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I’m not a huge fan of commercial travel sewing kits. They are expensive, bulky, and never have the right color of thread for my clothes. I decided to make an itty bitty travel sewing kit that served my own needs. Now you can do it too!
DIY Travel Sewing Kit
Step 1 – Collect Materials
This sewing kit uses common materials that you should have at home:
- A source of light cardboard – in this case I used a paper plate
- Various colors of thread found in your capsule wardrobe
- Safety pins
- Sewing needles
I didn’t include spare buttons in my sewing kit because I have already sewn them into my garments. That way the buttons are always available. I use the cutter on my dental floss as a substitute for scissors. It’s crude but it works.
For this sewing kit I chose colors that I wear in the summer; tan, coral, navy, chambray blue, and olive green
Step 2 – Draw the template on the cardboard
I drew a rectangle approximately 1 inch by 1-1/2 inches (1/2 cm by 1 cm) on my cardboard. I used 5 different colors in my sewing kit, so I spaced out 5 dots on the cardboard – one for each color.
Step 3 – Create points by adding in zig-zags
I added zig-zag lines to my template. The triangular shaped points will keep the thread in place when I wrap it around the cardboard.
Step 4 – Cut out template, add in notches
I add keeper notches to each triangular point. These will keep the ends of the thread secured. Note that I’ve added one notch on the last triangle on the left side.
Step 5 – Add Thread
Wrap the thread around the cardboard. Secure the thread in the keeper notches.
Step 6 – Add in Hardware
I add in safety pins and sewing needles to finish my kit. I usually slide safety pins in one side. I slide sewing needles through the threads on the other side.
Step 7 – Finished!
I usually place my sewing kit into a pill size plastic bag. I also add in my eyeglass repair kit. Everything fits into a pocket of my toiletry kit.
The DIY Sewing Kit is much smaller and lighter than any commercial sewing kit. As a bonus, it has colors that you can actually use! The most important part of this kit is that it reduces the bulk and weight of a commonly carried item. It is just one more technique for travel with a personal item. Don’t leave your stuff at home to travel lightly – just cut bulk and weight!
Lady Light Travel 
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
This is the same as the free kit you get at hotels
Many hotels don’t have the free kits. You certainly won’t find them at hostels or discount hotels. I don’t like to rely on something that may not be there.
Ive also found that the free kit doesn’t have the right colors. I don’t want to carry colors I can’t use.
This is a great idea that I really should do… as well as sewing the spare button. Glad to see a new post!
I always make my own sewing kit, and I have used the plastic or heavy card cotton holder from free sewing kit giveaways. These days I often use a couple of plastic bobbins and wind on the relevant colours for that trip. I add the needles, pins, even a button, etc, and carry a small pair of scissors, which I can if I book through my luggage, something I always do from Australia as it’s free and so far, reliable. To hold it all, I made a tiny zippered wallet that is about half the size of my palm. Not quite as tiny as this one, but works well.
This works as well. My only concern is that the plastic bobbins and the case add extra weight to your kit. Many countries prohibit scissors in hand luggage, which is why I don’t carry them. They are, of course, superior to the dental floss cutter. >
I buy the super strong thread. I don’t use normal thread on vacation. I check the buttons on my travel clothes and double sew them if they appear wimpy. A shocking number are. I carry only Black, Royal and white. My three main travel colors. I carry the needles with extra large holes. Buttons never come off unless you are in a hurry so it’s good to try to reduce any frustration. The idea of the featured travel kit is good. It’s tiny and light weight … I have seldom had to use the sewing kit in all of my journeys … so less is more. (I did have an inner seam of my pants split which I stapled until I found a seamstress.) That made a good story! Happy Travels! Sylvia
I have rarely needed my sewing kit but when I did it was critical! I had some trim come off an hour before my cousins wedding. I was so glad a kit was available. >
I’ve made a similar sewing kit but included a needle threader. My aging eyes just can’t thread a needle without one.
Thank you for the great suggestions
Ok, I finally got around to do this in this time of Covid-19 since travel is not advised. I am getting around to doing other things that are travel related, too, like package a small amount of dry shampoo, refill my travel containers, etc. I appreciate the template for the thread and have had making one on my to do list since I first saw this several years ago. Now, I have done it. I used black, white, royal, charcoal and turquoise as those are my capsule wardrobe travel colors. I put in 1 button, but I do not wear button-up clothing as a rule so may never need it. Oh, and I put the sewing kit in a very small plastic bag that I use for transporting vitamins and meds so it is in a light-weight container.
Good for you! I keep my kit in a small snack bag along with other repair items such as my eyeglass kit.
This quiet time is a good time to assess, repair, and improve our kit.
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A sewing kit is one thing I have only used twice in 20 years of traveling…. and I wonder if it’s even worth carrying. I have dropped down to one needle, white thread and black thread. I split the inseam of my pants on Paros and found a tailor to sew it up ….. That was in 2008. I was taking pictures in a church and stressed the seam…. Ugh … I was happy to find the seamstress.
Looking forward to traveling again.
Sylvia Travel Safe, Travel Light and Travel Happy….
I have only used it a couple of times. Once was an hour before my cousins wedding. I needed it right then!
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When your travel wardrobe is small, a sewing kit is one of those items that you really need when a rip or tear happens to an item of clothing. It is so small though that any weight it adds is negligible. I would rather be safe and have it than not. The two items that I would prefer not to travel without would be the sewing kit and medication for specific issues (tummy and migraine). I can make do with only 2 pair of undies, no makeup, or using my shampoo bar for my body but clothing that is gaping or an upset tummy or migraine are non-starters for me. I guess you can tell that I suffer from both of those maladies (migraines for 20 years and pepper and MSG allergies so my tummy gets attacked even when I am careful). Anyway, this sewing kit can be happily tucked away in my toiletry bag beside my tiny first aid kit and if I never need them, how fortunate I will be!