Passport Holder (& wallet!)
So, in recent years I’ve found myself wandering about more than I ever have before. Last year I made my first journey overseas to explore Scotland with fellow history-lovers,
(Hi, History Tea Time Travelers!!)
and this year I decided to join in on the fun again for a historic frolic through Germany and Austria. One last international trip before I have to store my luggage away for… well, the way things are going now, possibly forever…
But since I am a crafty little gremlin, I thought: “why not go out in style?”
And since I am also a stubborn-ass, I refuse to give Amazon.com my little spare pocket money (I’ll need that for souvenir-shopping).
My first task in proper preparation was, of course, to plan out my packing situation. I was a little inexperienced last time I went so far outside my comfort zone and ended up carrying more than I think I needed to. Your seamstress next door pretty much brought everything except the kitchen sink… and I’m 110% sure I didn’t use more than half of it.
That means the goal of this preamble to Europe is to pack lightly and efficiently. And to do that, I needed a passport holder…
I swear, there is a logic to this train of thought - just hear me out:
One issue I had last year was that I over packed my personal item as much as I overpacked my carry on. On top of that, the most important items I absolutely needed, like my ID, my passport, my ticket, even my cash and card, were all kind of strewn around in several different pockets. I was constantly checking my bag to make sure I still had everything I needed!
After taking the time to actually list out all of the most essential items to bring, I realized a passport holder that doubles as a wallet would be super helpful…
Since I’m still working through a small pile of extra quilter’s cotton, I took the necessary measurements, drew out my plans, focused specifically on what I would need most, and set out making my first mock-up.
Other than quilt squares and Calico, I also have some really beautiful Corduroy left in my personal stash, and that was what I decided the final piece would be made of.
(110 bonus points for anyone who can correctly guess why that material specifically, lol!)
But as with first-time project, never cut into your “good stuff” first; always save it for the final draft…
And I’m especially glad I stuck to my process, because this first mock up did not pan out..!
But, that’s the beauty of practicing a new pattern the first few times: you learn something new every time you work it…
On this first try I realized you have to really pay attention to where you make your cuts, otherwise you’ll end up making a lefty-friendly wallet - which would be great if I was left-handed like my Dad and Aunt Norma.
I also realized that trying to make fancy fold with strategic cuts is not something I’m personally good at (though lately I’ve seen some very talented makers on FB who wield that skill like magic).
In order to make the card holder look good- and, you know, functional- I would have to cut and sew that section separately, and the attach it to the holder…
That method was much less stressful, and actually kept my cards from falling out.
The single sleeve holding the passport in place also worked really well, though in this mockup I realized it left behind extra bulk - which can make any hand sewing challenging and uncomfortable.
I also wasn’t too crazy about there being only one pocket to use for cash. The lining method worked better than I expected, but it was cut too loose and left the opening lopsided…
Once I figured out what worked and what didn’t, the third try was a piece of cake!
As always, I consulted my notes again, reworked my math for new seam allowances,
(there’s never an escape from math, my friends- never!)
got my draft paper ready, and finally busted out “the good stuff.”
The difference between mock 2 & mock 3 is like night and day:
The pockets work better; the lining insert was seamless; the passport sleeve works even better than before…
I can’t lie, I am genuinely happy with how this one turned out! My mom likes it so much she’s asked for one in pink and purple - and I am happy to oblige.
Since I genuinely dislike wasting material, I think I’m gonna go back and try reworking mock 2; I think if I edit the cut of the lining, and make a new credit card sleeve, it would work just as well (and look significantly better than before).
As for mock 1, I haven’t decided yet. There’s not enough left to rework it into a new holder, but I do have some quilting projects on tap and need to make some extra squares.
In the meantime, on to the next prep-project: a stripped pinafore!
