I’m a cover girl this month! This was the last month of original editor Katy Jones producing the magazine, 4 year’s worth of publications in which she was nice enough to publish me in all but 4 issues. She’s been the most flexible editor ever (I mean I don’t think it’s entirely normal to be allowed to just send whatever you fancy making into a magazine, let alone be allowed to do this every single month!) and I shall miss her, but I’m sure she’s heading off to exciting new adventures.
Passport & Travel Document Wallet
This month marks the start of my travel accessory series with a sleek passport and travel document wallet. I’ve paired supple cork fabric for the exterior with bright quilting cotton inside. Cork is such a pleasure to sew with—its natural flexibility and strength mean you don’t need to fuss over hems. Just stitch and admire those neat, raw edges!
Materials
- Exterior fabric: Cork cloth (approximately 12″ × 8″)
- Interior fabric: Quilting cotton (two pieces, each 12″ × 8″)
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine with a leather/cork needle
- Scissors or rotary cutter and ruler
- Optional: Light interfacing for extra stability
Why Choose Cork?
- Eco-friendly and sustainable
- Soft yet sturdy—ideal for protecting documents
- No edge finishing required: raw edges look modern
- Easy to cut and sew without fraying
Step-by-Step Guide
- Cut Fabrics: Trim your cork and cotton to the same size. If using interfacing, fuse it to the wrong side of the cotton now.
- Layer Pieces: Place one cotton piece right side up, align cork on top, then place the second cotton piece right side down, sandwiching the cork.
- Pin or Clip: Secure the layers with clips—pins can leave marks in cork.
- Sew Perimeter: Using a straight stitch, sew around all edges with a ¼” seam allowance, leaving a 3″ gap on one long side for turning.
- Turn Right Side Out: Gently push out corners, press flat, and roll the opening seam inward.
- Topstitch: Edge-stitch around the entire perimeter to close the gap and reinforce the shape.
- Create Pockets: Fold sides in to form document pockets and topstitch vertical lines to secure.
Final Touches
- Trim loose threads.
- Give it a gentle press—no steam on cork.
- Slip in your passport, tickets, and boarding passes, then hit the road!
