Learn How to Sew Fabric Luggage Tags in this beginner-friendly sewing tutorial. Fabric Luggage Tags are perfect for luggage, backpacks, laptop cases, gym bags, camera bags, and more!
Fabric Luggage Tags are a great way to not only use up your fabric scraps, but they’re a great way to help your tagged luggage and bags to stand out.
Why Use Fabric Luggage Tags?
Like I said, you can use them on your luggage, your kids’ backpacks, your camera bag, laptop case, gym bags, etc.
Use Luggage Tags to Stand Out
Have you ever flown on a commercial airline and then tried to pick out your luggage on the conveyor belt? You think you’ll be able to pick your luggage out until you realize how many other people have the same luggage! But, with your custom fabric Luggage Tags, your luggage will stand out.
Use Luggage Tags for Privacy
The other great feature about these Luggage Tags is that they include a cover or privacy screen, if you will. Include your contact information on a card and insert it inside the luggage tag under the clear vinyl window. Then close the luggage tag and secure it to your item.
It’s a great way to help your child’s backpack stand out, identify the owner, but keep the contact information under wraps. And if you’re traveling by commercial airlines, it gives TSA easy access to your contact information.
What Makes These Fabric Luggage Tags Different/Better?
These luggage tags have something that most fabric luggage tags don’t – a privacy cover! Take a look…
The privacy cover simply folds over your identification card, keeping your contact information away from peering eyes. And the identification card slides in behind a vinyl window.
Video Tutorial
I put together this video tutorial that shows you how to sew luggage tags. Just CLICK HERE or on the below image to go straight to the YouTube video.
How to Sew Fabric Luggage Tags
There are really only three materials you need to sew these fabric luggage tags:
- cotton fabric
- fusible interfacing (Pellon SF101)
- 12 gauge clear vinyl
Of course, you’ll also need some matching thread. But, that’s it!
You can use the same fabric for the entire luggage tag or mix it up and use different fabrics. I like using a different fabric for what I call the lining or the inside of the luggage tags as I think it adds a nice contrast when the tags are closed.
So, let’s take a look at the materials and tools/equipment you’ll need to have on hand before you begin this project.
Materials Needed
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- printable pattern
- cotton fabric
- fusible interfacing (Pellon SF101)
- 12 gauge clear vinyl (be sure to keep the tissue paper)
- matching thread
Equipment/Tools Needed
- small scissors
- fabric scissors
- rotary cutter
- acrylic ruler
- self-healing mat
- fabric marking pen (I like Frixion pens!)
- Wonder clips
- buttonhole foot
- walking foot or Accufeed foot
- 90/14 denim sewing machine needle
- sewing machine
- iron (this mini iron is great for keeping right next to your sewing machine)
- ironing board or pressing mat
FAQs
Q: What gauge of vinyl should I use?
I used 12 gauge clear vinyl that I purchased from my local JOANN Fabric and Crafts store.
Q: Do I have to use a walking foot?
No, you do not have to use a walking foot. But, a walking foot is very helpful when it comes to stitching multiple layers of fabric together.
Q: What if my vinyl doesn’t have tissue paper?
The tissue paper is great to use between the vinyl and the bed of your sewing machine. It will help the vinyl to slide right right through your sewing machine. If you don’t have tissue paper, or don’t have the tissue paper that came with your vinyl, you can use tissue wrapping paper.
You can also place a piece of scotch tape on the bottom side of your presser foot. Just tear off a piece of tape and apply it to the bottom of your presser foot. No need to poke a hole or do anything to the tape. When you start sewing, the needle will pierce the tape.
For more help on sewing with vinyl, be sure to read my 12 Tips for Sewing with Vinyl blog post!
Q: Can I use directional fabric?
You can use directional fabric. If you want the print on the front of the luggage tag to go top to bottom, then you will want to cut two pieces of fabric for the exterior and then stitch those together.
- top exterior cut: 4″Wx6-1/2″H
- bottom exterior cut: 4″Wx5-1/2″H
Then you will stitch the two pieces together using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Make sure the design on the fabric for the top is facing correctly. The the fabric for the bottom exterior should be upside down.
Q: What if I don’t have a buttonhole foot?
If you do not have a buttonhole presser foot, you can still make a buttonhole. You just have to do it manually. You will want to use the zigzag setting on your sewing machine. I recommend you practice on some scrap fabric first. And be sure to refer to your sewing machine manufacturer’s instructions.
Q: Do I have to use cotton fabric?
Although you do not have to use cotton fabric, I do recommend it. I don’t recommend that you use stretch fabrics. You can use cotton-poly blends, quilting cotton, and maybe even canvas and faux leather. Just keep in mind that if you sew the luggage tags with canvas or faux leather, you may not need to use fusible interfacing. You also want to make sure your sewing machine can handle the thickness of the materials.
Q: What size card fits these tags?
The tags were designed to hold a 2″x3-1/2″ card. Which is the standard size of your typical business card. In fact, I have designed six pages of printable tags that you can download, print, and cut to size.
Here is a look at the printable luggage tags I designed. The themes are
- nursery/baby
- travel
- school
- flowers
- sports
- minimal
Q: How do I download the Printable Luggage Tags?
The luggage tags are available for download exclusively on the Sewing is Fun Facebook Group. You will find the printable tags in the Files section of the group page. Simply click HERE or on the below image to go to the Sewing is Fun Facebook Group page and request to join.
You can see the Files tab in the above image from the . Once you join the Sewing is Fun Group, just click on the Files tab and
Download Luggage Tag Pattern
To download the luggage tag pattern, just complete the below form. You will then be subscribed to the Hooked on Sewing newsletter and the pattern will be emailed to you. If you already subscribe, just complete the form to have the pattern emailed to you. You will not be subscribed again.
Sew a Luggage Tag
Sew a fabric Luggage Tag using scraps of fabric or your favorite cotton fabrics to create one-of-a-kind tags for luggage, backpacks, laptop cases, briefcases, and more!
The Luggage Tags have a clear vinyl window for inserting your contact information. Then there's a handy security flap that covers your contact information. Insert the loop through the buttonhole and secure to your bag.
Materials
- cotton fabric
- fusible interfacing (Pellon SF101)
- 12 gauge clear vinyl
- matching thread
Tools
- printed pattern
- matching thread
- scissors
- cutting mat
- rotary cutter
- acrylic ruler
- pins
- Wonder clips
- sewing machine
- size 90/14 denim or leather machine needle
- iron
- ironing board
- seam ripper
- transparent tape
- fabric marking pen
- walking foot (optional)
Instructions
- Print out pattern pieces. Tape pieces A1 and A2 together, matching dotted line and circle. Pattern piece should measure 4"Wx11-1/2"H.
- Cut out fabric and interfacing as follows:
Cut out two pieces of fabric for the exterior and interior of the luggage tags.
Cut out two pieces of fabric for the window.
Cut out one piece of fabric for the loop.
Cut out one piece of fabric for the window binding.
Cut out two pieces of interfacing for the luggage tags (pattern piece A).
Cut out one piece of interfacing for the window.
Cut out one piece of clear vinyl.
- Apply fusible interfacing to the exterior and interior fabric pieces and to the window fabric.
- Press the binding fabric piece. Fold the binding fabric in half lengthwise and press.
- Press the loop fabric piece. For the loop, fold in half lengthwise and press. Open up and fold the long raw edges towards the crease and press both long edges. Refold in half and press again.
- Next you will stitch the loop fabric. Set your machine's stitch length to 3.0mm and stitch close to both long edges.
- Take one of the pieces of fused window fabrics and draw a line 1" away from the edge on the fused side of the fabric. Use an acrylic ruler and fabric marking pen. (I like to use Frixion pens.)
Repeat for the other three edges. Once drawn, you’ll have a rectangle drawn on the back of the window fabric.
- Lay the two window fabric pieces right sides together. Make sure the piece you just marked is on top. Line up the edges. Pin or clip. Stitch the two pieces together along the marked lines. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end to secure your stitches.
- Fold the fabric in half and use your scissors to cut a slit right in the middle of the fabric. You’re simply gonna use this slit so you can trim away the fabric. Use your scissors to trim the stitched seam to 1/4". Snip into the corners, being careful not to cut through the stitching.
- Now you’re ready to turn the window fabric right side out. Starting with one side, fold the fabric back through the rectangle opening you just cut out and finger press along the seam. Repeat with each of the other three sides.
If you need extra help holding your fabric in place, you can use a glue stick or thin line of craft glue near the seam on the wrong side of the fabric. Once you have all four edges turned right side out, press fabric along seam lines so that it lays nice and flat.
- Take the piece of clear vinyl and center over the opening in the window fabric. Use clips and not pins to hold the vinyl in place.
Next you’ll stitch the vinyl to the fabric. Increase your stitch length to 3.0.
Place the piece of tissue paper underneath the vinyl so that it lays between your machine and the vinyl. It may help to clip the tissue paper in place. So you will have a layer of tissue paper, followed by the vinyl, and the two fused pieces of window fabric.
If you don’t have tissue paper, use transparent tape. Simply take a piece of transparent tape and apply it to the bottom of your presser foot. Then place the fabric under the presser foot with the vinyl on top.
Stitch close to the edge of the fabric through all layers. Backstitch at the beginning and end to secure your stitches.
Tear away the tissue paper.
Trim the clear vinyl 1/4" from the seam. - Place the folded piece of binding fabric along the top edge of the back side of the fabric for the window so the raw edges are lined up. Pin or clip in place.
Stitch along raw edges using a 1/4" seam allowance.
Fold the binding fabric up along the seam and finger press.
Fold the binding fabric over to the right side of the wind fabric and clip in place.
Stitch close to the edge of the binding fabric.
- Lay the exterior fused tag piece right side up. Find the center of the bottom short straight edge and mark. Fold the loop fabric in half and clip in place on the center mark, lining up the raw edges of the loop with the raw edges of the fabric. Lay the window piece right side down on top of the exterior fabric and loop pieces. Line up raw edges. Then lay the fused lining fabric right side down on top. Again lining up the raw edges. Clip in place.
- Starting along the side, about 3" down from the top of the fabric, stitch using a 1/2" seam allowance all the way around all four sides, leaving a 1-1/2" opening along the side for turning. Be sure to pivot at the corners, here’s how:
Stitch along the side until you come 1/2" from the bottom edge. Stop with your needle down, raise your presser foot, and rotate the fabric counter-clockwise.
Lower the presser foot and continue stitching to the next corner. Repeat.
Backstitch at the beginning and end to secure your stitches.
Clip corners and trim seams to 1/4".
Turn tag right side out through opening.
Use a tool to help push out the corners. Press seams flat. Be careful NOT to iron direclty on top of the vinyl!
Using a 3.0mm stitch length, topstitch around the entire perimeter of the luggage tag, closing in the seam opening as you go.
- Fold the luggage tag so that the window is on the inside and the open end of the window is along the fold of the fabric.
Use a fabric marking pen to mark where you want to place the buttonhole. The buttonhole should be wide enough for the loop to fit through easily. So, with the tag folded properly, make a mark on the lining fabric on each side of the loop.
Follow your sewing machine manufacturer’s instructions for making a buttonhole.
You can then open the buttonhole:
Place a pin just inside each short end of the buttonhole stitches. This pin will help ensure that you do not cut through your stitches.
Use a seam ripper, awl, or pair of small scissors to cut through the slit in the buttonhole.
Insert the folded end of the loop through the buttonhole.
- You can insert a business card or simply type up or handwrite your contact information on a piece of paper that measures 2"Hx3-1/2"W. Insert the card into the window behind the clear vinyl.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Cricut EasyPress Mat (16" x 20") -
Oliso M2 Mini Project Steam Iron with Solemate -
Clear Vinyl Fabric (12 Gauge) -
Pellon Shape Flex Woven Cotton White Fusible Interfacing SF101 -
Clover Wonder Clips -
OLFA 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter -
Fiskars Softgrip Scissors Straight Stainless Steel, 8 Inch,Gray -
Fiskars Forged Embroidery Scissors, 4 Inch -
Fiskars Acrylic Ruler, 6x24 Inch -
Fiskars Self Healing Cutting Mat, 24x36” -
Janome Memory Craft Horizon 8200 QCP Sewing Machine
I hope you enjoyed learning how to sew a Luggage Tag! I found these tags really fun to make. And I’m hoping they will make for some thoughtful gifts, too!
More Sewing Ideas
So, if you enjoyed learning how to sew a Luggage Tag, you might also like these sewing patterns from Hooked on Sewing:
Hi. You reference Pellon SF101 as the interfacing, but also in your directions you reference fusible fleece, but I couldn’t find fleece anywhere in the directions. Am I missing something? Thanks.
I used Pellon’s SF101 fusible interfacing for the luggage tags. I apologize for the confusion.
Pam Baker
Hooked on Sewing
I couldn’t find a printable pattern.
There is a form near the bottom of the page where you enter your first name and email address to request the pattern. The pattern is then emailed to you. I hope this helps!