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Boondoggles, also known as gimps or scoubidou, are plastic laces that can be braided, knotted, and woven into various trinkets such as key chains and friendship bracelets. The craft originated in France and migrated to the US in the 1950s, and is popular with children in many countries. Boondoggles are relatively easy to create, durable, and colorful, and are often associated with summer camps. The craft has continued to make its presence felt in popular culture, with references in films and television shows.
A boondoggle is a plastic lace that comes in a rainbow of colors. These strips are often called gimps, also spelled “gypsies.” Gimps can be braided, knotted, and woven into various trinkets such as key chains. These woven creations are also known as scoubidou, scoubi, and scoobies after the weaving technique used to produce them.
Knitting together boondoggles requires knowledge of knots. Square knots and spiral knots are a common base for these creations. When repeated with three to six strands of gimp, the knots form patterns. Many of the more common patterns have fun names like the ladder, the cobra, and the butterfly.
Boondoggles are relatively easy to create, durable and colourful, which is why they are mainly considered as children’s crafts. Traditionally, the making of boondoggles is associated with summer camp in the United States. Most often, boondoggles take the form of lanyards, key rings, and friendship bracelets.
Keychain boondoggles can be said to have the most varied designs. Boondoggles will often take the form of animals, such as fish and frogs. Plastic cords can also be tied to make symbols, such as hearts. There’s even a pattern for making glasses.
Some boondoggle strands are simply flat pieces of extruded plastic. Others are hollow inside. A piece of wire can be slipped into the hollow threads so that the threads can bend and hold their shape. This second type of boondoggle lace is excellent for creating more intricate designs, such as animals that require flexible bodies or tails.
The skills used to create boondoggles are often passed down from person to person. There are also children’s books with illustrated instructions. There are even some Internet sites dedicated to the art of deception, with instructional videos showing the various tying techniques.
Boondoggles go by many other names, perhaps because the craft is popular with children in many countries. The craft first originated in France, then migrated to the United States in the 1950s. The names scoubidou, scoubi, or scoobie come from the French name for the weaving technique used to make boondoggles. The technique is also the origin of the name of the children’s television show Scooby-Doo.
This craft has continued to make its presence felt in popular culture. The 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite has a humorous reference to boondoggles. The character Deb, who is trying to earn money for college, goes door to door selling taunts.
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