Free Pattern: The Luggage Tag

I finally found some time to get this pattern written up. My notes were a scribbled, incomplete mess, so I had to make another one just so I could figure it out! It's a quick project, though. I use the same "turning" technique that are found in the Composition Book Cover and the Breezy Business Card Holder. So much easier to make!

SUPPLIES:

Fabric for the exterior, lining, and loop

A small piece of vinyl. This can be from anything, including the package that sheets come in.

A walking foot

A buttonhole attachment

CUTTING:

1 - 6 1/2" x 4 1/2" piece of exterior fabric

1 - 6 1/4" x 4 1/2" piece of lining fabric (yes, it is a bit smaller!)

1 - 2" x 12" piece of loop fabric

1 - 1" x 4 1/2" piece of fabric for pocket bottom

1 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" piece of vinyl

1 - 6 1/2" x 4 1/2" piece of fusible fleece

The pocket once it's top stitched and finished!

HERE WE GO...

Fuse fleece to the wrong side of the exterior piece.

Make the Vinyl Pocket:

With wrong sides together and using a 1/4" seam, sew vinyl to the 1" x 4 1/2" pocket bottom. You'll need a walking foot to do this.

Fold back and finger press flat. Topstitch as shown.

Make the Loop:

Place loop fabric wrong side up.

Fold in half as shown and press.

Open back up and fold sides in so they almost touch the crease. Press.

Do this for each long side.

Fold each long side in to the crease and press flat. Your raw edges should be on the inside.

Topstitch along each side.

I usually make my stitches longer when I topstitch - around 3mm.

Fold the loop in half. There should be no twists in it. Just flat.

Using a 1/8" seam (or so), baste the loop in the middle of the EXTERIOR - along a  4 1/2" side as shown.

With right sides together place the pocket on top of the loop, lining it up along the 4 1/2" side. Using a 1/4" seam, sew the pocket to the exterior, right over the loop (yes, the loop is not in the picture. I got a ahead of myself and had to do a little unsewing!).

NOTE! only sew along that ONE end. You don't need to sew all the way around the pocket. 

Place exterior right side up.

Place lining wrong side up on top of the exterior (RST). Line up along the OTHER 4 1/2" side (2). 

NOTE: The side with the loop/pocket will not match up. This creates the opening to turn the tag right side out!

Using a 1/4" seam, sew along THREE sides. DO NOT sew along the side with the loop!

Be sure to backstitch at each corner (no pivoting allowed!).

Clip corners and turn right side out through the opening at the end with the pocket/loop.

Don't flip the pocket just yet. If you leave it as shown (the pocket is on the exterior side), you can slip a chop stick in and poke those corners out.

OK, now flip the pocket to the lining side.

You now need to close the hole. You'll do this by sewing all the way around the luggage tag. 

I sewed just a hair below the vinyl, then worked my way around the luggage tag.

You can see my topstitching here.

ADD THE BUTTONHOLE:

Get your buttonhole attachment. Don't be scared! You might want to stitch out a practice one first.

I put the buttonhole about a 1/2" in from the side. It's 3/4" long.

Go ahead and add your buttonhole.

Sew a "fold" line about 1/8" above the vinyl. This helps keep tag flat when folded.

You'll probably need a walking foot.

Pull the loop through the buttonhole.

All done! Time for a trip!