Sew a DIY luggage handle wrap to add a little padding to your suitcase handle and to make it easier to pick out from a crowd. This little travel accessory is easy to sew, and so handy for airplane travel!
I recently went on vacation with my mom. I’m usually a road trip kind of girl, but this vacation required airline travel. When I went to pack my bag, I realized that my suitcase was the standard plain black suitcase that would look like every other suitcase in the overhead bins or on the baggage carousel. My quick solution was to just tie a red bandana around the handle.
The bandana worked in a pinch, but when I got back I decided I needed a better solution. I created a padded wrap that attaches around the handle. I’ve got a free pattern for you below.
Made from a bright floral print, it’s easy to tell from a distance which bag is mine.
And when you open up the wrap, there’s a handy little clear pocket where you can tuck a card with your contact information.
The padding comes from a double-sided fusible foam interlining between two layers of fabric. You can buy it at most fabric stores. You won’t need that much for this project which means you’ll have plenty of leftover foam for other projects, like my Padded Sunglasses Case.
The edges of the wrap are finished with bias tape. The bias tape gives a clean finish plus it gives a fun pop of color at the edges.
Finished handle wrap is approximately 5.5” wide x 6.5” tall (when opened out).
Supplies
Main fabric – 1 piece quilting cotton, 6.5” wide x 7.5” tall
Lining fabric – 1 piece quilting cotton, 6.5” wide x 7.5” tall
Foam interlining – 1 piece double sided fusible foam, 6.5” wide x 7.5” tall. You can also use double-sided fusible fleece, but the luggage handle wrap will have a softer shape.
Pocket – large scrap of clear vinyl
Bias tape – 1 yard 3/8” or ½” double fold bias tape (unfolded the tape should be 1.5” or 2”)
4 ¼” hook and loop tape
Free pattern – Luggage Handle Wrap with ID Pocket
RST = Right Sides Together
Prep
Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse the main fabric and lining fabric to the front and back of the fusible foam interfacing. This creates a double-sided piece of fabric with the main fabric on the front and the lining on the back, and a layer of foam between them.
Use an erasable fabric marking pen to trace the pattern on to the fabric piece you just created, then cut out along the lines.
Sew the Pocket
Place the Pocket across the bottom of the Wrap piece, Lining side up. Baste in place around sides and bottom using 1/8” seam allowance.
Sewing on vinyl can be tricky. If your stitches are catching or skipping, try placing a piece of tissue paper over the vinyl while sewing it. Then, when the seam is finished you can tear off the tissue paper.
After the Pocket is basted in place, use scissors to trim any spots where the Pocket is sticking out past the edge of the Wrap piece.
Finish the Edges with Bias Tape
Zig zag around the entire Wrap piece to compress the foam at the edges. This will make it easier to apply the bias tape in the next step. On my machine, I used a zig zag with a 3.5 width and a 1.5 length.
The image shows clumps of zig zags around the curves, but that’s just a weird thing my graphics program does. Your actual stitching should have the same type of zig zag all the way around your piece.
Place the Wrap piece lining side up. Open out one side of the bias tape and sew it around the edge of the wrap, right side of the bias tape facing down, raw edges aligned, and with your needle in the ditch of the fold. Ease the tape around the curves. Sew all the way around the Mouse Pad and overlap the beginning by about ¾”.
Flip the bias tape around the raw edges of the Wrap to the main side, then glue it down with the folded edge of the bias tape just barely past the stitch line. Press with a hot iron in order to dry the glue.
Top stitch the bias tape down 1/8” from the edge of the bias tape.
Sew the Hook and Loop Tape
Place the Hook side of the hook and loop tape across the bottom of the Lining side (on top of the Pocket). Sew around all 4 sides of the tape to secure.
Place the Loop side of the hook and loop tape across the top of the Main side (the end WITHOUT the Pocket on the back). Sew around all 4 sides of the tape to secure.
Your DIY luggage handle wrap is finished!
If you like this tutorial you will love these tutorial by Anne as well!
Fabric Lanyard and Badge Holder Sewing Tutorial
DIY Cross Body Bag Sewing Tutorial
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