How To Make

Key cover Default instructions

In-the-Hoop Key Cover Tutorial

A collection of cute, animal-themed in-the-hoop key covers.

How to Use Your Key Cover

The cover keeps your keys protected inside, which stops them from scratching other items in your bag.

INSIDE A key cover shown with keys tucked inside.

OUTSIDE The key cover shown with the keys pulled out.

These key covers also make a great idea for decorating a handbag. The bag charm trend is showing no signs of slowing down, and there are no rules for where to attach your key cover—outside, inside, on a purse, cosmetic bag, or handbag! Just have fun with it.

Embroidering Instructions

Stitch the design as you normally would. There may be appliqué elements, simple embroidery, or a mix of both, like in this example.

An example of a key cover design with both appliqué and embroidery.An example of a key cover design with detailed embroidery.

Adding 3D Elements

Next, add any 3D elements if the design requires them. Here, I have added ears to the bunny.

Adding 3D felt ears to a bunny key cover design and securing them with tape.

NOTE! The ears or other 3D elements should be prepared before stitching the key cover. They can be turned pieces, felties, or simply cut from felt. Here are some examples:

  1. Ears stitched using two layers of fabric and then turned right side out:

    Finished 3D ears, ready for attachment.

  2. Antlers simply cut from felt:

    Felt antlers for an owl key cover, simply cut from felt.

  3. A stitched and cut-out feltie piece:

    A small feltie charm, stitched and cut out.

Attaching the Lining

Now it is time to add the lining, which is the part that goes inside the key cover.

The key cover with the lining partially inserted to show its function.

I used felt for the lining, but you can use any fabric. I like felt because it makes the project stronger. It is recommended to use the same color as the main project.

Lay the lining piece inside the shape. It is important that the lining does not go over the pattern at the top of the design. Leave at least a ½-inch gap at the top, like this:

Positioning the lining piece, leaving a half-inch gap at the top of the design.

Stitch the lining's bottom tack-down seam.

The tack-down seam stitched to secure the bottom of the lining.

Final Assembly

It's time to add the back of the key cover. Take your main piece of fabric for the back and fold it in half.

The fabric for the back of the key cover, folded in half.

Lift the lining to place the backing piece underneath it, as shown in the image below.

Lifting the lining to place the folded back piece underneath.

Lay the folded piece of fabric right inside the shape so the folded edge aligns with the bottom part of the design.

The folded back piece correctly positioned under the lining.

Then, fold the lining back down over it.

The lining folded back down over the back piece.

It should be layered like a sandwich.

A view of all the layers sandwiched together, ready for the final stitch.

A diagram showing the sandwich of layers: front, back, and lining.

Stitch the final outline.

The final outline stitched through all layers.

Finishing

Cut out the shape. It is important to make cuts in curved places or in corners as close as possible to the seam. Be careful not to cut the thread!

Clipping the curves of the seam allowance.More examples of where to clip the seams.

The project is now ready to be turned!

The finished key cover, cut out and ready for turning.

Turn it right side out in two steps. First, turn it through the opening at the top.

Turning the key cover right side out through the top opening.

Manipulate it with your fingers to get nice, crisp edges.

Using your fingers to push out the corners and edges.

Then, turn the rest of the project through from the bottom opening.

The finished key cover, fully turned right side out.

Add-On Charms

Most designs have add-on charms or felties.

An example of a matching feltie charm for the key cover.

To prepare them, hoop a tear-away stabilizer. Stitch the embroidery, then stop the machine but do not unhoop. Lay a piece of felt behind the hoop and stitch the final feltie outline. There will be a small hole designed to insert a ribbon.

An example of a video tutorial for creating felties.

The finished key cover with its matching charm attached.

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