How-To: Wristlet Key Fob Tutorial
Posted on October 26, 2008
Filed Under accessories, tutorials | 30 Comments
At the request of a few readers, I’ve put together this tutorial for the ever-popular wristlet key fob. These key fobs are so simple to make, and they are a great assembly-line craft. You can quickly and easily attach fabric or ribbon to several pieces of webbing in one step, then attach the hardware as your second step. They make great gifts that not only require a minimal amount of your time (very important these days!), but fit into a small budget as well.
For this project, you will need 1-1/4″ key fob hardware, a 10″ length of 1-1/4″ wide webbing, a 10″ length of 1″ wide ribbon, coordinating thread, a towel or soft cloth, and pliers. For my key fob, I substituted a strip of fabric for the ribbon. I also suggest using an edge-stitch foot to sew your project. Now, I know I go on and on about the edge-stitch foot, but it really is a great investment if you don’t already have one. Believe me, it will make your sewing life so much easier! Check your machine manual for the appropriate part for your model number. Of course, you can still make this project without an edge-stitch foot or attachment.
My finished key fob is approximately 5″ in length. If you want it longer or shorter, adjust the length of your webbing and ribbon accordingly.
1. First, I’ll talk about how to use a fabric strip instead of ribbon. (If you’re using ribbon, you can skip directly to step 2. ) I used a 2″-wide by 10″ long strip of fabric. It’s not necessary to cut this on the bias — it’s fine to cut it on either the lengthwise or the crosswise grain. Now you’ll need to turn the raw edges to the inside to create a 1″-wide strip. The easiest way to do this is to use a 1″ bias tape maker. Simply run your fabric strip through the tape maker, with the wrong side up as pictured below, and press the strip as it emerges from the tape maker. Remember, just because it’s a “bias” tape maker doesn’t mean you have to use a bias-cut strip. If you don’t have a tape maker, you’ll need to press both edges of your strip to meet in the center, wrong sides together.
2. Next, you’ll sew your ribbon or fabric strip to the webbing. But first, I’ll lecture you a little bit more on the edge-stitch foot! See that little metal guide in the center of the foot pictured below? That’s the part that will simplify your sewing life. You’ll be running the edge of your ribbon along that metal guide in order to stay in a straight line. It’s important to note here that on my machine, I can adjust the needle left or right of center. If your machine doesn’t have that feature, your edge-stitch attachment will likely look and operate much different from mine. Again, consult your manual for instructions. For the sake of this tutorial, I’ll have to assume that you can move your needle left or right. If you don’t have an edge-stitch foot or attachment, you can still make this project, as long as you sew slowly and carefully in order to keep your lines of stitching as straight as possible.
3. Now, layer your ribbon or fabric on top of the webbing, centering it the best you can. Place the right edge of the ribbon or fabric against the guide on your foot. The webbing will be beneath the guide. Move your needle to the left, as if you’re topstitching along the edge of the ribbon, and sew the ribbon to the webbing. How far you move the needle is up to you, but be sure it’s far enough to the left to securely attach the ribbon or fabric.
4. Next, you’ll attach the other edge of the fabric or ribbon. At this point, you can simply flip your key fob around and stitch along the remaining edge exactly as you did with the first edge, with everything to the left of the needle. If I’m using a soft fabric strip, I prefer to work the second side to the right of needle, so that I’m starting at the same end I started with before. I find that I can avoid any “creeping” of the fabric this way, and it sits a little flatter on the webbing (but maybe it’s just me!). If you decide to sew this edge to the right of the needle, don’t forget to move your needle to the right as well.
5. Trim any stray threads that may be sticking off the ends of your key fob. Now all you need to do is attach the hardware. You should have what I’ll call an end-cap, and a key ring. You’ll notice that one side of the end-cap has two prongs on the inside. These will help keep your webbing in place. Fold the webbing in half, wrong sides together, and place the raw ends inside the end-cap, making sure all your edges are even and nothing is sticking out the sides that you don’t want hanging out. While holding everything together with one hand, cover the metal parts with a cloth or towel, and squeeze the jaws of your end-cap together with your pliers. Take your time with this. It may take a few squeezes. I usually squeeze each end of the end-cap, alternating back and forth until I’m satisfied. The cloth or towel will protect your hardware from being scratched or dented by the pliers. Finally, attach the key ring to the end cap.
That’s it! You’re done! You’ll find that once you make one of these, you’ll be able to make your next one very quickly. If you have trouble understanding any of the instructions, just leave a comment here and I’ll try to clarify.
If you don’t already have supplies for your wristlet key fobs, you can find them at Crafters Vision.
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[...] This year, I think I’ll make these cute little key-fobs, via BayouBags. [...]
Wonderful Tutorial,Great to make now for gifts .
Thank you so much!
hugs ginger
Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing!!
I’ve been considering making one of these for myself but wasn’t sure how to get started. Thanks for the easy tutorial! Now all I need to do is get one of the hardware kits and I’m good to go, can’t wait to make it!
This is fantastic, I’ll be linking to this!
Thank you for posting this tutorial. These will make wonderful Christmas presents.
Thanks everyone! I’m glad you’re finding this tutorial useful. These are so much fun to make!
Thanks so much for this great tutorial! Will make great and easy stocking stuffers for Christmas! Can you tell me what kind of webbing you use here, and if I wanted to use ribbon, which kind would hold up best? Thank you!!
and by “what kind of webbing” I mean cotton, polypropylene, etc. Sorry I wasn’t clear about that
Grace, I use the heavy duty cotton webbing from Crafters Vision (www.craftersvision.com), in the 1.25″ size. You can occasionally find this at places like Hobby Lobby or Joann’s, but I usually just order it online. I also get the hardware at Crafters Vision. As for ribbon, I suggest using things like grosgrain, which comes in both solids and prints, and just about any other woven ribbon. I would avoid satin, because it doesn’t hold up very well in a busy purse.
Hello–
I’m trying to reach you to request permission to link to your tutorial (and share a photo) for our upcoming Handmade Holidays on the Sew,Mama,Sew! blog. I couldn’t find your contact information (though it is late!). Would you mind emailing so I can give you the details? We love your project and would like to share it with our readers.
Thank you!
Beth
Neat tutorial! Add this to my growing list of “Reasons to get a Bias Tape Maker.”
I came over from Whip Up.
Hi Myrnie, I love my bias tape maker, and have been surprised at how useful it has been.
[...] Key Fob The Wristlet Key Fob Tutorial from Bayou Bags helps you with great gifts that take very little time and are fairly inexpensive to [...]
hi.. nice tutorial! excited to make dozens for Christmas
but may i know where i can buy a 1-1/4″ key fob hardware? I’m quite new here in the US so i am not yet familiar where to buy stuff. I only know of Joanns.. but i checked their website and i didn’t see any. hope to hear from you.. thanks 
ooops..i just read at the end of your tutorial that the key fob hardware can be bought at crafters vision. would there be any store selling it other than on-line? thanks again..
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is there a no sew way to make these?
Brandi, you might try attaching ribbon with a fabric glue, such as Aleene’s OK To Wash It. I haven’t tried Aleene’s, so I can’t vouch for its quality, but it seems to be very popular, and dries clear and flexible. This might work for fabric strips as well. I would test it first on a small piece of cotton webbing before making a complete key fob. I’ve also considered attaching studs with a BeDazzler for a much different look.
love the colors!
Thanks, Manasi!
I have 2 questions. I have found that the ends of the webbing tend to frey. Do you have any suggestions for elliminating the freying? Aslo, On several of my keychains the metal end cap pulls off. I think that the teeth are being flattened down instead of going into the fabric. I am squeezing them together as you indicated. Any suggestions?
Hi, Sandy. Some webbings do tend to fray more than others, and that can be very frustrating. Check the notions section of your local fabric or craft store for a product like Aleene’s Fray No More. There should be a couple to choose from. I haven’t used Aleene’s, but it’s supposed to dry soft and flexible. I’ve used Fray Check before, and it tends to dry a little stiff. No matter which product you use, keep in mind that the ends of your webbing may appear to be permanently wet even after drying, so test a small piece first and see if that bothers you before putting it on you project. Another option would be to use a tiny zigzag stitch, in a matching thread, on the ends.
Now, about those endcaps. I’ve always thought that those teeth aren’t really doing much at all, unless you’re making a keyfob with fabric instead of webbing. They don’t look like they’re long enough to go through a double layer of webbing, so they would only hold one end in place anyway. Although I can’t say for sure, I think maybe you need to squeeze the sides of the endcap tighter. I know they look like they can’t go closer together, but I usually give each end a little extra squeeze with the pliers, while protecting the endcap with a thin towel. Just don’t squeeze so hard that you bend the metal. You may need to sacrifice one of your key fobs to experiment and see just how far you can push those endcaps.
This might be easier if you use pliers that have some sort of rubber covering on the tips, then you can eliminate the towel or cloth and judge more easily how much pressure you’re using. I’m thinking about covering the ends of my pliers with the fingertips from rubber gloves before I make my next batch of keyfobs.
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Thanks for the tutorial — I, too, have had problems with the hardware not holding the webbing securely and/or getting little bends in it. I have covered my large pliers with a triple layer of masking tape so I can still see the fob hardware (first time I just used fabric as a buffer but it was too difficult to hold everything together as well as manipulate the pliers) but they don’t look as “perfect” as I would like. I don’t feel that I can sell these unless I can improve the quality.
I started making these key fob sold a lot already looking for great deals on ribbons.would anyone know where?
Thanks , Gin from New York
Just this morning, I was asked to make a fob to match a cozie that someone ordered…..how cool….now I can! Thank you very very much! M~
You’re welcome, Michele. If you have a chance, let us know where we can see photos of your cozie. Gin, if I come across a great deal on ribbons, I’ll post that information for everyone.
Thank you for posting this….and I’m loving the tips in the comments. I made a bunch of these and gave them as gifts and have been using one myself. Then mine came apart! I don’t think those prongs on the hardware are really long enough for the webbing. Sure enough, I tested all the ones I had left and I could easily pull them apart. Groan. I squeezed the pliers harder and harder, thought I’d perfected it, only to have it pull apart again.
More tips?
Denise, thanks for your comment. I’ve got a dozen or so relatives heavily using their key fobs, without any problems, so I’m wondering if maybe the hardware is being manufactured differently now. I will have to order some more and experiment. The prongs have never been long enough to go all the way through 2 layers of webbing,but they have been long enough to at least grab the second layer. I wonder what would happen if you stitched the raw ends together, with just a couple of stitches, before attaching the hardware. Is there anybody out there who would be willing to try this and report back here? I would also be interested in hearing which combinations of materials are coming apart. Is it webbing with ribbon, webbing with fabric, or both? All of mine have been made with webbing/fabric. Please keep the comments and tips coming, everyone, so we can figure out how to get consistent results.