Bus Pass Holder

I work best when I am trying to solve a problem. Those are the projects that I get most excited about.

I take a commuter bus every day to get to my regular 9-5 (actually 7-3) job. We are required to buy a monthly pass and they give us a plastic pass holder. You know the type. The same plastic holder that is in the glove compartment of the car that holds the car registration and insurance papers. These holders don't usually last more than a couple of months when they are used every day.

Notice the ripping at the center fold

I am always worried that it's going to rip apart and I am going to lose a portion of my pass.

Solution: take bits of fabric and sew up a sturdier holder.

My holder was inspired by the Bionic Needle Organizer Wallet by Sally Thompson a.k.a RipStitcher.

Supplies

• Scrap pieces of fabric
• 4.25" by 5.75" Exterior fabric (cut 1)
• 4.25" by 2.75" Interior panel fabric (cut 2)
• 4.25" by 1" Interior fold fabric (cut 1)
• 1.25" by 20" Binding for edging
• Ultra firm double sided fusible stabilizer
• 4.25" by 2.75" Peltex - double sided fusible (cut 2)
• Medium weight clear vinyl
• 4.25" by 2.50" Medium weight vinyl (cut 2)
• thread
• sewing and ironing tools

Dark grey is the exterior fabric

Light grey is the interior panel fabric

Light blue is the interior fold fabric

Black with polka dots is the binding for the edging

White is the Peltex and

on top of it all is the vinyl which is hard to see

Instructions

• Fuse the wrong side of the interior panel fabric to one side of the Peltex stabilizer. Repeat for the other Peltex and interior panel fabric. When fusing fabric to one side of a two-sided fusible stabilizer you want to use low heat - just enough heat to fuse the fabric to the Peltex. If your heat is too high you will fuse the other side of the Peltex to your ironing board (I speak from experience). 

• Prepare the interior fold fabric by pressing the fabric in half along the long edge, wrong sides together. Open the fabric and press each long edge towards the center line, wrong sides together.
• Top stitch the edge of the interior fold fabric to a long edge of each of the interior panels. Leave a 1/4" space between the two panels.

• Prepare the binding fabric the same way you prepared the interior fold fabric, by pressing the fabric in half along the long edge, wrong sides together. Open the fabric and press each long edge towards the center line, wrong sides together and then fold the fabric in half and press.
• Place the assembled interior panels good side facing down on your ironing surface. 
• Place the exterior fabric good side facing up on top of the assembled interior panels.
• Iron the exterior fabric to the other side of the Peltex.
• Place a vinyl piece at each end of the interior side of the holder, matching the short ends. 
• Wonder Clip all the layers together.
• With a basting stitch, sew along all 4 sides as close to the edge as possible (about 1/8 inch from the edge) to hold all the layers together. However, if you feel comfortable, you may skip this step and clip the binding to the long edges of the holder.
• Top stitch the inner edge of the binding ensuring that you have all the layers (exterior fabric, interior panel, vinyl and both sides of the binding) secured in the fold of the binding.
• Snip the excess binding.

• For the short end binding pieces, measure the short end of the assembled holder and add 1/2 inch. This will be the length of your binding piece.
• Fold under each end of the binding pieces about 1/4 inch and press.
• Secure the binding to the short ends of the holder.
• Top stitch the inner edge of the binding ensuring that you have all the layers (exterior fabric, interior panel, vinyl and both sides of the binding) secured in the fold of the binding.

Note: I use Wonder Clips for two reasons. One - you don't want to poke holes in the vinyl - those holes would be permanent. Two - the assembly is so thick that it would be nearly impossible to hold together with pins.

The bus pass holder is finished and ready to use.

Interior view

Exterior view

You could also use the holder for other things like holding:

• Business cards
• Vehicle registration and insurance papers
• Credit cards
• Birth certificate and health card
• Receipts

Embroidered Kitchen Sign

I am far from being a chef.

I cook most of our family meals from a recipe and somehow I always manage to mess those up. I have either missed an ingredient or part of the instructions or incorrectly substituted a key ingredient.

After tasting a new recipe that I tried to follow, my husband, son and I vote on the meal and give it a number out of 5. We also give our opinion on whether or not it's a "do-over". I write this information in the recipe book so it will make it easier to decide next time whether or not to make the meal. I also include notes like, easy to make, great for guests, prep all ingredients first because the meal cooks up fast.

I do not enjoy cooking. Baking is a different thing. I love baking but dislike cooking. The only reason why I am the designated cook in our household is because I get home first.

I thought this embroidered sign was appropriate to hang on the pantry door in our kitchen. I am sure anyone who has eaten my cooking would find this funny.

Embroidery design purchased from www.emblibrary.com

8 x 10 frame