How to Make a Luggage Tag

If you want a brightly-colored, unique luggage tag that will set your luggage apart from all the others when it comes rolling down the conveyor belt, make your own personalized luggage tag. The luggage tag will even have a built-in clear vinyl section for your business card.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Inexpensive cardboard tag to use as a template
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Durable fabric such as fabric-backed vinyl
• Decorative fabric
• Business card
• Clear vinyl fabric
• Durable ribbon about 20 inches in length
• Sewing machine
• Thread to match fabric

1. Make a pattern for the luggage tag by placing the cardboard luggage tag on the heavy paper, tracing around it lightly. Add 1 inch to the top to accomodate the tie, and add 1/2 inch around the remainder of the tag to serve as a seam allowance. Miter the corners of the two short bottom edges, and cut out the pattern.

2. Lay the pattern on the durable fabric, trace around it lightly and cut it out. Repeat the process with the decorative fabric. Place the business card on the clear vinyl and cut around it, adding about 1/4 inch all the way around.

3. Center the clear vinyl on the decorative fabric and pin the edges in two places. Stitch around three edges of the clear vinyl , leaving one short edge unstitched so you can slide your business card in. Remove the pins.

4. Place the decorative fabric right sides together with the durable fabric, and place a couple of pins on the edge. Fold the ribbon in half and slide it up between the fabric, so only about an inch extends above what will be the bottom edge of the tag. Make sure the ribbon is centered.

5. Stitch three edges of the tag with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, leaving the short bottom edge unstitched. Do an extra couple of rows of stitching when you cross the ribbon to attach it securely.

6. Turn the luggage tag inside out very gently, so the vinyl doesn't stick. Fold the unstitched edge under, and stitch across the edge to close it.

7. Continue topstitching around the entire tag, flattening it out as much as you can. Clip the threads.

Tips & Warnings

• If the sewing machine foot sticks to the clear vinyl fabric, rub a small amount of lotion or baby oil to the bottom of the foot, and on the tip of the needle.
• When pinning clear vinyl, be sure to pin the very edges where the holes will be hidden in the seam, and don't use more pins than are absolutely necessary, because the pin holes will remain.