Cash Stasher Key Chain

 
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More than once, I've been caught out with no cash, usually when I'm most hungry.  Since my keys are usually with me, I decided to make a cash stasher to go on my key chain.  You can make one or several with either your embroidery machine using my ITH Cash Stasher PES file, or the usual "cut it out quick and make it" way.
Note: I incorrectly uploaded my working BLF file.  The link should now go to a PES V9 file.

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First the embroidery machine way using my free ITH Cash Stasher PES file you can download for free. btw- there are free programs you can download to convert embroidery files for your machine.  ITH means "in the hoop."

1. Hoop the fabric over some stabilizer.
2. The first step will stitch a rectangle. 

 3. To add a letter or design, you can use your software to insert this step before you start, or embroider the design first then center the design in the hoop so the machine will stitch the rectangle around your design.
 
4.The next stitch will stitch down your key chain loop.  It will stitch back and forth.

 5.  Cut 2 pieces of fabric.  These are 2¼ x 3½ inches.  You might want to make yours larger if it makes it easier to handle in your hoop.

 6.  The 2 pieces of fabric will need to be large enough to fold in half and overlap each other over the rectangle and go past the stitch lines for seam allowance.

7.  The first time I tried this, I just held the pieces in place with tweezers and fingers and the stitching foot got caught in the fold.  I found it worked better to tape over the folds.  Let the last stitching go through the tape.  It will be easy to remove.

8.  Remove from hoop and cut out.

9.  Trim off the corners and turn inside out.

Now that you've seen how to make these with the embroidering machine, I'm sure you can figure out how to make one on a regular machine.

First, I used the letters in the decorative stitching mode of my machine, or you could just free motion a letter.

As you can see from the cutting board in the picture above, these pieces were 2 inches wide.  The one in the picture before the picture above is 2½ inches wide and it was easier to turn.  Make them the size that suits you.

Don't forget to stitch your key chain in before you add these overlapping pieces. 

Stitch ALL THE WAY AROUND.

Turn inside out through the opening where the pieces overlap.

The cash stasher adds very little weight to your key chain.

Tuck your stash under both pieces, and it will not fall out.

If you added your name, it might help if when a friend finds your keys.

   I made one for my Grand Daughter's birthday using an old school sweatshirt that I'd made her Mother a purse skirt from, and used thread to match the school colors.

   I stuffed some cash inside, then I put the key chain in a birthday card. The card passed the quarter inch thick test and was mailed as a letter and not a parcel! 

Hope you enJOY making some cash stashers, no matter the kind of sewing machine you have.

I did some research and found out no one agrees if it's key chain or keychain.  My spell checker says 2 words.

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Thanks to the FREE programs:

possibly used for this post

GIMP for cropping & other digital effects

 Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo

PicMonkey creating collages used on this page