Keychains made with fabric: how-to guide and idea roundup [great for using fabric scraps!]
Keychains come in a variety of materials, but this article introduces ideas for making them with fabric!
It’s perfect for those who love sewing and have lots of fabric scraps on hand, or anyone looking for easy projects to use a favorite fabric.
We also share keychain ideas you can make not only with fabric but with bag webbing, cords, and yarn.
Leftover materials at home can be transformed into lovely keychains, so be sure to use this as a reference and give them a try.
They make great gifts, too!
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Fabric keychains: How-to and idea roundup [Great for using fabric scraps!] (1–10)
Keychain with Indian embroidered ribbon
Indian embroidered ribbons, used to decorate the hems of women’s garments, make beautiful accents.
Let’s try making a keychain with delicate embroidered ribbons featuring motifs like flowers, lace, and beads.
You can turn it into a bag charm or use a swivel clasp or key ring—choose whatever hardware you like.
Cut the Indian embroidered ribbon to the length you want for the keychain.
Since a keychain has a front and back, consider the embroidery pattern before cutting.
Fold the ribbon in half, create pleats at the top, and stitch them in place.
Attach another ribbon to hide the pleats, add the hardware, and you’re done.
The method is simple, but using Indian embroidered ribbon results in a lovely keychain.
Japanese-style mini kimono keychain
Let’s make a mini kimono-motif keychain without sewing.
Since the kimono parts are small, it’s convenient to use a ready-made template.
First, trace the template onto white fabric and cut it out, then use adhesive to attach it to a foam sheet.
Next, cover the base by applying kimono fabric backed with double-sided tape.
Assemble the parts, securing them with glue, and use red fabric and a gold cord to create the obi.
Attach the keychain hardware to finish.
It’s a glamorous item that will set you apart from others.
Chick-chan keychain
A softly felted chick keychain is a perfect handmade project.
First, use a compass to draw a 3 cm semicircle on construction paper, then draw another semicircle overlapping it.
Cut out the shape formed in the middle to use as a template.
Using the template, cut out four pieces of felt.
On one piece, draw the chick’s eyes and beak and stitch them with embroidery thread.
Fold a thin ribbon in half and tuck it into the edge, then start stitching two pieces of felt together using a simple stitch.
After sewing about halfway, align the remaining two felt pieces and continue stitching them together.
Stuff firmly with cotton as you go, and close it up with thread to finish.
The rounded, ball-like shape makes it an adorable piece.
Fabric keychains: How-to and idea roundup [Great for scrap fabric!] (11–20)
Keychain with personalized name embroidery
You can make a cute personalized keychain using materials from a 100-yen shop.
First, choose the fabric you want to turn into a keychain.
Use hiragana stamps to stamp the preferred name in the center of the fabric.
Then attach your favorite motif with glue.
Next, embroider the stamped name with embroidery thread.
Cut the lining fabric as well, insert interfacing between the layers, and secure them together.
When securing, loop a ribbon into a hoop and tuck it in, then attach the keychain hardware.
Finally, stitch around the edge of the keychain with embroidery thread to finish.
Scarf-style mini charm
Let’s make a scarf-style charm using fabric scraps.
First, cut both ends of the scrap straight.
Turn it into a ribbon shape, then fold it in the middle.
Next, fold it in half lengthwise.
Cut the ends diagonally and unfold.
Mix wood glue with water and apply it to the edges of the fabric to prevent fraying.
After the glue dries, spray it with a water-repellent spray to make the charm more practical.
Fold the fabric and thread it through a frame, shape it to look like a scarf, and you’re done.
Keychain with magnet
Let’s use leftover fusible interfacing scraps to make a keychain with a magnet.
Fusible interfacing is used on the inside of fabric to provide support, prevent distortion, and keep a beautiful silhouette.
There are several types of fusible interfacing, but we’ll use a stiff one and a quilted fusible interfacing.
If your interfacing isn’t stiff enough, you can insert a piece of thick paper, or stack several layers of leftover interfacing in place of the quilted type.
Pay attention to any fold lines in the interfacing, and cut the interfacing according to the keychain pattern.
Place the quilted interfacing on top of the stiff interfacing, then place both on the fabric you’ll use for the keychain.
Fuse with an iron, and trim the fabric leaving about a 1 cm seam allowance.
Sew around the keychain, insert the magnet, add the ring, close it up, and you’re done.
Because it contains a magnet, it’s handy to stick it to your entryway door.
Tassel keychain
A tassel refers to something that ties back curtains.
The tassel keychain introduced here is a cute idea featuring a bundle of decorative elements.
First, decide on the parts you want for the metal fitting section and the cord parts you want to bundle.
For the bundle, use ribbons, novelty/mixed yarns, lace, and so on.
Deciding on a finished design in advance helps with choosing parts.
Cut all cords to twice the final length, and start with the thinnest ones.
First, place the thread passed through the metal fitting vertically (up and down), then lay the cut cord pieces horizontally on top.
Once everything is in place, tie them with the vertical thread.
Wrap the area near the fitting tightly with cord to secure it.
You’ll end up with a keychain whose swaying movement looks elegant.