If you’ve taken any airplane trips in the past few years, you should be aware of the popularity of carry-on bags (or you must have had your eyes closed for the entire trip, starting from arrival at the airport). You probably observed that almost all the handles are black and look the same. To identify your bag and reduce the odds of you pulling the wrong one out, or worse yet, someone taking your bag, put a cover on your handle. If you have an embroidery machine, you can personalize the handle with your name.

Supplies:

2 – 6” x 6 ½” pieces of fabric
1 – 6” x 6 ½” piece of thin batting
5” of ¾” wide sew-on Velcro (or a flexible hook and loop fastener brand or your choice)

Instructions:

1. Lay fabric right-sides together.

2. Lay the piece of batting on top.

3. Sew around all sides with a ¼” seam allowance, leaving a 2” opening for turning.

4. Trim the corners.

5. Pull the fabric through the 2” opening. Push out the corners with a chop stick. Tuck the fabric in at the opening and press.

6. Edge stitch around all four sides.

7. A little glue will help hold Velcro in place.

8. On one of the sides that is now 5 ½” long, sew down one piece of the Velcro.

9. Turn the handle cover over and sew the other piece of the Velcro to the edge opposite the first piece of Velcro which is now ‘hidden.’

10. The cover is now ready to attach to the handle of your suitcase.