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Home » Family » Travel » Big Fat Travel Portfolio {sewing tutorial}

Big Fat Travel Portfolio {sewing tutorial}

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Ok… its almost spring break around here! {yeah!!!} We are SO looking forward to the break. My husband  has had a very busy spring, so we are really excited to spend time together as a family. We are off to Guilin, China for a week. When we last traveled I noticed that the travel portfolio I had bought was too small for all our passports… SO I decided to sew my own! and the result….
travel

Here are a couple of photos of the old one.. I liked all the pockets..

travel portfolio
 But, our family has four big, fat passports… and there was NO WHERE for these to go.
Isn’t this great!?! Now, we have room for all four passports and pockets for other things too. Its perfect and I can’t wait to try it out on this trip.

I’ll try to show you how I made it. You can edit thissewing tutorial to make a purse, or portfolio that YOU could use.
I took a large square of material and folded it in half.  Turn it inside out and sew. Turn and top-stitch, closing the hole that you used to turn the fabric too. The finished dimensions are about 12″ x 20″.
On one side of the rectangle I folded a long strip of fabric to create six card pockets for frequent flyer cards or other cards we need to take. I didn’t finish the edge of the fabric, just used a wide zig-zag.
 Here is what it will look like on the back. Now, we will cover up those seams with our passport pockets that will be on the inside of the portfolio.
I used our passports as a guide to make for four inside passport pockets.
 I sewed the pockets individually, right sides together, then turned right side out. I top-stitched the top edge of each pocket. I pinned the pockets to the inside of the rectangle, the top of the passport pocket edge should be towards the short side of the rectangle on both sides. The center seam should attach both pockets. Line up the outisde and center seam on top of the zig zag from the other side.
I had to place a small dart in the bottom of both pockets to allow room for the fat passport.
 Here is what all four look like when attached to the portfolio main panel. The inside is complete.
I wanted another pocket on the outside and also needed to protect the card holder that we made earlier. I made another rectangle that would cover the cards and also have room for tickets and other papers. Make sure it is not longer than half the portfolio because you will be folding it in half. I finished the edge of the pocket by doubling the size, folding in half, and sewing, turning and top-stitching. You can also add a label here if you want. I used velcro to close this pocket. Sew it on before you sew on the pocket.

Now it’s time to add a zipper to the top and close the sides. Fold the portfolio in half, with the passport pockets inside and the card/other pocket on the outside.
 I took a zipper and sewed on side at a time to the inside of the portfolio (the same side as the passport pockets.) My zipper was too long, but that doesn’t matter. Just line up the beginning  of the zipper with one side.
With right sides OUT sew the side seams. Its already a finished edge, so you just have to attach them together. Now, turn inside out and clip/sew the corners as shown. This will give your inside pocket more shape.
What it looks like on the outside.
 Another look a the finished (and empty) product!
 What can you create with pockets, zippers and your imagination? Don’t be afraid to try and create what you need! I love when I can sew something perfect for our needs.

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