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Things to sew for travel... |
Small stuff.
These are things that will ease your travels by giving you some of the
convenience of home (storage trays), simplifying your needs (mini wallets) and
managing things you don't normally have to manage (key cards). The advantage
of these things is that they're small and shouldn't take long to sew — and who
doesn't appreciate that?
Today's post is set up in the same way as the previous three in this series. I
will show you some of my own past projects while introducing similar ideas
from fellow crafters.
A Place to Drop Things
When you're at home, perhaps you have a place to hang your keys when you come
in the door. At night, you might take off your watch and ring and place it in
a jewelry dish.
When you're travelling, those familiar places aren't there. Form a new habit
by sewing up a tray that can corral all of your small things and keep them
safe. If it can be made to be collapsible, all the better.
One of my earliest tutorials was for such a tray. (Still in use; it's
permanently at our home away from home.)
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| Cutting Corners Collapsible Travel Tray... |
Several years later, I incorporated some of the ideas that I had after making
the first one to create this second tray. I've given a couple of these away as
gifts; one is always packed in my travel bag.
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| Flat Pack Travel Tray... |
By the way, both tutorials are available in
PDF format
for your convenience.
If you don't like these, do a search online and you'll find several other
variations. Here's one that's different.
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| image courtesy of A Spoonful of Sugar... |
It's a hexagon-shaped tray from
A Spoon Full of Sugar. (It's not collapsible, but you could always change it up to be so.)
You Don't Need to Carry Five Credit Cards
Or even three. When you're travelling, don't take your normal everyday wallet,
because what if you lose it or have it stolen? Much better that you only need
to replace one credit card and an ID in that case than the alternative. (Many
of us don't know the exact contents of our everyday wallet, potentially making
the replacement chore even more challenging.)
I recommend you make yourself a minimalist wallet to carry when you're
away from home. Here are a couple that I made last year, from
YouTube tutorials.
The first meets the definition of being minimalist, with only three pockets.
However, it can hold coins, cards and cash, and that may be all you need in
certain circumstances. As you might guess, it's a quick and easy sew.
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| Minimalist wallet... |
Credit goes to Asaco's Craft Memo. (My
original post
also shows two other small wallets from that YouTube channel.)
This second wallet is not truly minimalist, but is likely still a step down
from what you normally carry. With traditional card slots and paper money
pocket, this one also includes a zippered compartment for secure storage of
coins.
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| Small bifold wallet... |
This project is more challenging to sew than the first (and not just because
of the zipper), as I detailed here in my
original post. Credit goes to JSDaily.
An online search for the term "minimalist wallet" will usually yield a lot of
decidedly masculine options, the vast majority of them leather tooled. If
you're looking for a compact wallet for a guy, check out this one:
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| image courtesy of SomeRandomnessByMe... |
It's from the YouTube channel of
SomeRandomnessByMe. Suitable for any kind of non-fraying material, the whole wallet is made out
of one piece.
Keep Your Key Card Handy
Just as your car key is now no longer a traditional "key", neither is your hotel room key. So do you reserve a spot in your mini wallet for that or do you keep your hotel room key card in a separate place?
A lanyard is always a convenient option because it can hang around your neck —
say you're at the buffet at a beach resort — or you can loop it around the
straps of your tote bag or purse while on the go.
It's a truly simple thing to sew, and unless it's also meant to keep ID in
view, you don't have to incorporate a see-through component by using
vinyl. That said, I used vinyl on
mine.
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| Purse lanyards made out of scraps of vinyl and ribbon... |
For those who want to combine the two into one — i.e., mini wallet and lanyard
— here is the perfect combo project from
Yoan Sewing Studio
on YouTube.
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| image courtesy of Yoan Sewing Studio... |
This little "wallet on a string" has two zippered compartments to protect your
small stuff behind the window card slot. Clever design and it even
comes with a downloadable PDF pattern. (I recently saw a new pattern for almost the same thing selling for $4.99, so hopefully I've saved you some moolah if this is something you're looking to make.)
Again, if these don't turn your crank, the internet is full of
similar takes on the idea. One is sure to appeal to you in time for your next
trip.
Happy trails and safe travels, folks!
'Til next...
After a little bitty trip this covid summer, I realize I could really use the flat travel tray. (And I can see some for home too.) While making one I think I'll consider another one with Velcro. But that might be a packing nightmare!
ReplyDeleteYay! We can all use a flat pack travel tray.
DeleteI appreciate Velcro as an invention, but if I read you right, it very often causes me great distress too. (I'm a fan of lace and crochet trimmed clothing and invariably something with Velcro gets caught in them.)
Hubby and I just returned from a not so little bitty trip and it was somewhat odd. The Covid thing always seemed like an overhanging cloud.
The man's wallet idea is perfect. My man has VERY specific wallet criteria and the template might be his answer. Travel today is very strange, I agree. Traveled across 4 states into the 5th and mask use, open lobby options and dine in options were all over the place.
ReplyDeleteI like your flat pack travel tray trick! Thanks for sharing. I've made them with the corners stitched.
ReplyDeleteKathleen -- kakingsbury at verizon dot net