Happy Circles:: Round Luggage Tag Tutorial

Want a quick little round project?  Why not a luggage tag?  If you’re like me, all my luggage looks just like everyone else’s on the luggage carousel.  What my suitcases need is a little something to set them apart so I can spot them from far away.  Note: the luggage above is not what I actually carry on trips.  This one is strictly for display purposes only – cute, but also old and fragile. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

1.   4″ fabric circle  (with fusible interfacing on the WRONG side)
2.   3 3/4″ vinyl circle
3.   4″ fabric circle with a 2 1/2″ circle cut out of the center (with fusible interfacing on the WRONG side)
4.   4″ circle of fusible webbing with a 2 1/2″ circle cut out of the center
5.   luggage tag strap (buy ’em or use one from an old luggage tag).

Notes on supplies:
1.  The fabric I used in the following pictures is NOT interfaced, but it should have been.  Interfacing adds sturdiness and minimizes fraying of the raw edges.
2.  Throughout this tutorial, I will be calling the clear plastic “vinyl”, but it really is cut from a clear plastic presentation cover sheet (available at office supply stores).
3.  Pattern pieces are in a pdf file here:  Round Luggage Tag Pattern Sheet.  Make sure page scaling is set to “NONE”.
4.  There are plenty of options when it coves to luggage tag straps.  There are the buckled kind shown above as well as plastic loops.

Are we ready?  Okay!

STEP 1: Start off by fusing the fusible webbing to the WRONG side of the fabric ring.  Peel off the paper backing.

STEP 2:  Center the fabric ring over the vinyl so that the vinyl is against the WRONG side of the fabric.  Carefully press the FABRIC ONLY to warm up the webbing so that it sticks to the vinyl.  Be careful not to keep your iron in one place too long as you may melt the vinyl.  I had the setting of my iron on “cotton” which is quite hot and didn’t have a problem.  Fusing the vinyl to the fabric prevents it from sliding around in the next step.

The vinyl is impossible to see in the picture, but it really is there.

 STEP 3:  Mark identical marks on both pieces of fabric, 3/8″ from the edge and 3/4″ wide.    Stitch buttonholes around these lines.  With a seam ripper, make an opening in the buttonholes.

STEP 4:  Stitch around the inside of the ring with a 1/8″ seam allowance, securing the vinyl to the fabric.  Hey, no laughing at my sorry stitching here.

STEP 5:  With both pieces WRONG sides together, slip the strap through the holes to keep them lined up properly during this final step.  Starting ~1 from the buttonhole, stitch the rings together, using a 1/4″ seam allowance.  Stop stitching ~1″ before reaching the buttonhole.  Don’t forget to backstitch at the beginning and end.

This little paper insert is available on the pattern sheet here:  Round Luggage Tag Pattern Sheet.

This little circle makes me happy and I hope it makes you happy too!

More Happy Circles here and here.