If you are looking for some strawberry inspired sewing, try making this sweet little keyring.  Its an easy project that can be hand sewn in a short space of time.  The little gold bugle beads add a splash of bling.  A perfect summer accessory, and a great idea for a handmade present.

You will need:

• Red felt
• Green felt
• Red embroidery floss
• Green embroidery floss
• Gold bugle beads
• Yellow or gold cotton
• A small piece of ribbon (approx. 8cm)
• Keyring
• Needle for sewing the bugle beads – this needs to be fine enough to pass through the bead when threaded with cotton
• Needle for embroidery – this needs to have an eye wide enough to be able to thread two strands of embroidery floss
• Scissors
• Pins
• A small amount of stuffing (optional)

First, download the pattern pieces here.

Pin the pattern pieces to your felt and cut out the shapes; you’ll need two red pieces for the strawberry, and two green pieces for the leaves.

Position the green pieces on the top of the red pieces and pin in place.

Now use your cotton to sew some bugle beads in place for the seeds.

Using two strands of green embroidery floss, secure the green leaves in place by sewing a running stitch around the edge of each point of the leaves (don’t sew around the top of the leaves just yet, you’ll do this at the end).

Now continue the running stitch to create definition for the leaf shapes.

Create a loop with your ribbon and pin to the middle of your strawberry on the inside.

Pin both pieces of strawberry together.  Using two strands of red embroidery floss, sew small running stitches around the edge of the strawberry starting and finishing at the leaves.

If you want your keyring to be slightly padded, you can add a small amount of stuffing into the opening you have left around the leaves.  The keyring works just as well without this, but if you do want a bit of shape just make sure you don’t add too much otherwise it will be tricky to finish sewing up.  Re-pin so that the opening is now closed.  Using two strands of green embroidery floss, sew a small running stitch around the leaves to finish the strawberry.  Add your keyring, and you are all done!

This project was inspired by my Creative Sewing Challenge; a monthly source of inspiration for anyone who loves to sew.  Its free to take part, and anyone can join in.  Just sign up below or find out more here.

And if you think anyone else you know would like to join the Creative Sewing Challenge, please do share my pin on Pinterest:

Thank you!  Happy sewing everyone.

Amy