Easy Sew Projects for Travel
Summer is a wonderful time to travel. One way to ease the expense of traveling is to sew a few accessories that make the adventure somewhat organized and with safety and comfort in mind.
Travel U-shape Neck pillow – make out of flannel (old flannel shirt will do), soft fleece (kids love novelty or character fleece prints) or plush velour for extra comfy-ness. Draw a thick u-shape onto paper to use for a template making shape about 8-inches thick all the way around then cut out to place onto two fabric pieces (layer both fabric pieces right-sides facing each other), pin all around then stitch using a 1/4 or 1/2-inch seam just leave a 4-inch space unsewn for turning right-sides out, trim or pink seam edges, turn right-sides out, press if necessary to neaten u-shape then stuff with polyfill firmly, hand stitch seam closed.
Secret-Safe Clothes Hanger Cover – start by making a template tracing a triangular plastic hanger (by pass the hanger hook) onto paper. Cut two of sturdy fabric in the hanger shape, one each for front and back plus additional for seam allowance, cut two of iron-on interfacing to give triangular fabric shape additional body, fabric scrap for hidden pocket and 6-inch length of hook and loop tape. Many hotels have fixed coat hangers – stitch a pocket to the inner side of one of the fabric shapes, then stitch the hanger cover right-sides together, around one top side edge and across the bottom leaving an opening remaining on the remaining opposite top side edge. Trim seam turn right sides out, press. Stitch hook and loop tape to the opening. Slip over the fixed hanger.
The pocket can hide valuables and the hook and loop tape secures the cover to the hanger. Hang a garment on this now covered hanger for extra obscurity. Make more than one hanger cover (with or without the interior pocket) to hang additional garments so would be robbers may be deceived as to their real purpose.
Garment Bag – a clothes hanger, fabric, some straight stitching and a zipper for closure make this garment bag a great travel or gift idea. The garment bag is essentially the same as a traditional fabric hanger cover, just elongated to accommodate a garment’s length. Use the clothes hanger as a template for the top of the garment bag, approximately 2-yards of fabric, a 30-inch (or longer) zipper and length of grosgrain ribbon to make a hanging loop at the center of the bag bottom. The zipper will be sewn down the center of the bag front so when cutting fabric, cut out two pieces of fabric from template pattern and split one in half lengthwise. Stitch zipper to the front fabric pieces first, then with right sides together, stitch front to back around all edges (leave an opening for hanger hook). Once the bag is completed and garment hanging inside on the hanger, zip closed, then use the ribbon loop to bring the bag bottom up over the hanger hook effectively shortening the bag in half for easy carry.
Fabric Roll-ups – great for organization for jewelry, or makeup accessories, or a power cord corral (phone chargers, ear buds, eReader charger, etc.) All that is needed for any type roll-up - 1/2-yard outer fabric, 1/2-yard inner (lining) fabric, 1/2-yard medium fusible interfacing, several colorful elastic pony tail holders and about 24-inches of grosgrain ribbon for tying closed. The roll-up can be any size desired; trim both fabrics to desired size. Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of the outer fabric. Stitch both fabric pieces right sides together, leaving an opening for turning. Trim seam, turn right sides out, press and stitch opening closed. Stitch several pony tail holders near to the top of the inner fabric for jewelry roll or in the middle for makeup brushes or power cords. Sew a length of ribbon folded in half to one side edge of the jewelry holder, roll up and tie to secure.
Power Cord Taco Wrap – to keep attached power cords (hair dryer, curling iron, etc.) tangle-free when not in use. Thick felt and snaps or hook and loop tape needed. Cut thick felt into a rectangular shape long enough to go around the power cords when tightly wrapped. Apply snap to rectangle or sew a 1-inch hook and loop tape section to appropriate side ends.
Sleep Mask – cut two eye-mask shapes of fabric (satin-like material is kindest to the eyes), cut one of felt or thin cotton batting and length of elastic for the band. Layer fabric right-sides facing each other with elastic band sandwiched in between and with felt or batting on top of all. Stitch around the edges using a 1/4-inch seam leaving opening for turning right-sides out. Trim seam close to stitching or pink edges, turn right-sides out, press and hand stitch opening closed.
These few easy-to-sew, nice-to-have travel accessories are great to have on hand as they can be used over and over - wonderful for gifting as well.
Making a travel neck pillow from WikiHow
Sew happy, sew inspired.
Travel U-shape Neck pillow – make out of flannel (old flannel shirt will do), soft fleece (kids love novelty or character fleece prints) or plush velour for extra comfy-ness. Draw a thick u-shape onto paper to use for a template making shape about 8-inches thick all the way around then cut out to place onto two fabric pieces (layer both fabric pieces right-sides facing each other), pin all around then stitch using a 1/4 or 1/2-inch seam just leave a 4-inch space unsewn for turning right-sides out, trim or pink seam edges, turn right-sides out, press if necessary to neaten u-shape then stuff with polyfill firmly, hand stitch seam closed.
Secret-Safe Clothes Hanger Cover – start by making a template tracing a triangular plastic hanger (by pass the hanger hook) onto paper. Cut two of sturdy fabric in the hanger shape, one each for front and back plus additional for seam allowance, cut two of iron-on interfacing to give triangular fabric shape additional body, fabric scrap for hidden pocket and 6-inch length of hook and loop tape. Many hotels have fixed coat hangers – stitch a pocket to the inner side of one of the fabric shapes, then stitch the hanger cover right-sides together, around one top side edge and across the bottom leaving an opening remaining on the remaining opposite top side edge. Trim seam turn right sides out, press. Stitch hook and loop tape to the opening. Slip over the fixed hanger.
The pocket can hide valuables and the hook and loop tape secures the cover to the hanger. Hang a garment on this now covered hanger for extra obscurity. Make more than one hanger cover (with or without the interior pocket) to hang additional garments so would be robbers may be deceived as to their real purpose.
Garment Bag – a clothes hanger, fabric, some straight stitching and a zipper for closure make this garment bag a great travel or gift idea. The garment bag is essentially the same as a traditional fabric hanger cover, just elongated to accommodate a garment’s length. Use the clothes hanger as a template for the top of the garment bag, approximately 2-yards of fabric, a 30-inch (or longer) zipper and length of grosgrain ribbon to make a hanging loop at the center of the bag bottom. The zipper will be sewn down the center of the bag front so when cutting fabric, cut out two pieces of fabric from template pattern and split one in half lengthwise. Stitch zipper to the front fabric pieces first, then with right sides together, stitch front to back around all edges (leave an opening for hanger hook). Once the bag is completed and garment hanging inside on the hanger, zip closed, then use the ribbon loop to bring the bag bottom up over the hanger hook effectively shortening the bag in half for easy carry.
Fabric Roll-ups – great for organization for jewelry, or makeup accessories, or a power cord corral (phone chargers, ear buds, eReader charger, etc.) All that is needed for any type roll-up - 1/2-yard outer fabric, 1/2-yard inner (lining) fabric, 1/2-yard medium fusible interfacing, several colorful elastic pony tail holders and about 24-inches of grosgrain ribbon for tying closed. The roll-up can be any size desired; trim both fabrics to desired size. Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of the outer fabric. Stitch both fabric pieces right sides together, leaving an opening for turning. Trim seam, turn right sides out, press and stitch opening closed. Stitch several pony tail holders near to the top of the inner fabric for jewelry roll or in the middle for makeup brushes or power cords. Sew a length of ribbon folded in half to one side edge of the jewelry holder, roll up and tie to secure.
Power Cord Taco Wrap – to keep attached power cords (hair dryer, curling iron, etc.) tangle-free when not in use. Thick felt and snaps or hook and loop tape needed. Cut thick felt into a rectangular shape long enough to go around the power cords when tightly wrapped. Apply snap to rectangle or sew a 1-inch hook and loop tape section to appropriate side ends.
Sleep Mask – cut two eye-mask shapes of fabric (satin-like material is kindest to the eyes), cut one of felt or thin cotton batting and length of elastic for the band. Layer fabric right-sides facing each other with elastic band sandwiched in between and with felt or batting on top of all. Stitch around the edges using a 1/4-inch seam leaving opening for turning right-sides out. Trim seam close to stitching or pink edges, turn right-sides out, press and hand stitch opening closed.
These few easy-to-sew, nice-to-have travel accessories are great to have on hand as they can be used over and over - wonderful for gifting as well.
Making a travel neck pillow from WikiHow
Sew happy, sew inspired.
Related Articles
Editor's Picks Articles
Top Ten Articles
Previous Features
Site Map
Content copyright © 2023 by Cheryl Ellex. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Cheryl Ellex. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Cheryl Ellex for details.
