cute felt key fobs

Click image to enlarge

Designer: Janna Wilson 
Key fobs are a fun sewing project that you can really get creative with and personalize to make them unique.  I made each of my girls each a key fob for their house keys, diary keys, locker key, etc.  This mini purse design is so handy; it was inspired by a designer key fob that I already own.  It’s not just a cute accessory, it’s functional too!   Stash a library card, cash or other small items in the pocket.  If you’re new to sewing, working with the felt material as I did will be a great way to start out.  As usual I enlisted my Fiskars paper crafting tools along with my sewing gear to bring this project to life.  Check out how easy this cute little accessory is to create! 

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

1. Prep materials and cut sizes as follows:
a. Trim outer felt material to 4” x 8”
b. Trim Heat N Bond to 4” x 6”
c. Trim inside/lining felt to 4 ½” x 6 ½”
d. Cut a 4” circle from scrap paper to use as a template
e. Cut a 4 ½” circle from scrap paper to use as a template; cut in half.
f. Cut a ½” – ¾” x 2” strip of lining felt color material (to attach key chain)

TIP:  Rather than cutting with scissors, I prefer to rotary cut the straight pieces to ensure I get accurate measurements.

2. Fold the 4” circle in half or use a ruler find center of circle, mark with pen.  Place the circle at one end of the 4” x 8” piece of outer felt and trace half of the circle shape to create a rounded flap.  Trim traced shape with scissors.
3. Fold 3” from lower/straight end upward; press to start making the shape of the purse obvious.  Fold over the 2” rounded flap; press.

TIP:  Protect your ironing board or work surface from gummy adhesive with a Non Stick Craft Sheet.  Follow manufacturers instructions to apply Heat N Bond product or whatever fusible adhesive brand you use.

4. Apply the 4” x 6” piece (cut in step 1b) of Heat N Bond to the lower portion of the felt strip; remove the backing.  Adhere the lining piece of felt to the Heat N Bond allowing the excess to overhang evenly on all sides except at the top or where the adhesive stops and the flap begins.  It should line up straight along the adhesive here. 
5. Trim the excess away with scissors; use Fabric Pinking Shears to add a decorative edge on the lower portion of the lining felt as shown below.

6. Use the 4” circle template to cut a piece of Heat N Bond to fit the rounded flap.  You will only need the half circle.  Use the 4 ½” half circle (cut in step 1e) to trace onto your lining felt material.  Cut the shape with scissors and bond to the flap.  Trim around the lining felt with Fabric Pinking Shears.  Press firmly with iron on the folds.

7. Create small accents to decorate the outside of the key fob.  I created strawberries using the Hearts-1 Shape Template (the stems are hand-cut and hand stitched). 

I created the peace sign using the Circle Cutter (a 1 ½” circle) and the trimmed out the inside shape with detail tools…the No. 5 Micro-Tip Scissors and Fingertip Craft Knife.  These pieces can be Heat N Bonded and/or stitched into place.

8. Fold ½” x 2” piece of felt (cut in step 1f) in half with key chain attached; sandwich between layers of purse and stitch closed at sides.  Stitch around the flap also if desired.

9. Stitch sew in snaps or attach your choice of closure.

Supply List:

Fiskars Brands: 94817797 No. 5 Micro-Tip® Scissors
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_no-5-micro-tip-scissors.aspx

Fiskars Brands: 95217097 45mm Rotary Cutter
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_45mm-rotary-cutter.aspx

Fiskars Brands: 12-83727097 24” x 36” Mat
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_24x36mat.aspx

Fiskars Brands: 12-87287097 3.5” x 18.5” Acrylic Ruler
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_35-x-185-acrylic-ruler.aspx

Fiskars Brands: 48557097 Hearts-1 with Victorian Border
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-tool-hearts-1-wvicto.aspx

Fiskars Brands:  93807097 Circle Cutter
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_circle-cutter.aspx

Fiskars Brands: 94457097 Pinking Shears
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_pinking-shears.aspx

Fiskars Brands: 12-63057097 Fingertip Craft Knife
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_fingertip-craft-knife.aspx

Therm O Web –Heat’n’Bond
http://www.thermowebonline.com/dyn_prod.php?p=3525&k=86489

Other: Felt Pro- wool felt; Ranger Industries- Non Stick Craft Sheet; sewing machine and thread; scrap cardstock; embroidery floss; needle; set of sew on snaps; iron and ironing board