designs:

Black: - (dash) or blank

Purple: . (dot)

(Optional) Making Animals & Designs

You can also make different designs using morse code.

Using the translator:

• To make a crab, paste “qoqbhxxhbqoq” into the translator. Pick two colors, setting dots and blanks for the background color and dashes for the main color.
• To make a daisy chain, paste “qcqyry” into the translator. Pick two colors, setting dashes and blanks for the background color and dots for the main color. Duplicate the sequence to make the daisy chain longer.

Using Paint Mode:

• Students may find designing easier in paint mode, but in order to gain practice with morse, they can translate their designs on paint mode into morse row by row. If a line in the design doesn’t translate, they can alter the design.

Measure the thread

• [Keychain] You will need about 1 foot of thread per 5 rows in your word(s).
• [Bracelet] You will need thread about 12 times the circumference of your wrist.

Cut the thread

• Cut the thread at this length. It is better to allow more thread then shorten it later. However, if you realize later that you need more thread you can add some by tying a simple knot to the end.

Prepare the thread

• To prevent fraying of the ends and to make them stronger, coat about an inch of the end of the thread with nail polish or glue.
• Wait 5-10 minutes for it to dry.

[Keychain] Add the keyring

• Find the middle of your thread by lining up the ends then following the fold to the middle.
• Put the two ends through the keyring until the keyring is about an inch from the middle fold.
• Put these two ends through the loop that has formed on the end.
• (Optional) Add a few more knots to give a little space between the keyring and the start of the code.
• The keyring is now attached and you can make sure it is in the middle as desired.

[Bracelet] Add the clasp

• Find the middle of the thread by lining up the ends then following the fold to the middle.
• Put one of the ends through the ring the clasp is attached to until the clasp is in the middle.
• Create a knot, preferably a square knot, to secure the clasp in place on the bracelet.
• Add a few more knots to give a little space between the clasp and the start of the code.

[Keychain]

• Lay out the thread connected to the keyring in front of you, and split the threads into a left string and a right string.
• Lay out your first row in front of you based on the morse code translator.
• Left to right will be initially represented as up to down.
• Take the leftmost bead and put it on the left string, moving it away from the end by about 3 inches.
• Repeat this process for all 4 beads, the last bead should be about 2 inches away from the end.
• Thread the right string through all 4 beads in the opposite direction of the other string.
• Pull both threads in opposite directions to move the beads up to the keyring.
• The beads will naturally want to curve around the keyring but you will want to make sure they are straight.

[Bracelet]

• Lay out the thread connected to the clasp and split the threads into a left string and a right string.
• Lay out the first row of four beads based on the morse code translator.
• The code will be read from the clasp to the rings the clasp will attach to.
• Thread the four beads with the left string until the beads are about two inches from the clasp.
• Thread the right string through the four beads in the opposite direction of the other string.
• Pull both threads in opposite directions to align the beads with the clasp.
• The beads will not want to stay in a straight line, so leave the beginning a little loose.

• Repeat the process outlined in step 4 for each letter of each word based on the Morse code translator.
• Ensure that you are making straight lines with each letter.
• After a few lines are created, pull tightly to secure the straight lines.

(Optional) Making spaces between words. To make a space, you will take 4 of your designated space beads and put them in a row.

Finish the chain

• [Keychain] Once you have reached the last letter of your last word, you will tie a simple double knot to keep the keychain from coming apart.
• [Bracelet] Once the last letter of your last word is reached, tie another square knot to secure the bracelet tightly.

Cut the thread about a half an inch from the end of this knot.

Protect the thread. Again, to ensure that the thread will not fray, apply nail polish or glue to the ends of your threads.

Attachment

• [Keychain] It is easiest to attach this keychain to some sort of loop, done by threading this through the coil in the keyring.
• [Bracelet] Once a few knots are created to finish the code, take the ring the clasp will attach to and loop it through one of the strings. Tie another square knot so the ring is firmly attached to the bracelet.

Cut off any remaining thread. You're done!