How to Sew a Wristlet Key Fob

These wristlet key fobs are a cinch to make, and a wonderful way to put your favorite fabric scraps to use. They also happen to make a fantastic gift. Give them to teachers, co-workers and anyone else you’d like to acknowledge with a little something. Then, make some more to use as stocking stuffers. This is one gift everyone could use.

Fabric Wristlet Key Fob Tutorial

There are a million and one ways to make a wristlet key fob, but my method is the simplest and sturdiest you’ll find. It doesn’t require any fancy hardware or special tools.

What You’ll Need:

Fabric (quilting cotton, canvas, etc.)
Light-weight iron-on interfacing
Thread
A ruler
Scissors
1″ D-ring or swivel hook
Key ring
A sewing machine (This is the machine that I have)

Optional (but nice to have):

An air or water-soluble marker
A self-healing cutting mat
A rotary cutter (This is the one I have)

The hardware you use is just a matter of personal preference. I like to use a D-ring on the end of my key fobs. This allows me to attach a key ring, which is really all I need. If you want to be able to clip your key fob to a bag, a swivel hook will probably work better for you. But even a simple key ring will get the job done, and I’m betting you have one of those in your junk drawer.

What You Do:

Cut the fabric and interfacing to your preferred size. The average women’s bracelet size is seven inches, and the average men’s size is eight inches.

For a six-inch wristlet, cut (1) 4″ x 12.5″ piece of fabric and (1) 4″ x 12.5″ piece of interfacing.
For a seven-inch wristlet, cut (1) 4″ x 14.5″ piece of fabric and (1) 4″ x 14.5″ piece of interfacing.
For an eight-inch wristlet, cut (1) 4″ x 16.5″ piece of fabric and (1) 4″ x 16.5″ piece of interfacing.
For a nine-inch wristlet, cut (1) 4″ x 18.5″ piece of fabric and (1) 4″ x 18.5″ piece of interfacing.

Iron the interfacing onto the backside of the fabric, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Then, lay the fabric on your work surface, right-side down, and fold it in half lengthwise.

Now, open, the fabric back up, so you can see the center crease you just made, and fold the bottom edge of the fabric up to the crease.

Fold the top edge of the fabric down to the same crease.

Then, fold the whole thing in half again, to hide the raw edges inside.

Now, take the piece over to your sewing machine, and top-stitch a 1/8-inch seam down both edges. This will close the open seam and add a decorative touch.

Slip your d-ring or swivel hook over the key fob, and match up the ends, making sure there aren’t any twists in your wristlet.

Then, sew the ends of the key fob together with a 1/4-inch seam. Sew back and forth over the seam a few times to reinforce it.

Slide the keychain hardware down to the sewn seam.

Then, flip the key fob inside out to hide your raw seam. If your hardware is now facing the wrong direction, be sure to get it turned the right way.

Once you’ve done that, sew across the key fob, just behind the hardware, to lock it into place. Go back and forth over the seam a few times to reinforce it, just like you did with the other seam.

Then, add a key ring, and you’re done!