REQUIRED MATERIALS
To make this tutorial, you will need:
- 1 piece of semi-soft, semi-firm leather measuring 15 x 20 cm. Thickness: 1.1 to 1.4 mm
- 50 cm of round leather lace Ø 2 mm
- 1 round keychain ring Ø 18 mm
- 1 Chicago screw Ø 8 mm
- 1 punch die Ø 3 mm and Ø 4 mm
- Contact cement
- Sewing materials (thread and needle)
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FULL TUTORIAL VIDEO
1. PRINT AND CUT OUT THE PATTERN
Download and print the pattern at full size.
2. POSITION THE PIECES ON THE UNDYED LEATHER
Position the pattern on the leather, leaving a 5 mm margin around the cut lines. Pieces P1, P3, P4, and P5 are to be cut twice. Hold the pieces in place using masking tape or another repositionable adhesive.
3. PUNCH THE HOLES
Punch the Ø 3 mm and Ø 4 mm holes in piece P2 for the Chicago screw and lace.
For easier sewing with pre-punched holes, also punch the Ø 1 mm sewing holes indicated on the pattern. Do not punch the sewing holes if sewing with a sewing machine (as shown in the video).
4. CUT OUT THE LEATHER PIECES
Cut out the different pieces using a utility knife, following the cut lines on the pattern.
5. SEW BOTH SIDES OF PIECE P5
Sew a line 3 mm from the edge on pieces P5, following the purple lines indicated on the pattern.
6. STITCH PIECE P5
Position and glue one of the P4 pieces onto a P5 piece using the small notch and dashed lines on the pattern. Do not hesitate to transfer the markings to make positioning easier: the four purple circles must overlap. Then, repeat the process with the other P4 and P5 pieces.
7. SEW PIECES P4
Sew pieces P4 3 mm from the edge, following the purple lines indicated on the pattern.
Stop sewing one stitch before the notch, then finish with knots on the edge.
8. PLACE P3 ON THE P4/P5 ASSEMBLY
Position piece P3 on the P4/P5 assembly, referring to the dashed lines indicated on the pattern. Using a silver pencil, mark the gluing areas on the back of P3 and on the front of the P4/P5 assembly. Glue the pieces together, then glue them together again. Repeat the process with the other P3 and P4/P5 pieces.
9. SEW THE TOP OF P3
Sew only the top of piece P3 3 mm from the edge. Do not sew through the notch.
10. SEW THE TOP OF P3
Mark the position of piece P1 on the P3/P4/P5 assembly, referring to the dashed lines indicated on the pattern. Then glue P1 onto the P3/P4/P5 assembly, back to front.
Before assembling, check the symmetry to ensure that the two body pieces are perfectly similar.
11. SEW PIECES P1
Sew pieces P1 following the purple line indicated on the pattern, 3 mm from the edge.
12. GLUE THE MAIN PIECES TOGETHER
Apply contact cement to the edges of the two main pieces, except at the top, to leave an opening for the keys. Also leave an opening of approximately 8 mm, centered at the bottom of the tulip, to allow the lace to pass through. Mark reference points on each side of the opening. Then glue the two pieces together.
Use a needle to properly align the sewing holes if necessary (sewing with pre-punched holes).
13. TAKE THE LEATHER LACE
Take 50 cm of Ø 2 mm lace and fold it in half. Pass the folded part of the lace through the opening at the bottom of the tulip.
Attach the keychain ring to the middle of the lace, at the bottom of P1.
14. ASSEMBLE THE PIECES
Sew the two pieces together. Start sewing with a backstitch**.
** To make this stitch, pass the thread around the top edge of the piece, then pass the needle back through the sewing hole to form one or two loops around the edge before continuing to sew.
For machine sewing, sew in two steps to maintain the 8 mm opening. For hand sewing, make the stitches by passing between the two laces.
15. ASSEMBLE THE PIECES
Pass both ends of the lace through the central hole of P2. Tie a tight knot, then cut off the excess lace. Tip: tap the knot lightly with a hammer to flatten it.
Then glue the two sides of P2 together, then hold them in place with a Chicago screw.
16. FINISHING TOUCHES
Skive the main piece if necessary to even out the edges. Optional: sand and apply a finish (paint) to the leather edge.
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TWO OTHER MORE STANDARD VERSIONS
Discover two new versions of leather key holders in another blog post.
