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ITH Sugar Skull Key Fobs Embroidery Project

By Pat Williams on August 13, 2025

PROJECT DETAILS

SKILL LEVEL

Some Experience

TIME REQUIRED

00:25

FINISHED SIZE

2.38 x 4 inches

Description

Stitch up these fun Sugar Skull Key Fobs in less than ½ hour each. Fun and easy to do, they make great craft fair items.

Project Preview Video

Materials

5” x 7” embroidery hoop

Marine Vinyl – canvas backed

Glitter Mirror Vinyl

Optional –Size 20 Long KamSnaps® or size 20 Short depending upon vinyl thickness

Optional- KamSnaps® pliers

Awl

Key rings and lobster clasps

2.5 ounce Cut away stabilizer

Sharp dressmaker scissors

Spray adhesive

Designs used in this project

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/pat-williams/designs/1/sskf01

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/pat-williams/designs/1/sskf02

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/pat-williams/designs/1/sskf03

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/pat-williams/designs/1/sskf04

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/pat-williams/designs/1/sskf05

https://www.embroiderydesigns.com/productdetails/pat-williams/designs/1/sskf06

Final Product: What You Will Create

Preface:

I ordered some of the canvas backed marine vinyl from both Amazon and Mikri World LLC on line. There is quite a difference in the thickness of the vinyl. The Mikri World LLC vinyl is approximately 1mm thick. The vinyl purchased on Amazon was probably only 1/2mm thick. Either can be used, but with the thinner vinyl I suggest you use two layers of cut away stabilizer. The Glitter Mirror Vinyl has a thin layer of vinyl over the glitter so that it has a smooth surface and the glitter does not come off as it is stitched. I purchased the Glitter Mirror Vinyl from Mikri World LLC too but it is available in other places.
The Kam Snaps sizes depend upon the thickness of the vinyl. I preferred the “Long” size 20 Kam Snaps® on the thicker vinyl and the short ones on the thinner vinyl. I ordered the Kam Snaps pliers from Amazon but had to go to Kam Snaps own website to get the longer pronged snaps. If you do not have a Kam Snaps® pliers you can insert the key ring circle into the extension on the key fob, fold it over and stitch it down with your sewing machine.

Step 1:

The Miki World Sampler Pack contains 9” x 6” assorted sheets of both the marine and mirror glitter vinyl. Cut 1 marine vinyl rectangle and 1 mirror glitter vinyl 6” x 3”. If using just the thinner vinyl for you may want to use two layers of stabilizer in your hoop.

Step 2:

Tautly hoop stabilizer in your hoop. Run the 1st color stop (CS 1) as a placement line for the vinyl.

Step 3:

Spray adhesive on the back of the vinyl and position over the placement line.

Step 4:

Follow the color chart through the next to last CS to embroider the sugar skull’s face.

Step 5:

Remove the hoop from the machine. Turn the hoop wrong side up, spray the remaining 6” x 3” piece of vinyl and align over the placement lines.

Step 6:

Return the hoop to the machine and stitch the last CS to seam the two layers of vinyl together.

Step 7:

Trim around the key fob with about 1/8” outside the seam stitching.

Step 8:

Fold the top tab of the key fob in half. The craft clip was used so I could take the picture, you will not need to use a clip.

Step 9:

With an awl poke a hole through both layers of the tab about 3/8” up from the skull and in the center of the tab.

Step 10:

Following the manufacturer’s instructions insert the KamSnaps® into the tab. The outside of both snaps will be on the front of tab.

Step 11:

Insert a key ring and lobster clasp and snap the tab in half.

Step 12:

Congratulations your key fob is complete! Make the whole set.

For the love of embroidery…
Pat Williams

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Meet the Author: Pat Williams

Award winning Digitizer, Embroidery Educator, Author and a Consultant to the Industry, Pat Williams has 30 years of experience in the embroidery industry. Pat has won multiple awards for her digitizing expertise including the 2007 Impressions Awards Grand Championship, Best of Show as well as the 1st and 2nd Place Awards. Pat’s love of digitizing has afforded her the opportunity to write numerous articles for Impressions magazine in the United States and Images Magazine in Europe. In 2001 Pat was named “Embroidery Educator of the Year.” For many years Pat taught digitizing seminars at the ISS Shows in Long Beach, CA and for Compucon software. She now resides in Tucson, AZ.

ITH Sugar Skull Key Fobs Embroidery Project

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Preview Video

ITH Sugar Skull Key Fobs

ITH Sugar Skull Key Fob 1

ITH Sugar Skull Key Fob 2

ITH Sugar Skull Key Fob 3

ITH Sugar Skull Key Fob 4

ITH Sugar Skull Key Fob 5

ITH Sugar Skull Key Fob 6

Cut Away Stabilizer - 2.5 Oz wt.