Make this easy diy keychain out of a fabric scrap, a 10 inch strap piece and a clasp! It literally takes five minutes to make (or even less if you get the hang of it). This bracelet style keychain is perfect for gifting or even selling. My keychain hardware is a little too heavy but, hey, this is what I still had from another project so I would rather use it instead of going to buy new ones. You can use various styles of fabrics or straps, just dive in your scrap bag or basket, mix and match and start sewing. It takes just a couple of minutes to assemble a keychain. This 5-minute craft is a very beginner-friendly project with a great result!

• A small fabric scrap, 2 ¾ inches by 4 inches

• A piece of bag strap or a sturdy ribbon, 1 inch by 10 inches

• A swivel clasp with a D-ring, the flat part of the D should be about 1 inch.  

• Sewing machine with needle and thread. The thread preferably matches the scrap fabric.

• Pins or clips

• Fabric Scissors

○ From your fabric scraps, cut a rectangle measuring approximately 2 ¾ inches by 4 inches (7 cm by 10 cm).

○ Cut a bag strap piece that is about 1 inch wide (2.5 cm) and 10 inches (26 cm) long.

○ Wrap the shortest part of the fabric around the strap, right sides facing the strap. The strap edge is about ¼ inch from one edge. The edges of the fabric scrap will overlap on the back of the strap.

○ Sew the fabric down on the strap ½ inch from the edge of the strap

○ Pull the fabric scrap to the right side and press flat.

○ Pull the strap through the d-ring of the clasp.

○ Take the other edge of the strap (the one without fabric attached) and fold the fabric around it, just like in the first step, keeping it ¼ inch from the strap’s edge. The wrong side of the fabric should be facing you, which means the right side of the strap will be visible as you fold the fabric around it.

To ensure the folds are correct, first fold one side of the fabric over the strap, then fold the other side on top of it. I struggled with this three times before getting it right, so I recommend pinning the fabric in place and flipping it over to check before sewing.

○ Sew at ½ inch from the edge on top of the folded fabric and the strap.

○ Pull the strap. You now have a circular strap with a clasp attached.

○ Place the D-ring in the middle of the fabric piece. Fold the fabric together with the ring in the middle, align the fabric edges neatly. Use a pin or clip to hold it in place.

○ Topstitch a rectangle on the right side, on the edges of the fabric piece, through all layers to keep the swivel clasp with D-ring in place. And this is the last step of this DIY keychain project! Look at the neat result. It is simple but elegant, no?

○ Trim any excess threads and ensure all seams are secure.

○ Give a quick press with your iron if needed

This diy keychain is a great project to utilize fabric scraps and create a charming accessory that can be sold at craft fairs or given as thoughtful gifts. You can make the lanyard longer and use it as a chain to keep your scissors or thread snips around your neck. A very versatile 5-minute craft that is easily adapted to your needs and wishes.

We have more easy projects that are beginner friendly and completely free on the Madam Sew blog and a complete ‘learn to sew’ beginner series as well. You’ll see that our website holds a ton of free sewing tutorials and craft inspiration. Too many projects, too little time, right?

Happy Sewing!

An

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Download the PDF of this DIY Keychain Project here.