These unique denim fabric key fobs are easy to make and can be personalized. They would make a great upcycled handmade gift for men.

I love to upcycle old clothes, especially the family’s jeans. Besides the fabric, a pair of jeans has so many wonderful, interesting elements. I love to incorporate the jean seams, waistbands, and pockets on a pair of jeans in my upcycles. They add so much character to any denim craft.

A couple of weeks ago, I used the seams from an old pair of jeans to make some fun denim coasters. This time, I used the waistbands from an old pair of jeans to make some cool fabric key fobs.

Making Upcycled Denim Key Fobs

Like with the coasters, this jeans upcycle doesn’t require any sewing. This is just as well, as jeans’ waistbands are thick and difficult to stitch. Each fabric key fob only takes a couple of minutes to make. Each can be personalized by stencilling an initial or number onto the fabric.

The key fobs were so easy to make that I made four in under an hour. I made one for each of my boys and one for my husband. I have a big stash of old jeans for upcycling, so I used the waistbands from a few pairs of jeans. However, you can make three to four of these fabric key fobs from the waistband of one pair of jeans.

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What You Need

• The waistband from one pair of jeans
• Scrap piece of leather – you can buy scraps online. I keep leather pieces from old handbags and belts to upcycle.
• Lobster clasp D-ring
• Chicago Screws – 8mm bronze
• Letter stencil and white acrylic paint pen
• Crop-a-dile – hole puncher

How To Make Denim Key Fobs

Step 1: Cut the denim waistband from the pair of jeans. Use scissors to cut as close to the waistband seams as possible.

Step 2: Next, cut a piece about 20 cm long from the waistband. I included the jeans button in the waistband piece to add extra interest to the denim fabric key fob.

If the jeans waistband has a nice label, consider including this. Remove any belt loops on the waistband piece using a seam ripper.

Also, cut a small piece of leather that is the same width as the denim waistband and about 4 cm long.

Step 3: Stencil an initial or number on the right side of the denim waistband. Stencil the figure just below the button on the waistband. I used a stencil ruler and a white acrylic paint pen for this.

I used acrylic paint pens before when stencilling my denim Dala horse ornaments. For my key fobs, I choose my son’s initial for the fabric key fob. You may want to stencil a house number instead.

Step 4: Punch two holes into each end of the denim waistband. When the waistband is folded in half, these holes should match up.

Then punch two holes into each end of the leather strip. These holes should correspond to the holes in the denim so that when the leather strip is folded over the end of the denim waistband, all the holes match up.

Step 5: Next, pass the leather strip through the D-ring clasp and fold it over the ends of the folded waistband. Then, use two Chicago screws to hold the leather strip in place.

Other Suggestions For Denim Key Fob

Check out this post for more ideas and tips on painting denim.

These fabric key fobs were so easy to make that I made four in total, one for each of my family’s boys. As I mentioned at the beginning, you could incorporate the jeans label onto the key fob to add character.

I stencilled the initials onto the denim; however, if you have more patience and time, embroidering the initials onto the fabric would look even better. I have embroidered letters onto denim pockets before, which looked good. Next time I make these denim key fobs as a handmade gift, I will embroider the initial on them to make them extra special.

Another way to make them different is to use different-coloured leather strips on the tops of the key fobs.

Don’t throw away the rest of the waistband; you can use it to make these wonderful Sashiko Denim bookmarks, making a great gift.

I have used the waistband of several pairs of jeans before to make a cool denim rug, and I’ve also used them to edge a repurposed sweater blanket. There is also a fun idea for a denim waistband pillow here.

For many more wonderful denim ideas, you should check out my complete A to Z guide to denim crafts and my A to Z of clever upcycling ideas. These denim key fobs are just one of the many upcycles you can make from a single pair of old jeans.

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