So today you get the opportunity of learning how to make a wrist key chain from Amy at The Idea Room. Not only is Amy one of my best bloggy buddies but I have personally made this tutorials at least 50 times. EVERYONE loves these and I thought this would be a perfect tutorial to highlight for Mother’s Day coming up. I love being able to have the key chain on my wrist when I am struggling with groceries and little kids.
Ever dig into the depths of your purse trying to find your car keys, while simultaneously juggling groceries and a wiggly toddler? Well I have. One too many times. Today I would love to share with you how to make a keychain that can be worn around your wrist for easy access. Let’s get started.
For this project you will need: 2 coordinating fabrics 1 strip of fusible interfacing (I used Pellon 809 DecorBond) 1 purse strap clip (I found mine at JoAnn’s Crafts) 4 inches ribbon (mine was 7/8 inch width) matching thread
First, cut your fabric so that you have a strip of each material that measures 2.75 (2 and 3/4) inches by 13 inches. Cut 1 strip of your fusible interfacing to measure .75 inches by 12 inches.
Iron both strips of coordinating fabrics a 1/4 of an inch down both sides with the right-side of the fabric facedown on your ironing board.
I use a peice of cardstock paper to fold the material over to give me a nice even hem line.
When both fabrics have been ironed, fold the material in half length-wise and iron. Be careful to match the edges up nicely.
Take your strip of fusible interfacing and place it evenly between your two coordinating fabrics. I make sure the folds of each ironed fabric are on opposite sides.
Iron these together. This will temporarily fuse the top and bottom materials together so they are easier to sew, and will make your keychain a little sturdier.
Now sew along both edges of the key chain. I sewed mine fairly close to the edge which was about an 1/8 inch seam.
Now, take your purse clip and slide it onto the key chain. Be sure that the clip is on top of the material you want to be on the outside of your key chain. Place the two raw edges so that one is overlapping the other one about 1/4 of an inch (or to the fusible interfacing).
Sew these together using a zig-zag stitch several times back and forth so that it does not come apart.
Take your strip of 4 inch ribbon and burn the edges with a lighter or a match to seal it so they do not unravel. Do this very carefully! Move the purse clip around the key chain until the seam is about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch above the clip. Take the ribbon and wrap it around the area where the two ends have been sewn together. Tuck both ends of the ribbon to the inside of the key chain.
Pin in place and sew the top and bottom of the ribbon. I changed my thread color so it matched the ribbon and was less noticeable. Remember to reinforce your seam. I went over it twice so it will hold up.
And there you have it…a cute and functional key chain.
The bottomless pit of a purse I own, thanks you.. Adding to my to-do list for this weekend!
I may have to add some calavera embroidery to mine in honor of Cinco De Mayo!
Well, this is serendipitous, because not only do I prefer to carry enormous purses around, but my keys are also on a flimsy little key holder. I love this project!
Super cute!!! Putting it on my summer to-do list!
I love this! I just learned how to use my sewing machine and this is an easy cool project I can do! Woohoo! Keychains for all of my girlfriends comin’ right up!
I got one of these, from a now closed Etsy shop, a couple of years ago and I absolutely love it! Thanks so much for the tutorial. Every female family member I have will be gettin’ one of these for Christmas this year.
Love it! Thanks for sharing.
Love LOVE this… My friend Darcie and I have used this tutorial a million times too. I’ve even taken it a step farther and added a little pocket on one side to hold my chapstick (which I never leave home w/out). 🙂
What a great tutorial – I love these and can’t wait to make some for my friends. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing these! I made a bunch for my family for Mothers Day, what a perfect gift! Im linking back to you on my site
http://theloganslanding.blogspot.com/2011/05/wristlet-key-chains.html
This looks so easy to make. I am going to have to give it a try, hopefully I can get some made for my mother, sister, mother- in- law and sister- in- law for Mother’s Day. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Okay, seriously, love this. And WHERE did you get that uh-dorable pink flower key cover?!?!?!
I loved this post so much that just today I made FOUR of them! I posted pictures of them on my blog tonight and gave you both credit. I’d love it if you checked them out. They aren’t as perfect looking as Amy’s but I LOVE this project and I’m going to make more (and get better at it) and give them as gifts. Thanks for posting this, Beckie, and thanks for the great tutorial, Amy!! http://www.kitchenfunk.blogspot.com ~Lori
What are you talking about they look amazing! You did a great job! Thanks for the link back!
I found the key covers in Target in the automotive aisle a few years ago.
Great tutorial, Amy! Thank you very much.
I can’t wait to make these!! One question though …how big were your purse clips? The biggest I can find is 1 inch.
Yes those are the correct ones.
I love this! I’m going to pin it and put it on my list of things to do this winter!
I’m going to pin it and make some later. Love the idea of having such a big strap for your wrist or just make your keys easier to find.
This is so cute,and helpful at the same time think i will try my luck at it
Thank you for the tutorial. I have been thinking about making something like this, so your post is perfect food for thought.
I have made this tutorial once and I absolutely love it! But I do have one question, how can I make my ribbon not rip while sewing it? I ended up cutting a new piece of ribbon and hot gluing it. Every time I tried to sew it, the ribbon ripped underneath. Please help!!
I do the same thing! Amy was the guest poster and she sews hers but I can’t seem to do that so I glue it as well.
I have been looking all over for the purse strap clips and I can’t find them. I checked on JoAnns crafts and I didn’t see them on there either. Do you know if they are sold anywhere else? Thanks!
I bought mine on Ebay
Such a smart way to make these! Thanks for sharing!
Awwww Shucks 🙂
Love the tutorial! DecorBond 809 is only fusible on one side, so if you “Iron these together. This will temporarily fuse the top and bottom materials together so they are easier to sew”. So it doesn’t fuse both materials together, right?
Love it!! Thanks!!!
So glad you can use the tutorial, Cindy! 🙂
Came across this the other day. Whipped one up in no more than 30 minutes for a birthday gift. Great tutorial. Clear instructions. Will be making plenty more of these!