A key fob or wristlet is something I use to keep track of my keys. Let’s be real, things can get lost in purses. A key fob can be the difference between standing in the parking lot struggling with three kids on your heels complaining about waiting for you to unlock the car door (too real?) and quickly finding your keys, unlocking the door, and preventing three simultaneous meltdowns. Ask me how I know.
Luckily, I can teach you the skills needed to make one (or ten) of these sanity-savers. With just a few pieces of scrap fabric and easy to find hardware, you too can successfully navigate these trying times (seriously, why are kids so allergic to boredom!?).
Required materials:
- 2 ½” by 12 ½” piece of fabric
- 1” by 12” piece of batting or fusible interfacing - I’m using Pellon 911FF Fusible Featherweight
- KeyFob Hardware - This is the set I purchased.
- Swivel Clasp - This is what I’m using.
- Fabric Turner - find here
- The basic sewing tools - sewing machine, ruler, rotary cutter, cutting mat, thread, iron
Step 1:
Take the 2 ½” by 12 ½” piece of fabric, fold it in half lengthwise with right sides together and iron.
Sew ¼” down the open side of the folded strip of fabric creating a tube.
Carefully center the seam and iron it open.
Step 2: Flip your fabric tube over and take the 1” by 12” piece of fusible interfacing and, with the sticky side down, iron it to the side opposite the ironed open seam.
Step 3: Now for the fun part. Take the fabric tuner and insert it into one of the open ends of the fabric tube. Hook it onto the other end of the tube and gently pull the tube right-side out.
Iron the now right-side out tube flat. I find misting it with water at this point really helps everything to lie nice and flat.
Step 4: Take the flattened tube over to the sewing machine and top-stitch about an ⅛” from the edge down each side.
Step 5: Fold the top-stitched fabric in half with the right sides facing out (as opposed to the side with the seam) and sew the ends together creating the fob loop.
Trim off the dangling threads so that they don’t pop out of the hardware in the next step.
Using the pinchers that came with your key fob hardware set, pinch the hardware onto the sewed edge of the fob loop.
Here is a short video of how I attached the hardware with the pinchers:
https://youtube.com/shorts/Nlo6we73fJg?feature=share
Attach the swivel clasp and you’re done!
These key fobs are made using the Art Gallery Fabrics Sew Obsessed collection including pieces from the Happiness is Handmade quilt panel. I think they would make the perfect gift for your sewing friends!
