Projects & Tips For Traveling: {Cases, Organizers & More}
Here’s a bunch of assorted accessories and organizers you can make for traveling, I’ve also included a handful of Good-To-Know tips at the bottom.
jepsenleathergoods.squarespace.com
Travel Organizer: Features 10 different pocket sizes to hold assorted goodies, rolls up with ends held in place by snaps.
mypatchwork.wordpress.com
sew4home.com
Quickie Luggage Tag: Make a unique fabric tag to help spot your luggage easily, features a clear vinyl pocket to hold I.D. slip.
thelongestyear.typepad.com
bhg.com
Lingerie Caddy: Fabric pocket organizer than can hang in the closet from a pants hanger or roll up (with ties to close).
sew4home.com
chubbyhobby.com
Gadget Travel Tote: Convert a dish towel into a multi-pouched case to keep chargers and cords neat when you’re on the go.
marthastewart.com
sewmamasew.com
Easy Passport Cover: Made to fit the size of your passport, use assorted pieces of felt in contrasting colors and handstitch together using the blanket stitch.
cutoutandkeep.net
yoshimitheflyingsquirrel.blogspot.com
Travel Wallet: Made from a tea towel and hangs around your neck.
makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com
createyourcrafts.com
Jewelry Wrap: Made with cotton fabric, canvas, zippers (2), velcro, heavy-weight interfacing (fusible), elastic and a button.
africankelli.com
inhonorofdesign.blogspot.com
Fabric & Vinyl Zipped Bags: Great for packing small items, made with fabric, a zipper and clear vinyl.
deannasstuff.blogspot.ca
bogueliving.blogspot.ca
8-Pocket Jewelry Pouch: Features 8 wedge-shaped pockets to hold jewelry pieces then gathers with a drawstring at top to hold items safely inside bag.
sew4home.com
craftystaci.com
Weekend Kit: {Vintage}
First published October 1, 2008 and moved to this page for better organization
This pattern is from a 1920′s or 1930′s booklet by Columbus Blenback Oil Cloth entitled “How to Make good looking-inexpensive Things For The Home with Blenback Oil Cloth“.
It’s quite a handy design that is a fold-over pouch with inside pockets to store items for travel (one wide bottom pocket plus 5 pockets across the middle).
The pattern recommends using oil cloth but you can use whatever type of fabric you like. If you use something like a poly/cotton print, I’d line it.
Pattern is available below (along with larger images to view if you click) or a pdf download.
Materials:
1 yard Oil Cloth
4 yards tape
Directions:
- Cut No. 1 piece of Oil Cloth 17″ wide, 34″ long. Shape top for flap. Line flap if desired.
- Cut No. 2 piece for inside pocket 18″ wide by 5″ deep. Tape the top, place in position on No. 1 piece, sew on at sides and bottom, stitch to form pockets as shown in illustration. The extra inch in width allows for slight fullness for each pocket. The top of pockets are to be 18″ from bottom of material.
- Tape and turn up bottom 8″ for towel pocket.
- Sew tape all around edges. When finished, flap folds over and meets bottom, as shown in pattern.
Pattern PDF Download: Weekend Kit
More Ideas:
- Travel Organizer: Use a plastic accordion file to hold travel documents, medicine packets, emergency numbers, etc.
- DIY First Aid Kit For The Road: This kit is made to be packed into a polycarbonate water bottle, gives suggestions of items to pack.
- How To Make A Hidden Pocket: Hide a stash of credit cards and cash in a pair of shorts or pants with this tip.
- Hidden Bra Pocket: Here’s another hidden pocket idea, this one for a bra.
- DIY & Homemade Wrinkle Release Tips: Conquer the suitcase wrinkles!
Travel Hand Wipes Made With Vodka, Water & Lemon Juice
Materials Needed:
1/4 cup vodka
1/4 cup water
Juice from 1/2 lemon
Paper Towels (use a thick, sturdy towel)
Large Ziploc Bag
Directions:
- Fold the paper towels in half and lay them in a shallow dish in a single layer.
- Mix the liquid ingredients together then pour over top the towels. Repeat as needed until you have the amount of wipes you require.
- Stack the saturated towels in a large Ziploc bag, make as many as you like. Store the sealed bag in your vehicle while traveling.
- Store any unused liquid in an airtight container to use next time.
Note: You can use strips of flannelette if you prefer (then launder and reuse), as well as paper towels cut in half.
I just make amounts that I would use during a road trip, I haven’t made big batches of wipes at a time so I’m not sure how long they would last. These are very nice to keep your hands clean–think: public washroom sink taps and door handles, yuck!
You could use this technique:
Place paper towel rolls in the liquid and seal containers. Wait 5 minutes then flip the containers over to evenly distribute the solution on the paper towels. Make sure to use containers that are airtight.
Tipnut Mailbag – Traveling With Children
Here’s another hot tip from the Tipnut Mailbag, it was sent in by Jennifer:
I started doing this when my daughter was about 1. When traveling I always take a blow up beach ball. During rest stops or while waiting for a flight I blow up the beach ball and let her have some fun. We’ve made lots of friends this way, and it gives her some “run around” time instead of “run away from mommy” time. When it’s time to go, just deflate the ball and tuck it into your purse or bag!
Happy Traveling!
What a simple, yet great idea! The ball deflates and packs away nicely so it doesn’t get in the way. Plus it gives the little one a chance to run off some steam and have some fun after being cooped up and strapped in while traveling.
Thanks for sharing that Jennifer 
.
Quick Tip: Stinky Luggage
Originally published March 30, 2007 and moved here for better organization
Musty trunks and funky smelling luggage pieces can be freshened up by sprinkling baking soda inside, closing the case and then let sit a day or two. Remove the baking soda with a vacuum.
If you don’t use your luggage that much and have it stored away for long periods of time, make little sachets filled with your favorite potpourri (light scents are best) or even just filled with baking soda and keep them stored in the luggage until you travel. You could also use small, lightly scented bars of soap as well.
One more tip: If you are short on storage space, you can store off season clothing or extra blankets and bedding in the unused luggage.
From around the web:
When we travel with our 7 kids, yes 7, I always bring the following:
~story tapes/cd’s
~magnetic board games
~healthly snacks
~disposable cameras (one each)
~Facecloths in a ziplock bag with an ice cube, for quick wipedowns. (travelling is hot!)
~Cd players with headphones( for a bit of privacy)
~ small neck pillows and small blankets
And we always allow 2 extra days to arrive, just in case we want to stop somewhere interesting along the way.
Happy travelling,
Deanna
Great tips you’ve shared Deanna, thank you! I think the tip that stands out to me the most is allowing 2 extra days to arrive. It’s not possible in all situations, but it’s certainly a good idea since it relieves the pressure a bit and like you say–you can stop and enjoy things along the way if you like.
Seven children, wow!
I always take some wrapped surprises, may be a small toy or a snack or a small easy to do craft. The kids love the element of surprise as well as the gift!
What I’ve found to be extremely helpful is to keep an “activity bag” in the back of the car. This bag has the usual crayons and coloring books, but also a few select toys and small games that cannot be played with at any other time. The toys stay interesting because they are not allowed access to them at any other time. This has been proven to work not only for traveling, but for long waits at doctors offices and long afternoons of running errands. Keeping them in one bag makes it easy to grab when needed!
One thing my mother always did on long trips across states, was pack a “suprise travel bag”. At so many miles we traveled we got to pick a “present” to unwrap and share with everyone. From car bingo, to jerky, to coloring books. We always looked forward to the next mileage suprise.
I started getting my three boys to pack travel kits when they were small. This idea started when we were moving house and had to change planes and had some longish airport waits which was difficult with two toddlers and a baby. The older boys had a small backpack each into which they put a book or two to read, a snack, a toy, some colouring items, and a drink. I carried a backpack myself which contained additional snacks, nappies, and things for me to do as well.
As my boys have got older the travel kits have changed, but are still a backpack. They put books, snacks, electronic games, music players, etc into them and then if we are on the road, or having to hang out somewhere for hours at a time, they have something to do. Worked well when they were toddlers and still works well now they are teenagers. In fact, I carry my own entertainment kit with me – which consists of a book to read, small craft items to work on such as cross stitch, crochet or knitting, a portable gaming system, my camera and a notebook and pen. I am hoping to add a netbook computer to this soon. This helps keep me entertained when the kids are at the park playing which means they can play for as long as they want without being dragged off because I am bored.