Phone Fob

The name Phone Fob is a combination of the phrases Cell Phone Case and Key Fob.
Entry for SewUseful Contest
OBJECTIVE:
I was motivated to make this Phone Fob because my old cell phone case clip had broken and I had no way of clipping my cell phone onto the outside of my handbag. I was tired of missing calls because my cell phone was trapped inside my handbag. I also wanted my cell phone near my keys which also ended up at the bottom of my handbag.

I wanted the case to be versatile. It is innovative because of its versatility. It straps onto the outside of my handbag with two magnetic closures. It can also be attached to my belt with the same closures. It can easily be detached from my purse so I can set the case on my desk while I am at work. It can also be attached to my coordinating fabric key fob when I want to carry the cell phone on my wrist. It has a key ring and hook closure in just case I do not want to carry the key fob.
Note: These instructions also include making the key fob.

I have the Phone Fob available for purchase at my Etsy shop here http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6362088
My link]

Step 1 MATERIALS AND TOOLS:

Sewing Machine (not pictured)
Iron and Ironing Board (not pictured)
Scissors - two (2) pairs (one for cutting fabric, one for snipping threads)- #1
Rotary Cutter to cut fabric and interfacing or use scissors - #2
Pliers - for closing the key fob - #3
Seam Ripper (assists in installing the magnetic closures) - #4
Thread - #5
Main Fabric - #6
Contrasting Fabric (not required, can use Main Fabric) - #7
Fusible Interfacing - #8
Quilted batting for lining (helps to cushion the case) - #9
Pencil - not pictured
Three (3) Magnetic Closures size 14mm (two 2 for handbag/belt strap and one 1 for case strap). Note these are smaller than typical 18mm handbag closures - #11
Two (2) split key rings (one for key fob and one for cell phone case) - #12
One (1) hook type closure (attached to cell phone case split key ring) - #13
One (1) key fob hardware - #14
Ruler or tape measure (not pictured)
Zipper foot (not pictured)

Comments

[smokehill]

Nice idea. I finally figured out how to never leave important stuff behind, back when I was in the Army. It's basically impossible to leave the house without your hat, when you wear a uniform every day, so I started sticking my wallet, keys, knife, coins, etc., in the hat when I got home. Now that I'm a civilian I still do the same -- everything goes into the hat that I always wear. I may not take the hat every time, but everything I'm likely to forget is in one place. It's also a good place to stick stuff like reminder notes, or stuff to mail. Keeps me from being stupid at the last minute. One hint about your key fob -- some people have lots of stuff dangling from their keychains, and it can wear out your ignition lock in a few years. I knew an old lady who had every key she'd ever owned on a heavy keychain that swung back and forth as she drove along, along with the tear gas, etc. After a few years her Lincoln ign key stopped working. The locksmith ($115 bucks) told her the heavy keychain did it. She didn't believe it until a few years later when it happened again. Strange, but true. So don't leave your cell phone dangling while you're driving along !

[Aneesah]

Thanks for the wonderfully detailed instructable! =D May I ask, where do you get the hardware pieces?

[luxuriesbylisa]

I purchase my hardware on Ebay from a seller called ahwoksupplies. They have a great variety and their prices are good. They ship from Hong Kong and it takes about 10 business days to receive the order but it's worth it. Thanks for asking.