If you’ve been following Lo & Behold Stitchery for a while, you might know about my early obsession with key fobs. Back in the beginning, I was making tons of key fobs in all sorts of styles and selling them on Etsy. They’re really fun to create, super fast, and give you a great sense of accomplishment! Even though I stopped selling them, I still love making a key fob now and then. They’re perfect for teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, party favors – you name it! All you need is some leftover fabric, batting scraps, and a keyring, which you probably already have! Gather your supplies and let’s get started!
P.S. Want a printable PDF? For your convenience, I’ve put this tutorial into a six-page printable PDF. Download it here.
Okay, here’s what you’ll need:
Sewing Instructions
1. Sew the two fabric pieces together along their short ends. Press the seam open.
2. Fold the fabric piece in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press to create a crease.
3. Place the batting inside the fabric, aligning it with the crease. Center the batting, leaving approximately 1/4″ of fabric overhang on each end.
4. Fold the bottom edge of the fabric over the batting. Press to make a crease.
5. Fold the top edge down about 1/4″ over the batting. Press to create a crease.
6. Insert the key fob material into the keyring. Use clips to hold the folded fabric edges together.
7. Fold the key fob in half, aligning the raw ends.
8. Slightly unfold the raw ends, aligning the entire 3″ of fabric. Move the batting out of the way to avoid sewing over it. Pin in place.
9. Sew a 1/4″ seam. This will create a closed loop for your key fob.
10. Use your fingers to press the seam open.
11. Reposition the batting pieces to their original places.
If they overlap, trim the batting pieces to butt against each other.
12. Fold the fabric back over the batting as before. Clip in place.
13. Bring the bobbin thread up. Pull both threads to have about 5″ of thread for tying a knot later. Start sewing about 1/8″ from the edge around the loop. Move the hardware and clips as you sew.
14. Some prefer backstitching to secure seams. For visible seams like this key fob, burying threads is cleaner. Stop sewing about 2-3 inches before your starting point.
15. Gently pull a thread to bring the other thread to the same side. Tie a knot with both threads. Insert a needle near the knot and bring it out 1-2 inches away, going through only some layers of the key fob.
16. Gently pull the thread to “pop” the knot under the fabric. Trim the thread tails.
17. Continue stitching to the beginning of the seam. Bury these threads too.
18. Repeat steps 13-16 for the other edge of the key fob.
19. Center the hardware on the accent fabric. Clip the key fob around the hardware.
20. Starting with 5″ of thread, stitch across the key fob width. Stitch forward, backward, then forward again for security. Bury these threads as in steps 15-16.
21. Enjoy your new key fob!
Fair warning: making key fobs can be addictive! 🙂
Download the printable PDF for this tutorial here.
Happy Sewing!
