I know several people who travel to warmer (sometimes even tropical) destinations during the winter. Keeping one’s identification and travel documents both secure and close at hand makes getting to and from one’s destination easier. A Travel Neck Wallet is one option for doing so. In this post I’m reviewing Yarnspirations Travel Neck Wallet.
The project overview and a link to the PDF tutorial are available here:
For the purposes of my review, I’m going to summarize the tutorial, tell you what I did differently (if anything) and share my general thoughts about sewing the project.
The PDF tutorial beings with a photograph and description of the project and the list of supplies. This project uses paper-backed fusible web. I don’t have any, so I substituted medium weight fusible interfacing and a few strips of 7/8” (22 mm) wide paper-backed iron-on adhesive. The second page contains the instructions and pages three and four are the pattern pieces.
Step 1 Cut your materials
I like that the seam allowance was clearly stated between the cutting list and sewing instructions. Instead of cutting binding fabric by the width of fabric, I made my own 1/4” double fold bias tape. Since I was using fabric from my scrap bin, I had to piece together one of the pocket pieces from two pieces of fabric. I made each piece 1/2” longer in the middle and sewed them together with a 1/2” seam allowance. The join was right in the middle of the pocket piece, where I hoped it would be hidden by the wallet’s side seam.
Cut materials for this project
Step 2 Prepare the pocket
I hope that interfacing both pocket pieces will impart a similar stiffness to them that the one piece of fusible web would have. I used three strips of paper-backed iron-on adhesive to fuse the pocket pieces together.
3 strips of iron-on adhesive on the back of a pocket piece
When I folded and basted the pocket, I realized how thick it was along the fold. In hindsight, I wish I pieced my second pocket piece together using a butt seam to avoid adding bulk.
Pocket piece with bulky seam to the right
Step 3 Insert the zipper
I used my narrow zipper foot to sew on my zipper. I didn’t use fusible adhesive to attach my wallet and lining. My experience with sewing other wallets suggested that having interfaced the pieces and the type of construction used for this project would provide sufficient stabilization.
Using my narrow zipper foot
Step 4 Assemble the wallet
Previously I made continuous bias tape from the scraps of one of my pocket fabrics. I used some of it instead of piecing together binding strips. I used my standard presser foot to sew on the bias tape, making sure to leave an un-stitiched tail of bias tape at both top ends.
Sewing on bias tape with a universal presser foot
Step 5 Finish the wallet
The fixed length of the neck strap makes this an easy project to customize for individuals. I’m not a tall person and this Travel Neck Wallet is 10.5” (26.7 cm) tall. I made my neck strap fairly short so that the bottom of the wallet wouldn’t hang too low. I was also tempted to make a fabric triglide and adjustable strap for this Travel Neck Wallet so that I could wear it cross-body if I wanted to. That does defeat the purpose of it being a neck wallet.
That’s it! There are only five steps.
Here is a photo of my finished Travel Neck Wallet:
My completed Travel Neck Wallet
Conclusion
This project really came together quickly. The tutorial author rates this project at the beginner skill level. I think it’s a good project for sewers wanting to practice working with zippers and/or bindings. That being said, the lack of photos in the tutorial may hinder beginners. The tutorial assumes that sewers know how to sew on binding, how to sew binding strips together, and how to miter the corners when sewing on binding. I’m not sure those are beginner skills. Fortunately there are plenty of tutorials that go in-depth into those topics. I really like how my Travel Neck Wallet turned out and look forward to using it on my next trip. This is also a great project for using up larger scraps and would make a great gift.
Have you used a travel neck wallet? Did/would you sew your own or purchase completed ones? Comment below and/or Pin me for later!
Tanya
Sewn By Tanya Project Review: Travel Neck Wallet by Yarnspirations
Help support Sewn By Tanya
If you love what I do, have learned from reading my blog, and/or want to support my work financially, consider becoming a Sewn By Tanya patron. Your monthly donation of $1 or more will help Sewn By Tanya grow and expand. A minimum $6 per month gives you access to Sewn By Tanya Patreon only content. There’s so much I’d love to do and you can help make it happen.
