Challenge # 2 Complete!

So the reason I decided to do these keychains is because I saw them here (http://etsyrussianteam.blogspot.com/2011/06/moustache-keychain.html) which I linked to from Pinterest. The only problem with this tutorial is that I couldn't get my sewing machine to cooperate with me and the fabric. It was just too small to sew and it kept shifting and messing up. So I thought about it and decided I could do it by hand.

Materials: Scissors, Pen, Adhesive, Fabric, Embroidery Floss, Thread, Template, Sewing Needle, Embroidery Needle

I started out by cutting out a mustache template using my Cricut and the Bump in the Night cartridge. I used a heavy cardstock so that I could trace it without too much problem. I then traced the mustache onto the WRONG side of the fabric two times because we will sandwich them together to create the keychain. You will also need to cut a small rectangular piece which will be used to attach the mustache to your keyring.

template and mustaches traced onto fabric

pieces after cutting them out

If you’re going to embroider an initial on it, now is the time to do so.  I put a B on the one I was making because it is for Becky.

embroidery

Then you are going to assemble the keychain. I used a bit of glue to hold the ‘staches together so that I didn’t have to pin it or clip it. The glue I used this time was Aleene's Tacky Glue. The first two I made, I used Fabric-Tac. It’s goopy and hard to work with and smells funky, so I went with tacky glue this time. Just put the glue in the middle and stay away from the edges. If you glue the edges, it will make it a little harder to sew through.

adhesive, just in the middle!

Once the glue dries, then you are going to sew the border. I used a contrasting thread, but you could use the same color as the material you are working with. I put quite a long length of thread on the needle, double thickness, so that I didn’t have to re-thread in the middle (I have trouble figuring out how to continue when that happens :/) and knotted the end. Start with your needle in between the two mustaches to hide the knot. I always start at the top, but you can start wherever.  I used a backstitch to create the border. You could probably use a blanket stitch instead, but I am not so great at that one yet… I digress! With the needle in between the two sides, pick where you want to start and get to sewing. I start at the top so that I can attach the loop right away. After I get a few stitches down, that’s when I add the loop. I fold it in half and sandwich it in between the mustaches. It’s kinda difficult to get in to stay while you are sewing it in place, so I would use a clip or pin if you need to.  Then just keep sewing until you are done going around the edge.  Once you are done, you are going to need to tie off the thread. This is a little bit tricksy but not too hard. When you are ready, make a stitch that only goes through one side of the keychain. Then do the loop for a knot (I use a surgeon’s knot which means that you just make a regular knot and then loop the thread through once more so it’s basically 2 knots in one… sorry if that doesn’t make sense…).

stitching

Before tightening the loops, stick your needle into the loop to guide it into place, as close to the material as possible. I then let the needle go through the loop and poke it through to come out the other side of the keychain. You can then cut it off as close as you can to the keychain. This will make it so you don’t have any visible thread ends. Then you just attach it to your keyring!

COMPLETE!!!

I hope this made sense. It’s my first tutorial….