How to make a name tag holder

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one holder)

• Main fabric (oxford or printed cotton) — about 25 × 20 cm (10 × 8 in)
• Clear vinyl (about 0.3 mm) — about 12 × 10 cm (5 × 4 in)
• Fabric for the clip strip — about 15 × 8 cm (6 × 3 in)
• A clip (badge clips are sold for exactly this) — 1

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Accessories” → “Name tag holder” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the badge width, height, ease and clip strip length. Presets cover standard and large.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the body and the clip strip, and mark the window opening.
2. Cut
   Cut two body pieces and one clip strip. Cut the vinyl slightly larger than the window.
3. Handling vinyl
   Pins leave permanent holes. Use clips or a strip of tape.

4. Sewing

4-1. Make the window

1. Cut the marked opening out of the piece that will be the front.
2. Lay the vinyl behind it and stitch 3 mm outside the opening edge all the way around.
3. Vinyl sticks to the presser foot. Lay tissue paper on top and tear it away afterwards.

4-2. Make the clip strip

1. Fold it in quarters lengthwise, press and topstitch both edges.
2. Fold it into a loop and check the clip passes through.

4-3. Sew the body

1. Place the two body pieces right sides together, catching the clip loop at the top edge with the loop pointing inward.
2. Sew around, leaving 8 cm (3 in) open at the bottom for the badge.
3. Trim the corners diagonally.

4-4. Turn and finish

1. Turn through the opening and shape the corners. Press with a cloth on a low setting and keep the iron away from the vinyl.
2. Fold the opening edges in and topstitch 3 mm from the edge.
3. Thread the clip through the loop and check the badge slides in easily.

✏️ An iron will melt vinyl. Use a pressing cloth, a low setting, and keep away from the vinyl entirely. If that worries you, crease the folds with a ruler instead of pressing them.

5. Tips & variations

• Skip the vinyl: a plain pocket that the badge slides into avoids handling vinyl altogether — and is easier to make.
• Buy the clip: badge clips are sold in craft and hundred-yen shops and are designed not to mark clothes.
• Make one per child: different fabrics stop them getting mixed up.