Sew a DIY Soap Saver Travel Pouch

While traveling is exciting, making it through the TSA security line can be painful. Fitting all my toiletries into one 1-quart zip-top bag is my greatest travel challenge because I like makeup, and my wavy hair needs a little extra product care, so I’ve been looking for ways to minimize my liquids. Carrying bar soap and shampoos help, but let’s face it, they get slimy in a zip-top bag. My solution is to create a small, waterproof fabric pouch that is still breathable.

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I had looked at purchasing oil cloth, but then Therm-O-Web shared with me their new HeatNBond Liquid Vinyl. One application will make your fabric water and stain-resistant. Two coats will make your fabric waterproof and stain-resistant. Three coats will make your fabric waterproof and stain resistant with a semi-gloss oilcloth finish. I love that I have options and can customize the application to suit my purpose.

You can create your own DIY Soap Saver Travel Pouch with basic sewing skills and fabric that you waterproof with Heat n Bond Liquid Vinyl.

You might notice that I felted my bar soap. Voila! Now I have a built-in washcloth. (stay tuned for a felted soap tutorial, but you can Google felted soap for many ideas)

Here is what you need to get started on your DIY Soap Saver Travel Pouch:

• bar soap of choice
• 1/4 yard cotton fabric
• Heat-n-Bond Liquid Vinyl
• small paintbrush
• craft mat or wax paper to protect your surface
• Heat-N-Bond pressing paper
• parchment paper
• iron *I use Oliso’s craft iron for these projects.
• sewing machine
• Schmetz nonstick sewing machine needle
• coordinating thread
• Omnigrid Ruler
• Omnigrid rotary cutter
• self-healing mat
• scissors
• Wonder clips or Mini clips
• optional Kamsnaps and snap setting tool or ribbon

Instructions:

1. Measure the height, width, and thickness of your soap. If your soap thickness exceeds 1″, you will need to add additional width and height to your fabric.

2. Determine measurements for your fabric based on your soap size. My soap bar in the sample is 1.5″ wide by 3″ tall and 1″ thick. Note: I cut my soap bar with a butcher knife to make it smaller and more compact for travel.

3. Cut fabric with a rotary cutter and ruler for straight edges and easier sewing. I used a different pattern fabric for the inside and outside of my pouch. Cut two pieces for the inside and two for the outside pouch. I cut my fabric pieces at 4.5 x 8.5 inches.

4. Follow the instructions for Liquid Vinyl to make your fabric water-resistant. Place fabric on a nonstick craft mat or wax paper, and using a paintbrush, paint the fabric with a light, even coat of Liquid Vinyl.

5. Allow the coat to dry and press with heated iron as instructed on the Liquid Vinyl jar, placing your fabric on parchment paper and using your nonstick craft mat or Heat-n-Bond pressing paper over the fabric. Press with medium heat iron.
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5. Two coats of Liquid Vinyl will leave your cotton fabric waterproof.
7. Place your fabric for the outside of your pouch right-sides together. Clip pieces together with mini clips or pins.

8. Sew sides and bottom with 1/4″ seam allowance.

9. Press seams and clip corners being careful not to cut into your seam.
10. Turn the fabric right sides out. Make sure to push those corners out. Press fabric with a nonstick pressing cloth.
11. Place the fabric for the interior of the pouch with the right sides facing, clipping the fabric together with mini clips or pins. Mark one section on one long side about 4″ long with different color clips or pins. We will not sew this section yet.
12. Sew the sides and bottom of the fabric, leaving that 4″ section open so you can turn the pouch later.
13. Press seams and clip your bottom corners; be careful not to cut into your seam.
14. Place the outside sleeve down into the ‘inside-out’ inner fabric. Line up side seams.
15. Take your time and sew around the top edges of the fabric pouch with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
16. Turn the pouch out using the 4″ space you left open on the side of the interior fabric. Both interior and exterior right side-outs will be facing out and connected in the center.

17. Topstitch to close that 4″ space on interior fabric or slipstitch opening closed by hand. This seam will not be seen on the finished project.
18. Tuck the interior fabric down into the exterior pocket to create your pocket pouch, making sure to roll the interior fabric to the inside
19. Topstitch around the top opening to finish.
20. At this point, you can fold down the bag top or tie the top with a ribbon or string and call your bag finished.
21. I decided to add snaps. Follow Kamsnaps directions to add snaps if you desire.

22. Drop your soap into your pouch and make some travel plans with one less thing to pack in your clear 1-quart TSA-approved toiletry bag.

ps… if you want some amazing handmade soap, check out my sister-in-law’s business – JB Bath Shop. I only use her handmade soaps now, and she will build you a beautiful basket if you are looking for gifts. I send baskets to friends.