Luggage Tags from Jeans Pockets - an Upcycle Tutorial

We're off on a family holiday to Japan in a couple of weeks time, so I finally got around to making some luggage tags that will be easy to spot when we're collecting our luggage at the airport.

Since I do a lot of jeans upcycling, I thought, what would be better than some upcycled tags from jeans!

So here's how to make your own distinctive luggage tags from jeans pockets.

You will need.

A pocket unpicked from a pair of adult jeans, a length of jeans seam (around 20 cm (8")) scraps of co-ordinating fabric, a little clear vinyl, slightly bigger than the size of a business card (you can cut a piece from the packaging of something like a sheet); and a business sized card to write your address on.

First take your piece of clear vinyl and sew fabric strips onto two opposite sides.

Open up those fabric strips, then pin and stitch another two on the other two sides of the vinyl like this.

Now trim the border you have stitched around your vinyl so the edges are all straight.

Now place this 'window' on the front of your jeans pocket with the card with your address on underneath so you can read the address through the window. Fold the edges under and pin then stitch all the way around.

I stitched a double row of stitching around my window.

Now take your jeans seam and fold it in half. Place the ends at the top back of your jeans pocket. Pin then stitch into place.

Finally lay your pocket face up on your co-ordinating fabric. Trim the edges of the fabric so it is around 2 cm (1") wider than the pocket.  

Fold the raw edges in behind the pocket and pin then stitch in place all the way around.

Again I did a double row of stitching - just as is used on a jeans pocket itself.

Now you can attach your tag to your bag and you're ready to head off travelling!

If you liked this tutorial, there are over 100 Free Sewing Tutorials to explore here on my blog, for all levels of sewing ability.

Please do take a look at 

My Free Sewing Tutorials Pages.