These little key fobs are such a fun way to use bits of pretty trim to make easy and VERY inexpensive stocking stuffers! Let’s learn how to make a key fob – it’s so easy and fun.
You just need a few supplies and a few minutes and you’ll have little custom homemade gifts for all your favorite ladies. And also, totally an appropriate handmade man-gift if you choose the right styles for you homemade key fob.
I love pretty ribbons. It’s so nice to get to use ’em and share ’em.
Learn How to Make A Key Fob Wristlet after the jump…
How to Make A Key Fob
-First you’ll need key fob hardware
. I picked mine up at Amazon – 50 sets for $19 – so that’s 38 cents each.
-You’ll also need some cotton webbing
. Since I bought 1″ key fob hardware, I picked up a few yards of 1″ cotton webbing at my local fabric store in a bunch of sweet colors. You can get 3 or 4 out of a yard, and a yard was 40 cents. So that’s an additional 10 cents per key fob. So we’re up to 48 cents each.
-Then you’ll need some pretty ribbon. Make sure it is thinner than your cotton webbing, so 3/4″ or less for me. Ribbon ranges in price but let’s say it was super fancy ribbon at $2 a yard, so that’s an additional 50 cents per keychain.
Total cost? 98 cents each. For a totally adorable homemade gift. Yay!
So assemble your supplies:
Now cut your cotton webbing and your ribbon into sections. About 10 inches is a good length for a wristlet, but I did some longer and some shorter and they’re all just fine:
Now cut lengths of fusible tape (I used stitch witchery
). You can skip this step, but it does make it a lot easier to sew the ribbon on if you do this first, especially with fancy embroidered ribbons. So iron the ribbon to the cotton webbing with the fusible tape in the middle:
So there you have your ribbons all fused to your webbing:
Now you’re going to sew them on. You can use an edging foot if you have it, but I just used my regular foot and went slowly so I didn’t mess up. Was quite easy. You’ll also want to use a heavy duty needle (actually your regular needle will work fine, but it will become dull from sewing through the thick cotton webbing so you’ll want to change it after):
So then sew one side of the ribbon down, then the other:
Consider your thread color choices. Most of my ribbons had white edging, so i used white in my spool, then switched out my bobbin for thread that matched the cotton webbing (or as close to a match as I had in my stash) so you can’t see the stitching from the other side:
Quick note. I wanted to make one for Carleton Curtis but I did not have any ribbon I felt was sufficiently manly enough. I decided to use some fabric and ironed it into single fold bias tape, then attached as per above. Worked just as well as ribbon!
So there you have your ribbons all sewn to your webbing:
Trim the edges so they are nice and even:
Then grab your hardware. There is a clamp piece that looks like this:
It has two little pokey things that will grab your webbing.
So fold your piece of webbing in half with the ribbon on the outside:
You’ll notice my pliers have ridges. These left scuff marks on my fob hardware, so…
I wrapped them in duct tape
(dearest duct tape, is there anything you cannot do?):
Problem solved!
So insert the ends of your cotton webbing into the clamp. Use your pliers to mash the clamp together, starting with a big squeeze in the middle:
Then a big squeeze on each side:
Repeat on all your key fobs:
Now the annoying part: Trying not to break your fingernail while slipping the key rings on the fobs. But carry on, I only lost one nail. Attach all your key rings:
Here is the man-version made with fabric (do you think he will like it? would your man use one?):
Done!
What do you think? Not bad for 98 cents right??
So, now that you’ve learned How to Make a Key Fob, why not try some other super simple and fun DIY Projects? How about making a Wristlet Pyramid Purse, Adorable DIY Ear Warmers, 5-Minute Crowns, Wood Stump Coasters, or if you’re feeling especially crafty, this gorgeous DIY Faux Leather Bucket Bag to go with your new DIY key fob.
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