Your key fob hardware comes in two parts. One is the clamp and the other is the actual key ring. The width of the clamp opening is 1 1/4", which is what you want the width of your webbing, ribbon or hand made strip to be so that it fits into the clamp neatly.
I like to use cotton webbing. Decide on the length you want your loop to be. I wanted a loop coming out 5" so my actual strip was 10" since it's folded in half. Decorate your webbing with small embroidery, ribbon, etc. Fold in half and stitch ends together. Insert ends into the clamp making sure it's pushed in as far as possible. Using either pliers or a hammer, close the clamp. I used a small upholstery hammer. I did lay a small piece of scrap fabric over the hardward so the hammer wouldn't leave marks when I hit it. If you're working with webbing you will want to zig-zag across the ends, use fray check, etc., because it will ravel. I have not tried using only ribbon for my loop because I tend to think it might be a little limp.
These were done up very quickly to upload. On two of them I simply sewed a piece of grossgrain ribbon on top of my webbing using a simple straight stitch. On the bottom one I tried a pieced of wide rick-rack. The second from the top I used my embroidery program. Once I made sure the design would fit on a 1 1/4" width, I hooped tear away and using spray adhesive I put my webbing on the tear away and embroidered. I did find the webbing wasn't very receptive to the spray adhesive so I put in a couple of hand stitches to hold it in place.
USES - Personal - made one for myself!!!
Teacher gifts - use school colors, on one side of loop put school name or initials, other side of loop teacher's name
Clubs - Same as for Teachers
Greeks - Use Sorority Colors - greek letters on one side of loop - personal name on other side
Stocking Stuffers
Separate keys - have a week-end place ? Embroider week-end home on loop and you'll never lose those week-end keys again.
Uses are Endless -- Once you have the hardware!!
Gift tags - I'm doing one for all my Christmas presents and attaching to present in lieu or gift tag!! Something that won't be thrown away!!
