DIY: Make Your Own Luggage Tags (link to PDF pattern!)

My friends were planning a party for a group of young women. The theme was "EMBARK" and they didn't know what to give the girls as a take home gift. I offhandedly mentioned that luggage tags would be cool because that's what you use when you "embark" on a trip. A few minutes later, I found myself volunteering to sew some by copying some cute ones we saw online. After I made them, I realized that they could be used as more than just a tag to hook to your suitcase. You can use them as a bookmark (of course, books were the first thing that came to mind - we are Delicious Reads after all), labels for toy bins or organizational tags for your pantry, business card holders, or even a cute little tag to add to your Easter basket. The possibilities are endless!

Materials Needed:

1. Fabric - I like to use contrasting patterns - scraps work well) & Thread

2. Clear vinyl - for the window.

3. Interfacing - this is definitely necessary if your fabric is thin. I used medium thickness, one-sided iron-on interfacing (found at any fabric store - even at Walmart). 

STEP 1: Print & cut out your pattern. You can make your own shape or use this fabulous one I found from Singer.

Link to pattern: Luggage Tags Pattern PDF

STEP 2: Lay pattern on fabric, interfacing, and vinyl and cut out. The pattern tells you which piece should be cut out of what and how many to cut. 
*Note: Pattern piece C says to cut (2) of the interfacing. My fabric was a little thicker so I only cut one of the interfacing. The pattern did not include a piece for the tab or fabric loop. I made my own that is 12" x 2" (see below).

1. Cut 2 of main tag fabric from pattern piece A. 
2. Cut 1 of pocket fabric from pattern piece B. 
3. Cut 1 of interfacing from pattern piece C. 
4. Cut 1 of interfacing from pattern piece D. 
5. Cut 1 of clear vinyl from pattern piece E
6. Cut 1 strip of fabric 2" x 12" for the loop (you could use ribbon or bias tape for this)

Use your fabric scraps or even old clothing for your tag!

*Save time by tracing each pattern piece onto the fabric, vinyl, and interfacing instead of pinning it.

STEP 3: Fuse (iron) the interfacing to the corresponding fabric piece.

STEP 4: Clip inside corners of pocket fabric and press seam allowances of pocket fabric to wrong/interfaced side using the dashed fold line on the pattern piece as a guide.

Sorry about the use of lots of different fabrics. I took the pictures while making 40 different luggage tags.

STEP 5: Iron the clear vinyl. FIRST, cover with fabric. The iron will melt the plastic. Ironing the vinyl will sound weird, but believe me, IT IS NECESSARY! The vinyl when it is heated, shrinks slightly (look at my picture on the far left). This isn't a big deal for the vinyl sizing, but if you have already sewed the fabric to the vinyl and then you iron, it pulls on the fabric and looks awful (yeah, I didn't iron the vinyl the first time I did this).

STEP 6: Place the clear vinyl under the pressed pocket fabric and topstitch the vinyl to the wrong side of the pocket at the inside, folded, edge. Use tissue paper or (in my case) scratch paper over the vinyl so it doesn't stick to the base of your sewing machine. 

Do you love the scratch paper I used to keep the vinyl from sticking to the plastic of my sewing machine?

STEP 7: Topstitch along the outside folded edge of one of the short sides of the vinyl/fabric pocket. Remove the tissue paper/scratch paper.

STEP 8: Loop fabric piece (2" x 12") - Press the inside edges of the loop fabric to the center and then fold over and press so that all raw edges are hidden. Topstitch along the edge of the loop fabric piece.

STEP 9: Place the pocket on top of the main tag section (the one without the interfacing), aligning the edges and using the line on the guide pattern piece as a placement guide. 

STEP 10: Stitch along the edge of the interfacing, leaving the bottom edge of the tag open (so that you can turn it right side out afterwards). Trim along the edges of the tag, especially near the corners. 

Leave the bottom open!

STEP 11: Turn right side out and press flat. Be careful with the vinyl. It will melt if the iron touches it. It should be perfect by just ironing from the backside.

Step 12: Fold under the open bottom edge and press the raw edges into the inside of the tag. Top stitch on the bottom edge.

STEP 13: Slide in a card with your information.

Add your business cards.

Use as a bookmark.

Add to your luggage.

I hope you enjoy this fun sewing project. Ready, Set, EMBARK!

XoXo,

Robin

The "take home" luggage tags we used at the New Beginnings activity for the young women.