Kraft-Tex is a versatile heavy paper product that sews like fabric and acts like leather. It’s super sturdy, so is great for a project that will get a lot of use, like a travel kit for English paper piecing.

One of the joys of English Paper Piecing (EPP) is the technique’s portability. You can work on piecing a quilt almost anywhere – as long as you have your supplies nearby. And since you need just a few small items for English Paper Piecing Supplies, you don’t need a big, bulky tote bag. But to find just the right grab-and-go case for carrying my EPP projects when I’m on the move….

I wanted specific features in my travel case, but couldn’t find anything that had everything I wanted. So I designed this one using Kraft-Tex! (The appliqué on the cover is optional, but it reminds me what I am likely to find inside.)

The travel case for English paper piecing has zipper pockets – 2 with vinyl windows and one removable bag that attaches to the center of the cover with Velcro. I can pull that one out to use separately. The back of each zipped window pocket is also the front of a slip pouch, both front and back, that is just the right size for a small cutting mat and a pattern or a notebook. The Velcro tab closure keeps it all together.

This is not a beginner project – there are many moving parts, and turning corners with zippers is not for the faint-hearted. Also Kraft-Tex is a non-woven material, so it doesn’t allow you to ease pieces to fit. Measure twice; cut once!

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Here is a step-by-step guide to how I made my travel case for English paper piecing!

One (1) Travel Case

How to Make an EPP Travel Case with Kraft-Tex

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Active Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Difficulty: Experienced

Keep your English Paper Piecing Projects organized with a Kraft-Tex EPP Travel Case.

Everything you need for your project will be in one place to sewing at home or on the go.

Materials

I Roll Kraft-Tex (I used Sapphire Hand-Dyed Kraft-Tex)
2 5 X 7 inch pieces craft vinyl
2 coordinating fat quarters - one for the main fabric and one for lining
18 X 18-inch batting
3 14-inch zippers
7 inches 3/4-inch wide Velcro hook and loop tape
1 3/4-inch Velcro hook and loop tape circle
Thread
Optional appliqué
Optional button

Tools

Sewing machine and accessories
Rotary cutter and mat
Scissors
Rotary cutting rulers
Hera marker
Iron and pressing surface
Wonder Clips
Pins
Hand sewing needle

Instructions

Gather your supplies.
From Kraft-Tex, cut one piece 15 1/2 X 9 inches for main cover and one piece 3/4 X 3 3/4 inches for tab. Then cut 2 pieces at 6 1/2 X 8 1/2 inches for front and back slide pockets.
For center detachable zip pouch, cut 2 pieces 6 1/2 X 8 1/2 inches and one piece 14 1/2 X 1 inch from main fabric. Cut identical pieces from batting.
For center pouch lining, cut 2 pieces at 6 1/2 X 8 1/2 inches and one piece at 14 1/2 x 8 inch.
For window pouches, cut 2 5 X 7 inch pieces of craft vinyl. Also cut from main fabric 8 pieces at 7 X 1 1/4 inches, 8 pieces at 6 1/2at X 1 1/4 inches and 2 pieces at 14 1/2 X 1 1/2 inches.
Using a hera marker or another removable marker, mark the tab 1 1/2-inch from one end and 3/4-inch from the other end. The remaining center section will be 1 1/5 inches.
On the main cover piece of Kraft-Tex, measure 7 inches in from each side.Mark those lines. There should be 1 1/5 inches at the center. These will be your fold lines.
Press on the fold lines on the tab and main cover pieces.This is what the pressed pieces look like:
If you are adding an appliqué or other embellishment to the front cover, do it now.
Center the 7-inch piece of the hook side of Velcro to the inside of the travel case's spine. Edge stitch all around. NOTE: Your bobbin thread will show on the outside, so decide now if you want it to blend in or contrast.
Stitch the hook side of the Velcro circle to the inside of the tab, behind the 3/4-inch section. Center the loop side of the Velcro circle along the right front edge of the cover and stitch. Then center the 3/4-inch section of the tab along the back edge of the cover and stitch to secure.Round the front edge of the tab and add a decorative button, if you wish.
Now we start on the lined center zip pouch. Layer the 14 1/2-inch batting strip and outer pouch fabric. Center the 7-inch piece of the loop side of the Velcro on top of the fabric. Edgestitch all around.
Right sides together, stitch one end of a zipper to one end of the strip, allowing 1/4-inch from the end of the fabric.Repeat for the other end of the zipper and fabric-batting strip, making a closed loop.
Layer a batting rectangle with a 6 1/2 X 8 1/2-inch piece of outer fabric. Placing the zipper-strip seam lines right sides together at the halfway point of the short sides of the rectangle, stitch with 1/4-inch seam allowance.
Turn batting/batting corners as you would turn a corner for quilt binding.
Turn zipper corners in much the same way, but these corners will require more finessing. Stop your stitching and start again if that makes it easier.Turning zipper corners may be easier if the zipper is open.
Repeat for the other side. This view is of the center zip pouch inside-out.
Turn zipper pouch to the right side.You will see the Velcro along the bottom of the pouch. This will attached to the Velcro on the travel case's spine.
For the pouch lining, press each end of the long strip in 1/4-inch. On each of the other lining pieces, press in 1/4-inch along one long side and halfway up each short side.
Right sides together, pin the strip to the unpressed edge of one of the lining pieces, matching centers.
Stitch with 1/4-inch seam, turning corners as you would for quilt binding.
Attach second lining piece to strip in the same way.
Slip lining into bag.
Hand stitch lining to zipper tape along pressed edges. Use a thread that matches the zipper tape to best hide stitches.After hand stitching, the center bag is ready.
Here is the center zip pouch, showing the Velcro along the bottom edge.And here is the center zipper pouch, showing the zip opening.
Pick up one piece of vinyl. Along the long edge, sandwich the vinyl between 2 7-inch strips, right sides together. Stitch with 1/4-inch seam allowance.
Repeat for the other vinyl edge and finger press. (Do not use your iron on vinyl!
Sandwich the short edges of vinyl between 2 6 1/2-inch strips, right sides together. Stitch with 1/4-inch seam. Repeat on other side. Finger press.
Make 2 "window" units.
Wrong sides together, press each 14 1/2-inch strip of main pocket fabric lengthwise.
Right sides together, stitch each end of a zipper to the ends of the pressed fabric strip. Make mirror image pieces (so the right and left zipper pouches will both open from the same side).
Center and pin zipper/fabric loops to the fabric frames of vinyl windows and stitch, taking care at the corners. Clipping zipper tape at corners may help.
Here are 2 window units. Note that the zippers are oriented to mirror each other. Clip one window unit to one each of the 6 1/2 X 8 1/2-inch Kraft-tex pieces, leaving 1/4-inch of Kraft-tex all around. Edge stitch pocket to Kraft-tex around all sides. (Not shown.)
Decide which way you want your zippers to open, and clip the window units with their Kraft-tex backing to the inside front covers. Edgestitch on 3 sides, leaving the tab edge open. This will form a bonus slide pocket on the front and back covers.
The EPP Travel Case is ready for supplies!
The center pouch pulls away easily for a small take-along bag.
The pieces can be used separately or together.
It's fun to add a decorative appliqué and coordinating button.
Load up your EPP Travel Case with templates, EPP papers, glue, fabric, etc. to keep your project on target.
It all fits together for easy transport.
The slide pockets behind each window pouch are perfect for a small rotary mat, notebook, pattern, extra papers, etc.
It's easy to tell that his case hold EPP supplies.
The Velcro closure keeps everything together. I matched my bobbin thread with the Kraft-tex color so it doesn't attract too much attention.