How to sew a key fob

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It’s easy to lose our keys when they slip to the bottom of your pockets or float around in your bag. Adding a key fob can make them easier to find – and certainly easier to spot when you’re rummaging through your possessions!

Making your own key fob is a very simple sewing project and you’ll be able to make this in an afternoon. This key fob sewing pattern can also make a wonderful gift for a friend or relative (especially if they’re known for losing their keys!).

Read on to find out how to sew a key fob.

Fabrics used

The fabrics used are from the Les Petits collection by Amy Sinibaldi.

Petits Strokes, Midnight.
Petits Dots, Midnight.
Petits Stipples, Sky.

Notes

Use a 1cm (³⁄₈in) seam allowance.
To embroider your fob, cut your fabric to fit into an embroidery hoop then trim it afterwards.

You will need

Main fabric
7x22cm (2 3/4 x 8 3/4in)
Iron-on interfacing
7x22cm (2 3/4 x 8 3/4in)
Clip and key ring fob set
25mm (1in) wide
Stranded cotton
Matching thread
Basic sewing kit

Method

Embroidering the design

If you want to embroider a name or initials onto your key fob then mark a larger piece of fabric with the 7x22cm (2³⁄₄x 8³⁄₄in) rectangle in the centre.

The embroidery needs to start 3cm (1¹⁄₂in) in from the left short edge and worked centrally within the width.

Trace the letters onto the fabric then backstitch over them using three strands of stranded cotton.

How to sew a key fob step one

Assembling the key fob

Trim your stitched fabric to 7x22cm (2³⁄₄x 8³⁄₄in), if you’ve embroidered it, then press the interfacing onto the wrong side (WS).

Fold the strip in half lengthways with right sides (RS) facing and stitch together down the length.

Turn RS out and press with the seam in the centre of the back.

Fold the strip in half RS out, matching the raw edges, and stitch together just 5mm (¹⁄₄in) in from the raw edge to hold.

Put the two ends inside the metal clasp then attach it using pliers.

Place a piece of scrap fabric between the jaws to protect the metal from scratching the key fob to finish.

How to sew a key fob

Jessica Entwistle

Jess is a fabric crafts designer who’s work is regularly published in Simply Sewing and Love Patchwork & Quilting magazines. She shares her work on her website http://www.jellybgood.com. She inherited her love of fabric, colour and sewing from her mother and specializes in creating easy-to-sew, accessible designs with a fresh modern style, making her projects popular with magazine readers and crafters online alike. She’s got a thing for neon threads and a serious love of fabric. She runs her own craft business creating everything from hair slides and brooches to bunting and quilts. She has previously appeared as a guest designer on Sewing Quarter TV and shares her work on Instagram @jessjelllybgood

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