Monday, February 10, 2014

Cash Stasher Key Chain

 
Featured @ Totally Tutorials Blog Threading My Way_Featured

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














29 comments:

  1. Any way you spell it, sure is a clever idea and looks beautiful! ~Diane

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  2. Such a good idea. I will have to give it a try.

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  3. Cute Idea! I'm just learning to sew, so I've bookmarked for later use.

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  4. How cute and what a great idea! I liked seeing it done on your embroidery machine! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  5. Oh my goodness Joy, I am soooo excited to know that you have an embroidery machine. I got mine a month ago and I have so much to learn. I have not done any ITH projects. I downloaded your file, but it says it's BLF, not PES. Do you have a Baby Lock or Brother? I am assuming Baby Lock cause your photos above look identical to my machine. I have the Baby Lock Spirit.

    I looked for a search box or labels, but didn't see any on your blog. I wanted to see what other embroidery projects you've done.

    FYI~ Pinned!!

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    1. Thank-you so much Diana for letting me know I had not posted the PES file as promised otherwise, I wouldn't have known. Hopefully I have fixed that problem.

      I have a Bablylock Ellisimo.

      I should created a search box or page with my projects. On my to-do list.

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    2. I have now added the "search" box for this blog. Glad you suggested that. It only took a minute to add it!

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  6. cool idea and great tutorial!

    Thank you so much for sharing this at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  7. Neat!! Wish I knew you before I broke the embroidery machine - we had no idea really how to use it so that probably contributed to it's sad demise. I will try this though on my regular sewing machine - great stash/scrap buster project! And everyone uses keys!

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  8. This great! I can think of a ton of things to stash in the little pouch...money, pacifier, lipstick, important receipts...

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  9. is there a pdf instruction file or a way to save this page? Thanks so much for the file

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    1. Sorry Linda, I don't make PDFs of my tutorials. When I find a tutorial online I want to print out, I just highlight what I want to keep and print, copy and past into a word processing document.

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  10. Thanks!! Great idea and great tutorial!!

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  11. I have tried opening this in Pes 5 and 7 and neither work for me...humm

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    1. I'm sorry, but it is a Vs. 9. Wondering if I should go ahead and post a BLF for folks to convert? I use Master Works Lite 1.0.

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  12. Congratulations! This post is featured over at Diana Rambles today and has been pinned in the Featured at Diana Rambles board at Pinterest, Tweeted, and Recommended on G+. Please grab a featured button off my sidebar or via the link under the features. Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!

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  13. Thank you for sharing your tutorial! I love the embroidering part :)

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  14. Cute, cute, cute. Have done something similar with a clear vinyl front for my ID card. Love the idea of solid fabric for cash. You have just given me my first mini project for the weekend. Off to create. : - )

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  15. What a great idea you have with the Cash Stasher Key Chain. Just today I had gone grocery shopping and knew I had change somewhere in my purse. Get tutorial!
    Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  16. What a great idea! I like how light/compact it is...but so useful!
    Thanks for sharing on Twirl & Take a Bow last week...sorry I'm so late to visit! Pinning!

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  17. What a practical and clever idea, Joy!!! As always, a fabulous tutorial.

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  18. Hi Joy, I've featured your cash stasher keychain today...

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  19. These are beautiful!
    Thanks for sharing :)
    I look forward to seeing you again in the next month's linky.
    x
    Natalie
    Marigolds' Loft

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  20. "invalid file extension" unfortunately -- but great idea

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    1. Peg your computer will need a program that can recognize a .pes file.

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  21. Joy: I was so excited when I came across your cute ITH key chain cash stasher design. I downloaded but Adobe was not able to open it. I then tried using Wilcom Trusizer to convert the file to pes but that didn't work either. Do you happen to have a link to the file you could send me? If not, do you have any suggestions about how to get this file in a pes format? I'm not a computer whiz but I usually can eventually get files into the format I need. Please help....I was hoping to sew some if these cuties today if possible. Thank you so much for any and all help. My email is pamfrederick@gmail.com

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  22. Joy---I think the first part of my comment may have gotten cut off. I tried downloading the file for the ITH cash stasher key ring design. Adobe cannot open it. I tried converting it with Wilcom Trusizer but that also didn't work. Can you send me the link for the file in pes format or can you help in any way? THANKS! Pam pamfrederick@gmail.com

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    1. Hi Pam, the download link takes you to my Google drive with the link to the file which is a .pes (v 9) file not an adobe .pdf file.

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