Portside Travel Set Sew-Along

Sew the Portside Dopp Kit & Travel Pouch with confidence using our detailed tutorial series! These practical travel organizers teach professional zipper installation, curve-sewing techniques, and bag construction from flat panels to finished pieces. Learn to create the dopp kit's front pocket with exposed zipper, master hand-stitching for lining attachment, and finish with custom leather pulls. The streamlined pouch construction reinforces your skills while creating the perfect companion piece for organizing small essentials.

Lesson 1

Selecting Your Fabrics

Four Portside Dopp Kits: geometric print with black contrast, pink circles with blue stripes, woodland camo, light ripple print with contrast

Explore fabric options for your Portside Dopp Kit! Decide between one or two colors to narrow your choices — single color schemes let you go bold, while two-color designs need coordinating fabrics. We showcase six combinations from printed quilting cottons to waxed canvas, plus lining considerations. Remember that dark linings make it harder to find items inside your bag.

Choose Your Fabrics

Lesson 2

Portside Dopp Kit Supply List

Get organized before you start sewing! This quick project comes in two sizes and works up fast when you have everything ready. From fabric and bias binding to specialized feet and marking tools, we cover all the supplies you'll need. Pre-made or handmade binding both work beautifully, and we'll show you both methods during the sew-along.

Portside pattern envelope with fabrics, interfacing, gold zipper, thread, zipper pulls, measuring tape, rulers, scissors, and pins

1. Portside Pattern

The first thing you'll need is the Portside Travel Set Pattern. You can purchase it as a downloadable PDF here.

2. Main Fabric

For this pattern we recommend medium to heavy weight fabrics such as canvas, twill, most fabric labeled home dec weight. Lighter fabric can be used but may need to be more heavily interfaced or interlined so keep that in mind. The heavier weight fabric is what helps the bag keep its shape. In our Portside sample, the blue fabric is the main, and the white is the contrast.

3. Contrast Fabric

You'll want this fabric to be a similar weight to your main fabric so that your bag doesn't collapse in spots and holds up uniformly across the two fabrics. As we mentioned above, the white fabric on our Portside samples is the contrast fabric.

4. Lining Fabric

For the lining fabric we recommend something similar to a quilting cotton or a bit lighter. This is an excellent time to use up those great prints you might have sitting around that don't quite work for garments! I'll be talking more about fabric ideas on Friday also, so if you need more help, stay tuned for that post.

Gather Your Supplies

Grab the Portside Travel Set Pattern

Lesson 3

Cutting Your Fabric

Dopp Kit pattern pieces labeled with numbers: two ends, upper back, front & back, two lower pieces, two tops, and bottom

Ready to cut your Portside Dopp Kit? This straightforward process covers main fabric, contrast fabric, lining, and fusible interfacing with helpful cutting maps for visualization. Learn which pieces need interfacing for structure and durability, plus tips on fusing technique and trimming overhanging edges for clean seams.

Start Cutting

Lesson 4

Assembling the Side Panels

Assembled Dopp Kit front panel in camo and olive green showing zippered top panel, front pocket with zipper laid flat

Construction begins with assembling the dopp kit panels! Attach the top pieces to the main zipper, sew end pieces to create the zippered top panel, then build the front pocket with its own zipper. The back panel is straightforward - just join upper and lower pieces. Finish by creating the carrying strap for a complete set of assembled panels.

Start Sewing

Lesson 5

Assembling the Body

Three-dimensional dopp kit body in camo and olive green showing main zipper, front pocket zipper, and topstitched seams

Watch your dopp kit take shape as flat panels become a three-dimensional bag! This post covers attaching side panels to the center front using curve-sewing techniques, then joining the bottom piece with a pivot-and-pin method for smooth corners. You'll learn key construction tips including when to check for tucks and reinforcement topstitching for durability.

Build the Body

Lesson 6

Assembling the Lining

Completed dopp kit lining in white fabric with pink hearts print laid flat with embroidery scissors beside it

The lining construction mirrors the body assembly but goes faster without zippers! This post walks through creating the interior of your dopp kit using the same curve-sewing and bottom-attachment techniques from Lesson 5. You'll learn an alternative grading method for smooth curves and see how optional matching topstitching creates a cohesive look inside and out.

Create the Lining

Lesson 7

Attaching the Lining

Dopp kit opened showing pink hearts lining hand-stitched inside olive green exterior with both zippers and front pocket visible

Bring your dopp kit together by inserting the lining with hand-sewing techniques! This post demonstrates the slip-stitch method for attaching lining to the zipper tape, including tips on thread strength and avoiding stitching through to the outer shell. You'll see how proper lining placement creates a professional interior finish for your nearly-complete bag.

Insert the Lining

Lesson 8

Adding the Zipper Pulls

Hand holding black leather zipper pull attached to brass zipper on camo and olive green dopp kit

Add the finishing touch with custom leather zipper pulls! This optional step creates a polished look and makes zippers easier to use. The post covers tracing and cutting leather, creating the attachment slit with an exacto knife, and threading pulls through zipper hardware. Your completed dopp kit is now ready for travel or gifting!

Finish Your Dopp Kit

Lesson 9

Sewing the Portside Pouch

The travel pouch is a quick win after the dopp kit. This streamlined project teaches exposed zipper installation for the front panel, basic bag construction with right sides facing, and finishing options including serging, zigzag, or pinking shears. Learn a professional technique for burying serger thread tails to prevent unraveling.

Make the Pouch

Extras

  • Zipper-making supplies: continuous chain with brass teeth, slider, stops, ruler, pliers, and removed teeth on white surface

    Making Your Own Zipper

    Need more clarity on the optional Step 15? This video tutorial demonstrates how to create a permanent bottom gusset by stitching through the bottom layers from inside the bag. Learn why this step is optional and how it affects your bag's ability to fold flat when not in use.

    Make Custom Zippers 
  • Woman wearing blue Portside dopp kit modified as crossbody fanny pack with black webbing strap over black sleeveless dress

    Fanny Pack Pattern Hack

    Transform your dopp kit into a hands-free belt bag! This modification adds 1" webbing and a buckle to create a practical waist pack perfect for travel, events, or everyday use. Learn proper strap placement for comfortable wear, buckle attachment with secure stitching, and how to integrate the waist strap during construction for a versatile crossbody alternative.

    Make a Fanny Pack 
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