Craft a keychain with a little pocket perfect for holding lip balm or other small items! This project comes together entirely in-the-hoop—we'll show you how.
Supplies & Materials:
Note: The links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase using these links.
- 1/8 hard of sturdy woven cotton or twill
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Medium-weight cutaway stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive
- 3/16" eyelet
- Key ring
- Craft knife or awl
- Cutting mat
When you download an in-the-hoop keychain with pocket design, you will find multiple files. Some are the embroidery files, and the others are dieline files marked with the letters “DL”. Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size.
Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. We recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts.
(This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchased made through this link.)If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on dielines.
Spray the wrong side of the paper dieline and smooth it on to the right side of your front piece fabric. Then also spray the wrong side of the fabric and smooth it onto a piece of medium weight cutaway stabilizer.
Cut out the front piece following the dieline.
Like before, spray the wrong side of your back piece fabric, and place it onto cutaway stabilizer. Then, spray the other side of the cutaway stabilizer (without the fabric) and smooth that over the wrong side of another piece of fabric. This will make the back piece look nice and clean on both sides.
Place the paper dieline on the fabric.
Cut out the back piece.
Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer tightly.
Attach the hoop onto the machine and load the first embroidery design labeled with the letter "A". For best results, use a 75/11 sharp sewing needle as it will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.Embroider the front piece dieline. This will mark on the stabilizer where the front piece needs to be placed.
After the dieline has sewn, spray the wrong side of the front piece with temporary adhesive. Smooth it in place inside of the sewn dieline on the front side of the hooped tear-away stabilizer.
Embroider the front piece tackdown. This tackdown will hold the fabric in place for the remainder of the design.
Follow the color change sheet and embroider the details of the design. Stop before embroidering the front piece top boarder.
As the rest of the embroidery will be visible from both sides, wind a bobbin to match every remaining thread color.
After inserting the matching bobbin, return the hoop to the machine and stitch the top edge of the front piece.
Continue embroidering the design. Watch for a note on the color change sheet that says, "back piece tackdown."
When you get to this point, remove the hoop from the machine. Do not unhoop the stabilizer.
Spray the back piece with temporary adhesive. Smooth it in place inside of the sewn dieline on the back side of the hoop.
Return the hoop the machine and embroider the back piece tackdown to keep the back piece in place for the rest of the design.
Continue to embroider the rest of the design.
Once the embroidery is finished, unhoop the stabilizer and tear away the extra stabilizer from around the design.
If keychain with pocket design did not sew an embroidered eyelet, poke a hole through the top of the holder with a craft knife or an awl.
Then, add a small metal eyelet or grommet using its setting tools.If your design did sew an embroidered eyelet, carefully poke a hole through the center with a craft knife or an awl.
To finish your keychain with pocket, simply add your hardware through the eyelet opening.
Your keychain is complete! Add your favorite lip balm to keep it handy wherever you go. This little project makes a great gift, too!
