Key Fob Tutorial
by cute2carry ~ May 23rd, 2008. Filed under: Tutorials.Key Fobs are definitely the rage. They’re not only really cute, but soooo functional as well. Slip them around your wrist, and you are hands-free to carry your bags, kiddos, etc.!
I make, and sell, quite a few in my shop and give many aways as gifts. Here’s a tutorial to show you how you can make your own.
Items you’ll need:
2 strips of coordinating fabric 12″x 2.25″
2 strips of fusible interfacing (I use Pellon 809 DecorBond) 12″ x 1.25″
1 strip of PelTex 12″ x 1.25″ (I actually cut mine 1 3/16th”, or just a hair narrower than 1.25″. You’ll understand why later)
1 set of key fob hardware (I purchase mine here.)
Here are the interfacing strips:
Step 1) Fuse the interfacing strips to your fabric strips, by placing the Pellon 809 down the center of the fabric strip. There will be 1/2″ of fabric on each side. The edges of the Pellon will be your guide for stitching throughout the process of making your key fob.
Place fabric pieces right sides together and pin in place. Stitch down one edge of the Pellon. Iron the seam open.
Step 2) With the fabric wrong side up, iron each long side of the fabric strip inward at the edge of the Pellon. Fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and press.
Slip the Peltex into the middle of your fabric “sandwich”. Wrap the outside fabric’s seam allowances (the fabric that will be the main outer fabric of the key fob) around the Peltex. Pin the fabric”sandwich together. If you cut your PelTex as I do, it will be much easier to pin this since the seam allowances take up a bit of space inside the sandwich. Trust me; do as I say.
Step 3) Stitch the pinned edge together by topstitching. Be sure to catch the underside fabric! And go slowly, you’ll be stitching over the Peltex, and it’s a thick layer…but oh so worth it in the end.
Topstitch down the opposite side as well.
Step 4) At this point, you are just cleaning up the piece before attaching the hardware. Trim the edges (the short ends) even, and apply Fray Check generously to the raw edges. Really, don’t skip this part. It will give your key fob a cleaner looking end result and will give it more longevity.
Step 5) Attach the hardware with some pliers. Fold the fabric strip to meet at raw ends. Slip the hardware piece over both layers. It will be thick, so make sure that you have all of the layers neatly tucked in there. Use pliers to clamp the hardware shut in this order: middle, right side, left side. Otherwise you might clamp it shut unevenly. Clamp gently at first to be sure it stays positioned correctly. Then go back and finish it off with a nice, tight clamp!
I wrap a scrap piece of fabric around the hardware so that it doesn’t get scratched by the pliers.
Attach the O-ring and you are done!
Enjoy!
And don’t forget to comment below and let me know how the tutorial works for you! And I’d love to see what you make, too!
May 24th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Thanks for the great tute! I have some of these on my to do list.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:50 am
[...] A fabric key fob [...]
September 16th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Thank you for sharing! Excellent tutorial: great pics, well written instructions-very easy to follow!
October 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I love this tutorial. The fabrics you chose are great. I will make some as gifts for my sisters and friends. Thanks for sharing this with us.
October 18th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
where do I buy the metal ends?
October 18th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Hi Tanya, I put a clickable link in this post up in the Materials Needed section. Here it is for you –> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220146686754 I believe you can order them in different quantities from this shop as well. Also, I have heard that http://www.etsy.com has some sellers who offer the hardware, too! Hope this helps! Tracey
November 8th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I love these I’ve been making key chains with d -rings for a while but, love how these turn out too. Could you e-mail me off list and let me know if it’s okay to sell items made from this tutorial.
November 8th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
oh I’ll have to link to pics later. I only have a cell phone cam atm and it’s in the shop.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I am so excited!! This turned out perfect!! What great tutorial!! And thanks for sharing your kowledge for free…thanks again!
January 12th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Wow! This is lovely!! I´m going to try ^__^
Thank you very much!!!
January 31st, 2009 at 5:36 am
I enjoyed this tutorial.. I will surely try it and gift it to my near ones………
March 14th, 2009 at 5:38 am
This is the first time I commented here and I must say that you provide genuine, and quality information for bloggers! Good job.
p.s. You have a very good template . Where did you find it?
March 20th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Cicily from http://www.augustafternoon.com designed my website and blog! Thanks for the compliments!
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:12 pm
i will thank you now for all the patterns and ideas now because i will forget not intentionaly but i will. i actually have some of this hardward now with good instructions i will actually make them!
May 1st, 2009 at 6:47 am
Hi-
Very nice tutorial! I wanted to let your readers know that they can buy the hardware as well as cotton webbing and trim at my store on Etsy- http://www.mamashecrazy.etsy.com.
May 24th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Where can I purchase the key fob hardware?
Thank you.
May 29th, 2009 at 6:08 am
Hi Debbie, I have a link in the tute for a seller that I use for the hardware. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220146686754&viewitem=&salenotsupported
Hope this helps!
May 30th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I also found a place to get the webbing, fobs, and ribbon
It is craftersvision.com
You can order any amt and prices were really great. Check it Out!