This is part 2 of how I make key fobs, you can find part 1 here.
Ok, so up to this point I've shown you how to stabilize your ribbon for embroidery. Once you've embroidered the ribbon, remove from the hoop. Don't worry if there's a little bit of puckering along the top & bottom of the ribbon where you embroidered. It should be fine once you iron it and sew down on the webbing. That reminds me, make sure when you lay out the letters in your software that you don't use too tall of a letter, you don't want it to get too close to the edge of the ribbon.
Next step is to press the backside of the ribbon again. That will help with little puckers you might have. IMPORTANT: make sure you're ironing the backside of the ribbon--where you put the fusible stabilizer prior to embroidery. If your ribbon is a printed one like the swiss dot you see in my fobs, the iron will ruin the print on the ribbon!
Time to sew that ribbon to the webbing. I cut my webbing a tad bit longer than the ribbon.
I like to use clear thread for this part. I want the ribbon and webbing to show, not my stitches. Fill a bobbin with the clear thread too.
My sewing machine came with a few of these little nets for thread. I have to use it with the clear filament thread or it wraps itself around the spindle and breaks off.
This is my very favorite sewing foot, well, other than the regular one we use for most everything. It's called an Edge stitch foot. Seriously awesome stuff here. I love it for topstitching ruffles down on clothes I make for Giana.
Start stitching it down. Don't forget to backstitch when you start at the end to secure the thread in place. You may have to move your needle a little to the left or right before you start to line it up along the edge of your ribbon.
Take your time and slow down your machine, trust me it will help keep you from sewing off the edge of your ribbon.
Cute, huh?
Fold your webbing in half and sew it together, I like to go back & forth several times.
Before you sew it together, make sure that you're happy with the size your fob will be, you might want to shorten it a little bit.
Trim all the little bits off after you sew the ends together. Pay attention to the edges. I hate it when stray threads hang off the edges, plus you wouldn't want someone to pull a thread and have the webbing come undone.
I like to put a good amount of Fray Check on the edges. Let it dry for a few minutes.
Go get your hardware, time to finish it up!
My hubs found these great little Flat Jaw pliers for me at Harbor Freight. I love them because I can close the hardware at once. I started out using regular pliers but found that the hardware didn't always close evenly and looked wonky. Whatever you use, make sure that you cover it with some duct tape or you risk scratching the hardware on your pretty key fob that you've worked so hard to make.
All covered up!
Put your hardware on the end and squeeze gently. Once you've got it in place go back and give it a good squeeze to make sure it's set properly in place.
Notice that the hardware has a front & back. Pay attention that you put the teeth side on the back of your fob.
All done!
Please let me know if you have any questions!
