Pondering the Pesky Passport Problem

Basic vinyl passport covers...

A couple months ago, my hubby and I received our shiny new 10-year passports, triggering memories of an almost forgotten project.

About a year and a half ago, I drafted up a rough pattern for a passport and travel document organizer. (Notice how many of my projects have a travel theme?) Ever since passports have been required to go basically anywhere, I have wanted to have some way to keep them — along with the commonly accompanying boarding pass — safe, yet conveniently accessible. The Professional Tote has a zippered pocket to accommodate passports, but zipped up, it's not big enough for the boarding pass. So I tend to keep the boarding pass/passport combo in the open ended slip pocket behind that pocket. Not quite the perfect solution.

That's when I thought I should come up with my own passport portfolio thingie.

---

---

Do a Google search for "passport holder sewing pattern" and click on the images link... I've got it for you right here. That's a whole lotta passport wallets/covers/organizers! Do we really need another one of those??

In looking at my pattern from last year, it still seems not what I really want, so I don't think I'm going to take that particular design any further. But in answer to my own question, yes, indeed, we do need another! The thing is, what I really need out of a passport holder is not being met by any of the designs that I have seen to date.

I will admit that I like some of what I've seen. Here are a few that almost make me want to go to my sewing machine and start it up...

From Kathy at Studio Kat Designs...

From Valerie at Insatiable Need...

From Staci at Crafty Staci...

And then there's this gem of a travel wallet from Marina of Frocks and Frolics that holds a family's worth of passports!

All of these remind me of this bright pink item that I travel with, to keep money, copies of ID, insurance cards, itineraries — and passports — zipped up and protected while inside a hotel's safe...

This was an inexpensive eBay purchase...

So what picky feature are these passport holders lacking?

At the end of the day, I want my and my hubby's passports kept together. But while we're on the go — so to speak — I want us to be able to stay organized separately. At a typical airport, you might be required to show your individual passport and boarding pass at three different points: security, customs, and boarding. Unless you're a child, you should hold onto your own personal documents throughout this process. Afterwards, however, wouldn't you love to be able to secure the individual passport holders into one main assembly? Or, wouldn't you like to have a passport holder that can somehow detach into two, so that two people can use it to hold their individual documents?

That's what I've been mulling over every now and then. I don't know if it's workable. That said, if the ol' lightbulb eventually comes on over my head, I'll share the findings.