Lanyard and Key Chain Wristlet

Do you find yourself constantly digging to the depths of your purse or shoulder bag searching for that always-elusive set of keys? Well, save that manicure and dig no more! Find yourself an hour to spare to make either a lanyard or a key chain wristlet so you never have to waste precious minutes digging for your keys again.

First, gather your supplies. For both projects you'll need a swivel hook for a 1" strap, 1 ¼" D-rings, key rings, a couple coordinating prints of fabric (1/8 yard, 45" wide), 45mm rotary cutter, thread snips, cutting mat, quilting ruler, scissors, and an iron.

First let's make the lanyard.

Cut one piece of fabric using your rotary cutter so it measures 3" wide x 40" long.

Fold each long side in toward the middle and iron. Fold strip in half and iron again. Basically you've just created custom bias tape.

Stitch down the entire length of the open side of the strip stitching as close to the edge as possible. Repeat along other side. Trim dangling threads with Thread Snips.

Fold stitched strip in half, making sure the strip isn't twisted. Thread swivel hook onto strip. Match ends and stitch forward and reverse several times, approximately 1" from the ends. Clip the ends 1/8" from the stitching.

Flip strip inside out and move swivel hook to hang at the stitching that closes the loop. Stitch hook in place with the same forward and reverse stitching as close to the hook as possible. Trim dangling threads with Thread Snips.

Tip: For a fun, funky patchwork pattern on your lanyard strap, you need to piece together 3" wide strips of various fabrics until you have a strip of stitched fabrics measuring 40" long. Iron the seams open and then follow the same directions for ironing and stitching.

Creating the key chain wristlet is slightly different.

First you'll cut two pieces of coordinating fabric using your rotary cutter so they each measure 3" wide by 13" long. Iron each side in, toward the middle, approximately ¼". Fold strip in half, iron. (Tip: I find it helpful to use spray starch to get a crisp fold.) Repeat for second fabric.

Lay one fabric strip on top of the other to the folded edges are on opposite sides. Pin together. Stitch down the length of each long edge, as close to the edge as possible. Trim dangling threads using Thread Snips. If necessary, trim short ends of fabric even.

Decide which fabric you want on the outside, hereinafter called: right side. Fabric on the inside of the finished product: wrong side. Fold in half, matching ends, with right sides together. Slide D-ring onto strip.

Match ends and stitch forward and reverse several times approximately ½" from ends. Trim ends approximately 1/8" from stitching.

Flip strip right side out and move D-ring to hang at the stitching that closes the loop. Stitch ring in place with the same forward and reverse stitching as close to the ring as possible to secure in place.

Thread key ring(s) onto D-ring.