My first time sewing with Kraft Tex today. Did you read the wash comparison test I did recently about how to pre-treat the Kraft Tex to make it look like leather?
For this one, I soaked once in boiling water for 5 minutes, gave it a crumple, folded it while wet and then pressed it to dry with an iron. Perfect!
Let me show you how it went sewing Kraft Tex for the first time while I make this simple ‘leather look' key fob.
How to Make a Kraft Tex Key Fob
I think if I was to make this again, I would go for a piece 4 inches wide and fold it into quarters for the leather part of the strap. I was just worried to start with about how many layers my machine could sew – but 4 seems just fine with my regular needle.
Materials Needed:
- Kraft-Tex – I used Stone, a piece 10 inches long by 2 inches wide (or 4 inches wide).
- A small scrap of fabric – 1.5 inches wide by 10 inches long
- Key fob hardware – 1 inch wide
You can buy your Kraft Tex paper fabric in 5 different colors (natural, stone, chocolate, black and white) at:
Step-by-step How to Make a Quick and Simple Key Fob
Cut your Kraft Tex 2 inches wide by 10 inches long. Soak it in boiling water for 5 minutes. For a more leather-look texture, crumple the Kraft Tex while still wet. Fold in half along the length, aligning the long edges. Press with an iron until dry.
Cut a scrap of fabric 1.5 inches wide by 10 inches long. If you have a repeating design, take care to center it down the center of the fabric. Fold in the long raw edges to the center with wrong sides together and press well. You should end up with a finished strip of fabric 3/4 inch wide.
Align the fabric centrally over the Kraft Tex strip and sew close to the edge of the fabric along both long edges. Trim the short edges neat and square.
Apply your key fob hardware and enjoy!
More Kraft Tex Ideas
Want to learn more about what you can do with Kraft Tex? Check out the promo video for more examples.
Are you bursting with ideas now? Next, I'm going to try the free wallet pattern I think.
How durable is Kraft Tex? I want to make a dog collar using it. Looking for input.
Kraft Tex is a stunning material to sew! With a roll from Amazon, I made 2 two-fold man wallets, 2 three-fold man walles, 4 minimalist man wallets, used scraps for a waxed lunch bag (it’s waxable too). Can’t say enough about the durability… my sons have been using theirs since more than 2 years without any issues. The brown Kraft Tex really tends to look as leather the more you use it, very nice! Sewing issues: you might have to play with threads and needles to find the good combination. What worked best for me was to sew slowly…so that both sides of the stitching look neat.
This looks really fun. I’ll give it a try. Kraft Tex seems like an interesting material. There’s a good sample pack on sale on Amazon at the moment which looks like a good place to start.
I was going to take your advise and do 4 inches, but I’m confused on the folding part. Can you post a pic?
Thanks
That looks like such a fun product to use! I’ve featured your key fob on Craft Gossip here: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-faux-leather-and-fabric-key-fob/2015/12/27/
–Anne
Thanks so much Anne, I’ve got lots of ideas how sewers can use it.
I ordered some from Amazon and it should arrive in a couple of days. Can’t wait to try it. I have a new brother ScanNCut and have not used it yet but the ideas are flowing.(total newby no idea what I’m doing but watching lots of YouTube.) way more comfortable with my embroidery/sewing machine. Thank you Deby for sharing this product with us, I had never heard of it before. Hope you have a great New Year best wishes and be safe. Val
Thanks Val. Hope you enjoy it. Kind regards, Mayra
I’ve been wanting to try this but didn’t know what to do with it. Great videos! It looks like you don’t have to hem it. On your key fob it looks like one side is raw. Is that right? Thanks.
Hi, the product is pretty uniform but you could probably find that one side is a little rougher than the other. A little like leather in that way. Hope you enjoy. Mayra
Mayra, I meant the EDGE. It looks like one side of the fob is the fold and the other is the raw ends.
You could fold the edges in and place the fabric on top that way the raw edge won’t show But yes in the video on side is the fold the other is raw, not very noticeable.
Deby, I just ordered some black Kraft-Tex on Amazon last night!, I purchased your Fold-over Bag pattern and fabric to make it up with. I’m planning to wad it up and scrunch it like you did in the video. So excited to try it!
I think combining the KT with fabric in this pattern would be a great idea. I can see it working either way, KT on the top or the bottom section. I’m thinking I’d try it on the top and maybe decorate with embroidery, or even draw/paint on it. I’ve seen some amazing examples with intricate designs just draw with a sharpie! I hope you’ll share a picture when it’s finished.
I just finished watching both videos on Kraft-Tex. Thank you for posting them – I have already learned so much!