luggage tag tutorial

This weekend I tackled twenty luggage tags - whew. So happy to have them finished. I can't wait to see them tied on to cute little Open Top Totes with chocolate brown handles.

They weren't that hard, just a little time consuming. Let me rephrase that, they weren't hard except for the moments I was yelling at my sewing machine because it wanted to skip stitches and make me start over again with new vinyl. A new spool of thread and a fresh bobbin seemed to do the trick.

Anyway, I thought I would share a tutorial... just in case you want to whip up some of your own personal luggage tags.

Supplies:

• fabric, cut into 4 x6 rectangles and matching thread
• Pellon 70 heavy weight interfacing, cut just shy of 3 x 5 inches
• grommets and tool
• medium weight vinyl, cut into a 2 3/4 x 4 1/4 in rectangle
• Teflon sewing machine foot
• stitch witchery
• hole punch
• ribbon

Step One: Sew fabric right sides together on three sides - 1/2 inch seem. Leave the top open.

Step Two: Trim corners and sides.

Step Three: Turn right side out and press.

Step Four: Insert interfacing into the pocket. It will be tight. I found it was easiest to lightly fold interfacing to insert it. You may need to trim the interfacing slightly for it to fit. Make sure the interfacing fits snuggly into all corners and edges.

Step Five: Turn under one side of the opening - turn it over the interfacing. Fold under other side. Making sure to line up top edges. Press. Use stitch witchery to close up the opening. Make sure everything is pressed perfectly at this time - once the vinyl is attached, there will not be another opportunity to use the iron.

Step Six: Cut vinyl. Line up on one side of the tag, about 1/8 inch from bottom and side edges. Use a little masking tape at the bottom and top to secure - do not use pins. Tape can leave a slight mark, so do not press down hard and only overlap onto the vinyl a little bit.

Step Seven: Use a Teflon sewing machine foot - this is very important, if not, your vinyl will not feed through the machine. Line foot up along edge of tag and slide needle to the right. Use a slightly larger than normal stitch length. Stitch around sides and bottom of tag. Be sure to backstitch and pick up the foot and turn at corners.

Step Eight: Punch hole at top of tag. Use your grommet as a guide for placement. Punching a hole will be difficult. I used a rather heavy duty hole punch and a rubber mallet. Even so, I did have to trim with baby scissors. Place grommet and attach according to your grommet tool's directions.

Step Nine: Add a little ribbon (key ring, chain etc.) and celebrate! You are finished!!

Comments

[Baggage Transfer to USA]

Pretty good presentation.Keep up the great work....

[Carrie Pendergrass]

Love these tags, but where do you put you info?? It look like there isn't an opening. So cute!! I can't wait to try it.

[ann]

Looks like something I may try to make. Very personal but where do you put your name and address. Looks like both sides are cloth and no clear opening. Please respond. THANKS!!!!

[Amy]

p.s. you should submit that to WhipUp and get some publicity for your bloglet. I would if I had any original ideas, which I appear not to at the moment :)

[Amy]

How generous of you to share these instructions. I've been wanting to make my own luggage tags for some time and had been debating techniques. Thanks so much!

[rohanknitter]

Thanks so much for telling us how you made these -they are so cute!