This pony bead awareness ribbon is a simple, classic shape, but it’s one that people wear to show support, spark conversation, or honor someone they love. Bead it in whatever color speaks to you, clip it onto a bag or keys, and you’ve got a small, wearable reminder of something that matters.
Because the ribbon shape itself is so simple, this is really a pattern about color more than construction. Once you know the basic ribbon shape, you can bead it again and again in different colors for different causes, different people, or different fundraisers you’re supporting.
What the Colors Can Represent
Ribbon colors are widely used to represent different causes, though meanings can vary by community and country. A few commonly recognized examples:
- Pink – breast cancer awareness
- Gold – childhood cancer awareness
- Teal – ovarian cancer awareness
- Yellow – support for military service members
- Red – heart health and various awareness campaigns
- Rainbow – pride and general diversity awareness
If you’re beading this for a specific cause, it’s worth double-checking the color most associated with it in your community, since some colors are shared across more than one cause. Or, keep it simple and bead it in whatever color has personal meaning to you.
Ways to Wear or Gift a Pony Bead Awareness Ribbon
- Clip it to a backpack or bag as an everyday, low-key way to show support
- Attach it to a lanyard for walk/run fundraiser events
- Make a small batch to hand out at an awareness event or fundraiser table
- Gift one to someone going through a hard season as a small, thoughtful token
- Combine a few different colors on one key ring to represent multiple causes at once
Supplies You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to create the pony bead awareness ribbon. These are the exact supplies used in this project. Grab them below:
How to Make a Pony Bead Awareness Ribbon
Step 1: Prepare the Lacing
Begin by measuring 110 centimeters of pony bead lacing. Cut it to length with craft scissors.
Then fold the lacing in half and loop it through the key ring to form a knot.
Now you should have two equal lengths of lacing, a left and a right.
Step 2: Lay Out the Pattern
Working on a flat surface, use the photo below to lay out your pattern in pony beads.
Step 3: String the Beads
Start by stringing the top row of beads onto the left lacing.
Then thread the right lacing up through the beads.
Pull the lacings in opposite directions until the beads form a horizontal row just under the knot.
Step 4: Add More Rows
Add the second row of beads just as you did the first. String the beads onto the left lacing.
Thread the right lacing up through the beads and pull in opposite directions until a second row forms just under the first.
Continue adding rows by working through the pony bead awareness ribbon pattern from top to bottom.
Add row after row until all the beads are strung.
Step 5: Secure the Lacing
Loop each lacing through the row above and tie them in single knots on either side.
Step 6: Trim Excess Lacing
Finally, use craft scissors to trim any excess lacing near the knots.
You made a pony bead awareness ribbon!
More Pony Bead Patterns You’ll Love
Looking for more patterns to try next? These are worth checking out: