Create Your Own Roadtrip Organizer.

These instructions are to make your own organizer for your long roadtrips by helping organize the very important navagation equiptment (ie. your map, compass, flashlight...) all in one place.

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Step 1: Materials Needed.

Materials:
Upholstery fabric- 1/2 yard
Canvas fabric- 1/4 yard
Cotton accent fabric- 1/4 yard
Upholstery thread
Plastic stabilizer 2 sheets- I just cut the cover of a plastic folder
5" zipper
Velcro
Spray adhesive
Upholstery needles
Handheld compass
Your map
Small flashlight
Pen
Notebook

All sewing done is using a straight stitch and sewn by hand except for the stitching around the entire edge, which is whipstitches.

Step 2: Cutting Fabric.

Cut upholstery fabric in to two rectangles measuring approximately 13"(33.0mm) by 17"(35.5mm).

Decide what you want pockets for and gather those items.
Cut the inner pockets out of the canvas material. Measure these by placing your items onto the fabric and add 1/2"(1.3mm) around the edges for your seam allowance.

Cut the accent fabric in to several 1"(2.5mm) wide strips.

Step 3: Ironing.

Iron all the edges around the pockets you just cut out to prevent fraying after being sewn on.

Also iron the edges of the cut accent fabric strips inward.

Step 4: Sewing Small Pockets On.

Sew the top edge of the pockets that are ironed down to make a clean looking and prevent fraying from use.

Place the smaller pockets are will go on to the larger pocket and pin.

Sew the side edge and the bottom edge of these to create a pocket.

Step 5: Making the Zippered Pocket.

For the zipper have the material cut to be the height of the front and back together, plus your seam allowance. The width should be as wide as the zipper.

Fold as shown and iron creases (values in pictures are approximate).

Place zipper onto bottom of seam clearances created from the creases just made and sew zipper onto fabric.

Attach the pocket just made onto the inside upholstery by folding over side edges and sewing around the side edges and the bottom.

Step 6: Sew on Large Patches to Inner Upholstery Fabric.

Place your large pockets on the interrior upholstery fabric and pin around the edges. Like on the small pockets sew around the side edges and the bottom leaving the top open for the pocket.

Step 7: Making the Pocket for the Compass.

To make the compass pocket, place the compass onto the fabric ironed with clearences and determine where the elevated circle would protrude from the fabric, mark and cut a circle large enough to go around the compass area.

Take your accent fabric strip and line the circle that was just cut, pin down the fabric and sew the strip onto the canvas pocket.

Like the other pockets sew the top fabric clearance down. Place this new pocket onto your inside upholstery and pin then sew around the side edges and bottom making sure your compass will fit nicely inside.

Add a small piece of sticky Velcro to the top of the pocket and to the upholstery directly behind the Velcro on the pocket.

Step 8: Adhearing the Plastic Stabilizer on to the Fabric.

Take the upholstery fabric rectangle that was cut for the outside and layout with the back side up. Fit the plastic sheets to the top giving an 1"(2.5mm) clearance around all sides of the plastic.

Spray the adhesive onto the plastic and place onto the fabric as shown, press plastic down to fix to fabric.
Spray the top of the plastic that was just adhered to the fabric and align the inside fabric (the fabric with the pockets sewn on) and press the backside of the fabric on to the glued plastic, and wait a few minutes to set.

Step 9: Making the Closure.

Make the closure flap. Cut two rectangles 3"(7.6mm) by 4"(10mm). Place them with the backsides together and cut small radiuses on the corners that will be showing.

Take your accent fabric strips and pin around the edges, sew together.

After sewing the pieces together with the accent fabric place the self-adhesive Velcro onto the closure. Sew corners of velcro to add extra strength.

Step 10: Placing the Closure.

Take the assembled part and place the closure that you just made between the fabrics on the middle right side of the assembly.

Step 11: Finishing the Outer Edges.

Take the entire assembly and roll the 1/2"-1"(1.3mm-2.5mm) edge of fabric over the plastic, making sure the edges are in between the fabrics and whipstitch around the entire edge and secure the closure between the two pieces of upholstery fabric.

After done sewing flip the closure over, fit and place the other side of the Velcro onto the front of the organizer.

Step 12: Organizing.

Place all of your items into the respective pockets you had made for them.

Step 13: Use.

Use this for your navigation on your next road trip.

Don't forget to pick up patches on your wonderful journeys and iron them onto the outside of your organizer.