Veterans Day is November 11. It is a day dedicated to honoring the military men and women who have served and defended our country. We are truly grateful for all that they have done.
I came upon these U.S. Army patches at a local vintage/antique store. They were once a part of the uniforms that have since retired. The slight fading, threads unraveling and the wear and tear on these patches are reminders of where they came from. I brought them home and decided to reuse and repurpose them as keychains. If you’re looking to make this project, check the local thrift/antique stores and the Army Surplus stores for the materials. These U.S. Army keychains are a great way to keep the military men and women in our thoughts and prayers. It’s also a wonderful way to show our support. The kids will enjoy making these with you, and at the same time what a great opportunity it would be to share and have conversations about Veterans Day, the military and the history of our nation.
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Before starting the project, protect the surface area with a setting/cutting mat or another type of hard surface.
Supplies:
1. military fabric patches
2. snap hooks {2″}
3. grommet kit {setting tool, anvil and hole cutter-not shown} and 3/8″ grommets and washers
4. scissors with pointed tips {hole cutter or exact knife will work}
5. hammer
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Bring the two short ends of the U.S. Army fabric patch together.
Approximately ½-¾” from the edges of the fabric, with a pair of scissors make small “X” cuts on the two layers of fabric to fit a 3/8″ grommet through. Insert the tall half of the grommet through the hole. Cut off any excess fabric pieces around the grommet that are sticking out. Place the washer piece on top with the domed side facing up .
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Keep all the pieces together, with the washer piece on top, place it on the anvil tool. Insert the narrow end of the setting tool through the grommet hole to hold the layers in place. Firmly pound the setting tool with a hammer until the washer and grommet are fastened together.
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Insert a snap hook through the grommet hole. Repeat the steps to make more U.S. Army keychains.
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Attach your personal keys and accessories to the keychain.
Have fun making these!
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Posted by Kay
Kay, these are wonderful! We have several members of our family serving, and several who have served. I just may tackle this little project!
Wishing a peaceful and blessed day to you and the veterans in your life.
w/L
Thank you for sharing Lynne and God bless you and your family. They will be in my prayers.
Kay, this is awesome! I want to start digging for all those old name tags now that they can be wonderfully repurposed. Bravo, great idea.
Thank you Lou for your kind words. I thought about you and your family on Veterans Day. Thank you for all that you do for all of us and those who are serving in our military!
Hi there, these are lovely. I want to make them for a fundraiser. Where did you get the fabric patches? Did you buy the tape and get it embroidered?
Hi Kerry, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I purchased these old military patches from a retail store that sold vintage costumes, clothes, military uniforms, and accessaries. The store is no longer in business as of February 2017. My suggestion is to contact thrift stores, vintage clothing stores, or military and army surplus stores nearby. There are also many online shops that carry a large selection of military supplies. I hope this help and good luck on your search!