Okay, I admit that for years I’ve used a zip lock plastic bag to put my toothbrush in when I travel, but this is so much better. When I get home I can just toss the roll-up into the washing machine.

Summer time around my house means visitors. I think it has something to do with the beach and Disneyland, but I could be wrong.  Some time ago I read an article on how to make your guests feel welcome by putting out a basket with items they may have forgotten to pack. I took the cue from my favorite hotel and include a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, body lotion, and shampoo. By including this washcloth roll-up, guests will be able to take home the items they want in a compact and convenient way, and hopefully, they will use it for future travel.

Supplies:
12” square washcloth
25” of ribbon

Instructions:

1. Use Fray Check or other seam sealant on the ends of the ribbon to keep it from raveling. Set aside to dry.

2. Fold up the bottom edge 5” (This makes the finished project 7” high.)

3. On the right hand edge place a pin  3 1/2” up from bottom.

4. Fold the ribbon so one side is 11” long and the other is 14” long. Place the fold of the ribbon at the 3 1/2” mark (where the pin is) with the shorter length on top (this will provide the extra length needed to tie a bow somewhat centered when the kit is rolled up with items inside.)

5. Stitch across the ribbon to secure it to the washcloth.

6. Line up front and back side edges. Mark stitching lines at 3” intervals. The butterfly pins make it easy to see the ‘marks.’

7. Edge stitch both sides.

8. Stitch at marked 3” interval lines.

9. Place your toiletry items into the pockets.

10. Roll up your washcloth starting at the left side and secure with the ribbon.
This project reminds me of the purse organizer, but it is much faster and easier.

When is a metal measuring tape not a measuring tape? —- when it is used as a closure for a bag.
These bags can be made almost any size, with or without straps.

Supplies:
1 piece of outside fabric – size will vary depending on your desired finished bag dimensions
1 piece of inside fabric – cut 2 ½ inches longer than outside fabric
2 – 4” squares of fabric (to make prairie points for handles)
1 piece of light weight batting the size of your outside fabric
¾” wide metal measuring tape – 4 lengths, each 1/2” shorter than the finished width of bag
Duct tape
Spray adhesive
Note: Inexpensive metal measuring tapes are available at discount stores such as 99¢ Store or Harbor Freight in 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” widths. Not seen very cheap are 1 1/2” widths. Priceless are metal measuring tapes found in toolboxes in your home – regardless of age or condition.

Instructions:
1. Determine the size you want your finished bag to be.
2. Fabric for outside of bag: cut fabric twice the finished depth by the finished width plus ½” for seam allowances. Example – 6” deep x 7” wide would require a piece of fabric 12” x 7 ½”.
3. Fabric for inside of bag: cut fabric the same width as outside fabric but add  2 ½” to length.

4. To make prairie points, fold the 4” square of fabric in half wrong-sides together. Press.
5. Fold each half of the 2” x 4” rectangle at a 45 degree angle so that the short side raw edges match the long side raw edges. Press. You have made what quilters call a prairie point. Set aside.
6. Cut 4 pieces of metal measuring tape, each 1/2” shorter than the finished width of bag.
7. Round the ends of the measuring tape pieces so there are no sharp corners.
8. Place 2 pieces together and tape ends with duct tape. (Note: if your fabric is very light weight and the bag relatively small, you can use only one piece of measuring tape in each side.) Set aside.

9. Place fabric for inside of bag wrong-side up on ironing board and fold the ends that will become the bag opening over 1 ¼”. Press.
10. Open the pressed fold from the previous step and fold the raw edge over 1/4”. Press only the 1/4” fold. This will form a 1” pocket into which you will slide the measuring tape.

11. Attach batting to the wrong side of outside fabric with spray adhesive.
12. Create a fabric sandwich with the inside fabric wrong-side up on the bottom and the outside fabric with batting facing down on top. Center the outside fabric on the longer piece of inside fabric, exposing both measuring tape pockets.
13. IF ADDING PRAIRIE POINTS – Center the prairie point at the middle of the raw edge of the outside fabric along the opening. Line up the raw edges of the prairie point and the outside fabric. Pin these two pieces together. DON’T follow the picture above.  Pin from the center of the outside-fabric towards the raw edge. Repeat for the other end of the sandwich.

14. Fold the inside-fabric measuring tape pocket over the outside fabric raw edge (and prairie point if applicable) and pin. Top stitch close to the edge to form the pocket for the measuring tape pieces on both ends of the sandwich.
15. Fold fabric sandwich in half with outside-fabric halves together.
16. Sew a ¼” seam on ONE SIDE ONLY from the opening edge to the bottom. I start at the opening edge and sew to the sandwich fold so I know that the top edges will be even.
17. To prevent the fabric from raveling, use an overcast stitch on your machine or a serger. REMEMBER; sew only on the first side seam at this time.
18. Slide measuring tape pieces into BOTH pockets so the concave side is facing outward (towards the inside of the finished bag). NOTE – I am assuming that you don’t want to announce to the world with a loud ‘snap’ that you are opening your bag. On the other hand, if you WANT to announce to the world that the bag is being opened, reverse the curve of the measuring tape pieces and the ‘snap’ will be like a burglar alarm going off…….   If you are a secret agent, follow the instructions as written so as not to draw attention to yourself when accessing the contents of the bag.
19. Sew the remaining side seam with a ¼” seam allowance and finish the edge the same as the other side. The measuring tape pieces were cut 1/2” shorter so you won’t hit them with your needle when sewing the side seam.
20. Turn bag right side out.

You can ‘reverse’ the snap sound setting occasionally by turning the bag inside out when you switch from secret agent to armored truck guard with ‘alarmed’ money bags. You might want to neaten up the raw edges of the side seams a bit with a strip of fabric with fold-over edges sewn over the side seam raw edges.