• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Diary of a Quilter - a quilt blog
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Tutorials
  • My Quilts
  • Shop
  • Favorite Supplies
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Tutorials
  • My Quilts
  • Shop
  • Favorite Supplies
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Start Here
    • Tutorials
    • My Quilts
    • Shop
    • Favorite Supplies
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Blog » tutorial

    Handmade Spool-inspired Key Fobs

    May 4, 2020 by Amy 12 Comments

    I always love when Sedef Imer shares a guest post with us – they’re always so beautiful and creative – and this handmade spool-inspired key fob is no exception! Wouldn’t these make a fun gift for sewing friends?

     

    Hi, it’s Sedef Imer here, from Down Grapevine Lane . I’m back again as a guest blogger on Amy’s blog and today I will be showing you how to make these rather special spool shaped key fobs!

    This is a great little project for your favorite fabric scraps, and they make lovely gifts too.

    MATERIALS

    2″ square print fabric (spool middle)
    3″ square light brown fabric (spool wood parts)
    3″ x 3.5″ sturdy wool felt (spool backing)
    3″ x 5″ fusible web
    3″ cotton tape
    1″ diameter split ring
    Black thread and thread to match the color of the felt
    Pilot Frixion (or other removable ink) pen

    STEPS

    1.  Find the PDF template to print from here and print to A4. Make sure you save it to your computer and open in Adobe Acrobat to print – if you print it straight from your browser this can cause size problems. Cut out the two spool parts in the template along their outlines.

    2.  Apply fusible web to the backs of the 2″ square and 3″ square fabric pieces, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the larger template piece (wood spool shape) on the back of the 3″ square brown fabric and trace around the template, then cut the shape out along the traced line. Repeat for the small template and the 2″ square of print fabric.

    3. Fold the cotton tape in two and place onto the top half of the felt, with the raw edges pointing downwards towards the center of the felt as shown. Peel off the backing paper on the brown fabric piece and place on top of the tape, with ½″ of the bottom of the tape covered by the web backed fabric. Press with hot iron.

    4. Peel off the backing paper of the print fabric piece and place on top of the brown spool, in the middle, as shown. Press with hot iron.

    5. Using the Frixion pen draw some details onto the spool by hand, as shown.

    6. Thread your sewing machine with black top thread, and with bobbin thread matching the color of your felt. Carefully sew along the outline of the spool and the lines you’ve drawn by hand TWICE. Don’t worry if your two stitch lines don’t overlap precisely – the finished piece will have a more authentic ‘hand-made’ look if the two lines aren’t directly on top of each other. Press your finished piece to remove the pen marks.

    7. Cut out the spool shape from the felt background – be careful not to snip the tape when you are cutting behind it. Insert the folded end of the tape into the split ring.

    I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and use it to make your own spool key fobs. Please come visit me over on my blog Down Grapevine Lane and you can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for free tutorials, patterns, and general sewing inspiration. Happy sewing!

    Be sure to check out Sedef’s other fun tutorials including:

    Quilted Leaf Coaster tutorial by Sedef Imer

    Quilted Leaf Coasters

    Fabric Covered Needle Card tutorial - perfect gift for a friend who sews

    Fabric Covered Needle Cards

    Scandi Pillow Tutorial

    Fabric Butterfly Wall Art

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to print (Opens in new window)

    Related

    « Modern Farmhouse Baby Lattice Quilt
    Shoo Fly Quilt Block Tutorial »

    Filed Under: gift ideas, Liberty, tutorial

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. The Joyful Quilter

      May 04, 2020 at 8:50 am

      Thanks for hosting Sedef here on the blog, Amy. Those Spool Key Fobs are SEW adorable!!

      Reply
    2. Cathy B.

      May 05, 2020 at 6:50 am

      Absolutely adorable! But are you able to provide the pattern on letter size (vs A4) for North American readers? Thanks in advance!

      Reply
    3. L Bennett

      May 05, 2020 at 6:59 am

      Hi I can’t seem to get the link with PDF template to work

      Reply
      • Amy

        May 05, 2020 at 9:01 am

        Thanks for the heads up – I just updated the link to a google drive file. Let me know if this one works better: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17tDjoN_c6MDCI4u0C2gGsQD4-V79K2O7/view?usp=sharing

        Reply
    4. Tonya tiffany

      May 05, 2020 at 7:18 am

      These are a perfect gift for the ladies who apl be attending a quilt retreat with me. Thank you sew much for the idea!

      Reply
    5. Cathy B.

      May 05, 2020 at 7:29 am

      Spools are just adorable! Wondering if you are able to provide the pattern on letter size paper (vs A4) for those of us in North America? Thanks in advance!

      Reply
      • Amy

        May 05, 2020 at 9:00 am

        Cathy – I just printed it on letter size paper, and the images printed fine – let me know if you’re still having trouble.

        Reply
        • Cathy B.

          May 05, 2020 at 1:05 pm

          Got it! Thanks so much & stay safe!

          Reply
    6. Shelia

      May 05, 2020 at 7:21 pm

      So cute. I want to make a string of them to hang in my sewing room, like bunting.

      Reply
      • Amy

        May 06, 2020 at 3:39 pm

        What a darling idea!!

        Reply
    7. Judy Carson

      May 12, 2020 at 8:54 pm

      Cute!! Do you think cork would work for the spool (front/back)? I have tons to use up,

      Reply
      • Amy

        May 13, 2020 at 9:53 pm

        I think it would work great! And look really cool too!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    amy smart headshot

    My name is Amy Smart and I'm a quilter, pattern and fabric designer, wife & mom. Excited to have you here!

    Let's Sew →

    THE PERFECT PLACE TO START

    CHECK OUT MY

    I Sew With

    Baby Lock Sewing Machines

    Favorite Fabric Shops

    Come Sew With Me – Craftsy Class

    Pre-cuts Shortcuts Video Craftsy Class with Amy Smartma

    Top Posts & Pages

    • Diary of a Quilter by Amy Smart - a Quilt blog
    • Quilts Gifted + Seasons of Life
    • Lattice Baby Quilt Tutorial
    • 25 Favorite Charm Square Quilts & Projects
    • Fast Four Patch Quilt Tutorial
    • Patriotic Quilting and Sewing Projects for the 4th of July
    • Tutorials
    • Sorting, Saving, and Using Fabric Scraps
    • Subscriber Confirmation
    • How to Make a Manx Quilt Block
    Tips for Choosing Fabric for a Quilt
    How to Choose a Sewing Machine for Quilting, tips featured by top US quilting blogger, Diary of a Quilter
    Patchwork on Point Crib Quilt Tutorial

    Star Baby Quilt Tutorial

    Star Baby Quilt Tutorial
    Fast Shortcuts to make multiple Half-Square Triangles

    My Riley Blake Fabric Collections

    Categories

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Flickr
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS

    More of Me

     photo splendid_button_4 1.jpg
     photo Babylock_Logo_300x150.png imanauthor
     
    Follow

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up HERE! for weekly emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ

    This site uses affiliate links:

    I make a small commission on some purchases with no additional cost to the reader.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Diary of a Quilter - a quilt blog