Molly's Sketchbook: Zippered Dopp Kit

I love my dopp kit! (I also love the phrase "dopp kit" which Joelle and Page just taught me, It's an old fashioned term for a toiletry bag.) I think of my dopp kit as a little piece of home that I can carry with me no matter where I go.  I like to keep it well stocked with travel shampoo, toothpaste and maybe an extra pair of earrings so I can just toss it into my bag when I'm packing and be ready to go.

A traditional dopp kit is a boxy shape and made out of leather (and it's usually for men).  I decided to toss tradition aside and to make mine in the fun Yellow Roses print from Heather Ross' new Far Far Away 2 Collection. I love this fabric's unusual coloring and whimsical illustrations, plus its heavier weight makes the kit sturdy enough to use again and again.  The seams inside of the kit are all bound with our adorable pink polka dot bias tape and finished it off with a chunky bright pink zipper.

This project makes a great gift (or a gift for yourself!) because it's really useful and can be made in just a few hours. It's also a great way to practice putting in a zipper.

If you'd like to make one of your own please visit my Zippered Dopp Kit Project Journal here.

Happy Sewing!-- Molly

Comments

[Linda]

Aw. OLD FASHIONED? Really? I guess you are right. But that's what I have always called it...:o| This one is very cute!

[Jan]

Functional and stylish, what more could a girl want.

[Denise]

I love this and have put it in my inspiration folder for handmade Christmas prezzies. We make all of ours and it is difficult to come up with something for the men in our lives. Thanks again

[Maureen]

I was in Purl Soho recently and bought some of this fabric - it is so vibrant! Now I know what to make out of it. I might line mine with clear vinyl to make it more sturdy for holding cosmetics.

[Pam Cope]

what a great idea and pattern. more like a dopp kit for us girls. thought you might like to know where the term "Dopp Kit" came from, this is from wikipedia:

The name derives from early 20th century leather craftsman Charles Doppelt, a German immigrant to the United States, who invented his toiletry case in 1919.
The kits became widely known during the Second World War when they were issued to GIs. Doppelt's company was purchased by Samsonite in the early 1970s.
Dopp kits were once a common gift given to adolescent males as they ascended from boyhood to adulthood.
Although the term was originally a trademark, it appears to have at least mostly become generic, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office lists the trademark as abandoned.

[cal]

oooh, it IS a perfect gift for men too! in more somber prints or-- gasp-- SOLIDS i suppose. it would also be great in the japanese oilcloths! definitely making some of these soon... ;n)

[Molly]

Super cute and pretty easy!

[leslie]

is it necessary to use a separating zipper? i have several non-separating ones on hand.