How to Sew a Thread Spool Appliquéd Keychain
Keychains are such a practical little item, yet they can also be a wonderful way to express your personality or your interests. At least that's the case with this thread spool appliquéd keychain! It makes a quick and fun little project for showcasing a special little bit of fabric while also showing off your enthusiasm for sewing everywhere you go. If you're new to free motion stitching or to appliqué, this keychain makes a great place to start and give it a try. It takes very little fabric and time to make, so you can experiment with free motion appliqué and sew up a cute project without investing in a significant amount of materials.
Let's get sewing!
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
This is what you'll need to make your own Thread Spool Keychain:
Keychain Background Fabric: 6.5 inches x 4.5 inches
Interfacing: 6.5 inches x 4.5 inches
Apply to the back of the body fabric before cutting
Thread Spool Appliqué Fabric: 2 inch square
Thread Color Appliqué Fabric: 1.5 inches by 2 inches
Fusible Adhesive: 4 inches x 2 inches
I use Heat N Bond Lite
Thread: 1 spool of background color and 1 spool of black
I use high quality all-purpose polyester thread
1 Inch Wide D-ring
1 Inch Wide Webbing/Twill Tape/Ribbon: 1.5 inch long piece
In addition to the above sewing supplies, you'll need these tools:
Sewing machine
Embroidery/Darning/Free-motion quilting presser foot
This presser foot can go by different names. Check with your sewing machine manufacturer or manual to find the right one for your particular machine.
Iron
Scissors
Step 2: Prepare your Pattern Pieces
Before cutting out your pattern pieces:
Apply fusible interfacing to the back of the two keychain background pieces.
Apply fusible adhesive to the back of each appliqué piece (thread spool and thread color).
Step 3: Cut your Pattern Pieces
Once your fabric pieces are prepared, cut them out.
If you're using the pdf pattern, cut out each paper pattern piece. Then pin each pattern piece to the appropriate fabric piece. Cut around each one with scissors. Be sure to cut two keychain background pieces.
If you're using the svg cutting file, size your file to 3.5 inches tall and follow the cutting instructions for your machine.
Step 4: Position the Appliqué
After you've cut everything out, head to your ironing board and fuse the appliqué pieces onto one of the keychain background pieces. First, position the thread spool and then position the thread color appliqué piece on top. Use your iron to press and fuse the appliqué shapes in place.
Step 5: Free Motion Stitch the Appliqué
You're ready for the best step—sewing the appliqué! Get your sewing machine set up with your black thread and your embroidery presser foot. Start by stitching around the whole spool (I go around twice to make it look like I sketched the design), then zig-zag back and forth to create the look of the thread spool. Finish off the appliqué with a thread tail looping off to one side.
Step 6: Sew the Front and Back Together
Once you've stitched the appliqué, you're ready to sew the front and back of your keychain pieces together. Reset your sewing machine back to a regular straight stitch setting with the feed dogs back up and your standard presser foot installed. Then thread your machine with thread to match the background color of your keychain.
Get the un-appliquéd keychain background piece and place it right sides together with the appliquéd background piece. Sew around the two pieces at a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Start at the straight top side corner and go around the curved sides. Leave the top open for turning right side out and installing the D-ring.
Step 7: Turn and Press
After stitching around the keychain background pieces, trim your seam allowances close to the stitching so that the curves turn right side out easily. Next, turn your keychain right sides out through the opening you left at the top. Then, press everything nicely.
Tuck in the edges of the top opening. Fold your webbing/twill tape/ribbon in half around the D-ring and slip the ends of the webbing/tape/ribbon into the top opening of the keychain.
Step 8: Edgestitch
Sew all the way around the perimeter of your keychain at about 1/8 of an inch from the edge. This will secure the D-ring at the top and finish your keychain nicely.
I hope you enjoyed making your own Thread Spool Appliqué Keychain! I'd love to see how yours turned out. You can tag Haven Handmade on Instagram (@haven.handmade) or leave a comment on this post.
Happy stitching from my haven to yours!
