Lip Balm Keychain!

I used to work for a soap store.  They sold all sorts of bath products, lotions, and fresh facial masks.  The perfume scents were overwhelming, especially in the back, where I counted out registers and wrote up reports.  I know, it sounds like I didn't enjoy it, but I did.  I love working retail.  I love helping customers.  It was delightful.

Our shop was in a high-profile area, and all of the products had to be reviewed and approved by the management company that ran the shopping, uh, district.  I'm purposefully trying to be vague, by the way.  For the purposes of this story, you just need to know that everything that we sold had to be labeled with our company's brand.  Which meant that we re-wrapped several products from very well known companies.

My favorite was "our" lip balm. Actually, it was a lot of people's favorite product in our store.  It was super expensive, but it always sold out so quickly we couldn't keep it in stock.  Jake and I became obsessed.  But we knew that when the little soap shop was out of stock, we could just go to Target and pick up a two-pack of Burt's Bees lip balm for the same price.  And, truthfully, "our" lip balm was just a re-wrap of the Burt's Bees product anyway.

Anyhoo, we're still obsessed with that lip balm (it's the only one that Jake will use), although I've come back around to the Bonne Bell Lip Smackers, since the fun flavors are Mims Motivators (meaning: she will listen to me and do what I ask when I barter with letting her wear lip balm...).  We don't go through enough of it to get those big honkin' tubes of it (but maybe as a Christmas present... Hmm..) but it's nice to have it handy, especially now since the weather is getting warm and we're spending more time outside.

So, I made a key ring lip balm holder.  I've seen other patterns around, but I wanted something that didn't need a button closure.  I really wanted to put a zipper in it, and I even cut one down to sew into the project, but it just didn't need it.  Simple, in this case, really was best.  And this case is simple, but it is made of win!  I am smitten!  I am enchanted!  I am really, really, really happy with how this turned out!

I made this project two different ways: 'Fancy-Schmancy' and 'Quick and Easy'. I'm going to post the Quick and Easy version here, and offer the 'Fancy-Schmancy' version as a free download on Craftsy.

So, what are you waiting for? Go get your stuff and let's make some keychains!!

The Lip Balm Keychain - Quick and Easy

Supplies:
Size 3 crochet cotton (I used red, white and blue, but you can use any color that makes your heart sing!)
Size D crochet hook
Yarn needle
Key ring

The Holder:
ch 13
R1:  sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch sp across, ch 1, turn (12 st)
R2-24: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (12 st)
R25: sc in each sc across (12 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.
Re-attach yarn at corner and make 2 rows of sc along each long side (25 st)

The Tab:
ch 13
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch sp across, ch 1, turn (12 st)
R2-4: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (12 st)
R5: sc in each sc across  (12 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Assembling the Keychain:

Slide the key ring onto the tab piece.  Whipstitch the bottom edges of the tab together. 

Whipstitch the lower 2" of the holder together, matching stitches along the front to keep the seam even.  Center the stitching, and whipstitch the bottom of the holder closed.

Center the tab piece slightly inside the holder at the top.  Make sure that your whipstitched edge is inside the top edge of the holder piece, so that it will get firmly sewn into place, and it will cover your stitches.  Stitch across the top of the holder, using a running stitch.  Whipstitch the top 1/2" of the holder closed.

Weave in any loose ends that you might have.  Twirl it around on your finger.  Put a tube of lip balm inside it. Take it out. Put it back in again. Nifty!  See, wasn't that fast?  And easy?  Make 5 more, so that you can give them to your girlfriends before you guys set out on your summer-fling-road-trip! Fill them with Lip Smackers and reminisce about your first boyfriend!  Okay, now, seriously, stop fooling around and go put it on your keyring.  Now, young lady, before you lose it, or your daughter absconds with it, and you never see it again.

And send me a post-card from your road-trip travels!

xoxo