Market Tag Thing-A-Ma-Jig: A Free Project by Hugs 'n Kisses

Very soon I am off to market again. This time in Minneapolis. 

Are you coming?

If so, you might like to make one of these thingamajigs! I have made it to hold the little plastic tag holders they give us each year (let's hope they haven't changed the size) – so you can just slip it right inside the front pocket.

But also, I always need to carry around business cards – and I am ALWAYS losing my phone! So I have included an inside pocket with a spring clip closure so it won’t fall out when I bend down (which happens often), with plenty of room to collect others cards, brochures and more..

Then of course, there are the pins! This year, a group of us are participating in a great booth pin hop – yes, like a treasure hunt!

So where do you put your pins? Onto the nice wide strap of course! Can you collect them all?

Of course, if you are not coming to market, these name tag thingys are very common at all shows both retail and trade – so you will surely need one one day.

So here we go….

You will need:

- one skinny quarter fabric (10”/25cm x wof)

- a bit of heavy fusible interfacing &

- a bit of lighter weight fusible interfacing

- one 15cm 6” spring clip bag closure (optional)

Cutting:

a. Cut one @ 1 1/4” x 6 1/4”

b. Cut one @ 2” x 6 1/4”

c. Cut two @ 6 1/2” x 5 3/4”

d. Cut two @ 6 1/2” x 5 3/4” (lining)

e. Cut two @ 3” x 3 1/2”

f. Cut 4 @ 2 1/2” x 6 1/8” (tabs)

g. Cut 1 @ 4” x 28” (neck strap) (join strips if necessary)

Fuse fairly heavy fusible interfacing to the wrong side of a, b and both e pieces.

Fold e pieces in half, wrong sides together and press.

Place a and b right sides together with both of your folded e pieces with the side raw edges even. Stitch across long edges using a 1/4” seam allowance. 

Press outwards. 

Press a 1/4” seam over on the edge of the larger (2”) piece.

Fold over again until the fold meets the stitching line. Pin.

Edgestitch top and bottom edge of the folded strip. Edgestitch just the top of the bottom strip.

Fuse a lightweight fusible interfacing to the two c pieces of fabric. Place your ‘unit’ onto the right side of one piece with the bottom raw edges even. Stitch to baste around outside edges (just a small 1/8” in from the edges). Stitch a row of stitching through both layers about 1/2” from the bottom edge.

Place right sides together with your other (interfaced) c piece. Stitch around outside edges using a 1/4” seam. Clip the corners, turn through and press out those seams well.

Neck strap – pin holder.

Fold the g piece in half along the length and press to crease the centre line.

Open and fold both edges in to meet the centre fold. Press.

Fold in half again and press.

Edgestitch down both sides.

Spring clip tabs – note: if you don’t want to include a spring clip just skip this step and you’ll have an open top pouch/bag.

Place two piece f right sides together and stitch down both short ends.

Turn right side out and press out seams well.

Fold in half and press.

Place one right sides together with top raw edges even on the front of your thingamajig. Pin.

On the back side, first position your neck strap, then the tab over the top with raw edges even and pin. Roll up the neck strap and pin it out of the way of the edges.

Make lining by sewing the two d pieces right sides together using a 1/4” seam and leaving a 2” opening in one side. Clip corners, but leave wrong side out.

Place lining bag over the top of your thingamajig. Line up the side seams and top raw edges and pin well.

Place over your machine arm (it fits over mine, if it doesn't you’ll have to maneuver it around). Stitch around the complete top edge, removing the pins as you go.

Pull the inner bag to the outside through the opening in the lining. Press out the seams well and then slip stitch that opening closed. (and yes, if you know me, you’ll know mine isn't done  - do as I say, not as I do).

Insert the spring clip through the top tabs. Put the little doover lackie (metal pin) in the other end and use pliers to bend over the little metal flappy bits to hold..

Another version – every girl needs a spare, or maybe one for each day..

And you are ready for market! When you register and get your name tag, take one of the plastic holders and pop it straight in.

Then come and find me to collect your limited edition pin!

Hope to meet you there. I’ll have lots of goodies to show you…

hugs

Helen