handmade key fob

Looking for a really nice key fob (also known as a key ring) that you can make in minutes? I have the answer for you. It’s the Liberty key fob.

You will need:

4.5 inch by 10 inch piece of Liberty fabric (Ok, you can use any kind of fabric, but isn’t everything better in Liberty?)
One set of 1 and 1/4 inch key fob hardware (I got mine on ebay, worked out to be about $0.20 a set. Lots of people on Etsy sell them, too)
Sewing stuff (sewing machine, iron, thread, scissors, rotary cutter, ruler, cutting mat)
Pliers

Here’s how to make it:

1. Use a rotary cutter and ruler, cut out a piece of fabric that is 4.5 inch by 10 inch in size:

2. Use an iron to carefully (accurately) fold it in half lengthways and press in a crease.

3. Open up the fabric (ie, un-fold it) and observe the crease you have ironed down the centre of the fabric, lengthways.

4. Fold the fabric so that one edge lines up with the crease which you have pressed into the fabric. Press into place. Repeat on the other side, so that both raw edges of the fabric have been folded to touch one another at the crease which you have pressed into the centre of the fabric.

5. It should now look like this (above).

6. Now fold the fabric again, along the first crease you pressed into the fabric. The result should be a long strip of fabric, where the raw edges are tucked into the centre of the folds.

7. Sew along each of the long edges of the fabric strip. One edge will necessary to close the fabric folds permanently into a strip, the other side is just to make it look even. I used a 1/8 inch seam. Once this is complete, your strip of fabric should be neat, and comprised of 4 layers of fabric. It should be 1 and 1/4 inches wide.

8. Use a rotary cutter and ruler to trim the short ends of the strip, so that they are square and neat with no scraggly bits.

9. Fold the strip in half lengthways and insert it into the hardware for the key fob. Use your pliers to gently press the hardware closed around the fabric strip.

10. Add the “O” ring to the closed hardware. Your key fob is complete!

Now you can make them en masse, give them as gifts or experiment with strap length to make other variations, like lanyards or clutch straps.

They don’t take long at all, and I think they are really pretty. I recommend using the quilter’s grade fabric. If you decide to use Tana Lawn, consider inserting a strip of interfacing down the middle of the fabric strip to stiffen it up a little.

Enjoy!

In Love Patchwork and Quilting a few months ago (issue 11) there was a kit included for making a key fob. It was so much fun to make, and so easy, that I thought I would share the project with you.

Here’s how it turned out:

I gave it to my Mum. At first she said “What is it?!” but after a short explanation, she got excited and put it to use straight away.

It has got me thinking about the ways I could make more of them, and make them more personal, more interesting. My mind has been working overtime! The only sad news is that I won’t have the hardware arrive before Christmas… otherwise there’d be some very nice gifts going around!

I’ve done all the research you could possibly need, now, so let me make gathering the know-how and the materials to make these easy for you…

You can get the instructions on how to make them either from Love Patchwork and Quilting issue 11, or at this website, Leigh Laurel Studios.

You can buy the hardware from Esty sellers like these, or on ebay.

You’ll need to add the fabric and interfacing you want to use, or felt, and a pretty ribbon to tie on at the end. You’ll need a pair of pliers to fit the hardware, too.

A beautiful, thoughtful gift, handmade in less than half an hour. Nice!

Have a great day.

xx jf