Gimp
This is not about GNU Image Manipulation Program, suggest you try Gimp.org
.
As a kid (actually kids since 1917) we always made things out of gimp, those long plastic laces. In some areas of the county gimp is known as lanyard or boondoggle and if you happen to live in France "scooby-doo."
The most common brand name is Rexlace. You can find it in most craft stores like AC More, Hobby Lobby or Craftersworld.
Rexlace comes in over 50 colors. The standard size is 3/32" but there are larger sizes (1/4" and 3/8") You can get 100 yard spools, but most projects only take 3-6 yards.
You can make many different types of projects:
- lanyards or key fobs (long woven sections)
- flat woven (bracelets)
- as a trim (whipping around the edge of a leather wallet)
- Fancy knots Dragon fly knot
The basic practice is to make a repeating series of knots. Each pattern has a name like barrel, butterfly, Chinese staircase, Cobra, etc.
- Magic Lacing Book Series - Amazon says they are out of print but Art Cove has them. (Art Cove is a great place to shop. They have lots of supplies and are very quick to turn orders around.)
- First Steps - great beginners book
- Awesome Creatures - different shape animals
- Phyllis Damon's Magic Lacing Chronicles : Gimp Goes Ballistic by David Hall, David Kominz and Phyllis Damon. Shows how to make rockets and space people with gimp and beads. Good pictures on how to add laces to make things wider to get different shapes. There are a few simple projects, and two that are very complex (the space station and starship). This book also has instructions on how to make fluted columns. ISBN=0-9651273-2-X
Lanyard: Having Fun With Plastic Lace by Linda Hendry (Illustrator), Camilla Grski
Knot Again!: The Complete Lanyard Kit
by Margaret A. Hartelius (Illustrator), Stacy Peterson (Illustrator)
Boon Doggle by Klutz Press
Knot Again!by Margaret A. Hartelius
''The Lanyard Book/Includes Book, Lanyard Laces, Beads, Key Rings and Clips'' by Arlene Stewart Hamilton(out of print)
I Love Lanyard by Natural Science Ind Ltd,a ready to make kit from ToysRUs
The Gimp Link has easy to follow instructions and a large number of easy to do projects.
The Boondoggle Man has a great website with lots of interesting projects. His rocketship 
is an example of the type of things he makes.
International Guild of Knot Tyers
