DIY Heart Keychain • Heather Handmade

Learn how to make a DIY heart keychain with fun fabrics like cotton or faux fur. This valentine sewing project is quick, easy, and fun.

I love small projects like keychains because they are fast, satisfying, and simple. My kids love having tons of keychains clipped onto their backpack, and I could see a fluffly one made out of faux fur that would look so fun.

I made both a faux fur heart keychain and a quilting cotton heart keychain so that you could see both and decide on the one you liked better. The faux fur one is great for a pop of color and texture, and the quilting cotton one is great for using up those prized fabric scraps.

What is faux fur?

Faux fur is a pile fabric which means one side is flat and smooth and the other side has “piles” or fabric fibers that are woven out and end with a cut. The piles can be short or long. Faux fur can be a stretch fabric with a soft hand, and faux fur can be a woven fabric with a stiff hand.

It is usually polyester based and can be made in any color. There is faux fur made to look like real fur in natural animal prints, and there is faux fur made from neon colors and unique prints.

What is quilting cotton fabric?

Quilting cotton is fabric made from 100% cotton. It is a plain weave which is the simplest way to weave fabric. Quilting cotton is a medium weight fabric depending on the manufacturer, and it has a lot body.

It tends to hold it’s shape even after being washed. Some fabric companies have started to make lighter weight quilting cottons so that they can be made into clothing.

Quilting cotton is used to make quilts and other home sewing projects and can come in almost any print imaginable. The fabric is printed after being woven which means there’s a chance that the print can be off-grain.

Do you love to sew? Try one of these fun sewing projects:

How to Make a DIY Heart Keychain

Supplies

Scraps of quilting cotton OR scraps of faux fur
Lobster clip*
Sewing tools
Sewing machine
Optional: polyfil
Optional: lace or ribbon for the tab

Cut out two hearts from the fabric you are using. I cut my hearts about 5 inches tall and 5 inches wide. If you are making a tab from the fabric, then cut a tab measuring 4 inches wide and 2 inches tall. If you are using ribbon or lace for the tab, then cut it 4 inches long.

Fold the tab so that the short ends are matching and press. Fold the short ends to meet at the middle fold and press. Fold all three folds and press.

Sew along each folded side of the tab 1/8 inch away from the edge to secure. Leave the other two ends open.

If you made a tab then fold it around the base of the clasp. Pin it onto one of the front of the hearts with the raw edges matching with the raw edge of the heart. Baste the tab in place.

If you are using ribbon or lace then fold it in half so it’s 2 inches long and then fold it around the base of the clasp. Pin it onto one of the front of the hearts with the short ends matching with the raw edge of the heart. Baste it in place.

Place the hearts right sides together and pin. Sew around the heart with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Be careful to adjust the lobster clip as you go so you don’t sew over it and break a needle. Leave a 2 inch hole for turning and backstitch on each side of the hole.

Trim the bottom point and around each curve. Clip into the top point but don’t cut through the stitches.

trim, clip, and notch the heart seam allowance

Turn the heart right side out.

Use a point turner to poke out the corners and smooth out the curves.

Optional: add polyfil to the heart to make it a little puffy. It works very well with the faux fur heart.

For the faux fur heart, pinch the hole closed and sew across the pinch 1/8 inch from the edge. Pull any fur out of the seam allowance to make it extra fluffy.

For the quilting cotton heart, pinch the hole closed and sew all the way around the heart 1/8 inch from the edge. This will close the heart and give the heart a nice, crisp edge.

You finished!

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!