Dopp Kit Instructions

Dopp Kits for Hospitalized Veterans

A Dopp Kit is the popular name for a toiletries bag often used by the military.  It's a zippered case that contains a man's basic toiletry essentials.  For this DAR Service for Veterans project, we are going to sew a minimum of 50 Dopp Kits that will go to the V.A. Hospital in Long Beach, CA.   Veterans who are admitted to the hospital are not provided any sort of toiletries and it can be very difficult for them to obtain them.  We are going to help those Veterans in need by creating Dopp Kits and they will be filled though donations to the  Mission Viejo Chapter's  Service to Veterans Committee. 

Donations by check should be made out to:  Mission Viejo Chapter, NSDAR , with a not to the bottom that says Service to Veterans Committee.  Mail them to  

    Chris Hurst-Loeffler

    DAR Chapter Treasurer

    6 Calle Vaqueta

    Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

How to Make a Dopp Kit

Materials Needed:

2  11" X 14" Pieces of Heavy Upholstery Fabric (The kit won't hold its shape if too lightweight)

2  11" X 14" Pieces of any Lining Fabric

1  7" X 3" piece  of Upholstery Weight Fabric  (or a 7" long piece of  one inch wide webbing)

Zipper, 14 inches or longer.  

One Spool Matching Thread

Sewing Machine with Size 90 or 100 Needle recommended

Scissors

Pins

Ruler

Seam Ripper

Sharpie Marker

Chalk or similar Marker that Contrasts w/ Lining

(If you need an easy pattern for cutting out the pieces, tape two pieces of printer paper together so they measure 11" X 14" for a perfect rectangle.)

MAKE ALL SEAMS 1/2 INCH

1.  Place one fabric piece on one lining piece, wrong sides together.  Pin together, and then either zig-zag or serge all the way around the edges which will prevent fraying.
   
2. CENTERED ZIPPER: Unzip the zipper and place it face down onto the 14-inch edge of the right side of one fabric piece, as shown below. The top metal zipper stop should be at 5/8 inch below the top edge of the fabric and the zipper tape may hang over that edge.  The zipper is then pinned so it even with the  edge of the fabric.  Some zippers may be longer than the fabric. The excess will be trimmed off later.
   
   
   
3. Stitch the zipper in place approximately 1/4 inch away from the teeth, either using a zipper foot or by moving your needle position all the way to the left, as I have done here.
   
4. Turn the zipper tape under the fabric.  Holding the fold right along the teeth of the zipper, stitch down the zipper approximately 1/4 inch from the fold, using a zipper foot or by moving the needle to the right.

   
5. Zip up the zipper. Place the second piece of lined fabric on top of the other side of the zipper tape, right-side down over the zipper. Line it up with the edge of the tape and make it even at the top and bottom with the other piece of fabric.  Stitch approximately 1/4 inch away from the teeth of the zipper. You can feel the zipper under the fabric.
   
6. Open out the fabric pieces to expose the zipper, right side up. Stitch down this side of the zipper, just like you did on the other side, so it is the same on both sides.  You now have a perfectly centered zipper. 
   

   
7. Zip up the zipper. Put the two sides opposite the zipper together with right sides of the fabric together.  Pin and stitch.  This creates a tube.
   

   
8. Unzip the zipper. On the inside, stitch the seam to the body of the kit along both edges of the seam allowance, about 1/4 to 3/8 inch from the seam.
   
9. Zip the zipper up halfway. With the tube inside out, line up the zipper and the opposing seam at both ends. Be sure the zipper teeth will be together at the top of the zipper.  Pin and stitch. At this point you can trim off any extra zipper length.  
   
   
10. Double stitch both ends where you have pinned.  As seen above, the stitch line should run just slightly above the zipper stops.  At the bottom of the zipper. stitch back and forth a few times if the zipper has no bottom stop.  If the needle stops when going over the zipper teeth, move the fabric very slightly, and try again by turning the hand wheel.  You now have an inside-out square.
11. 
12. Now you will grab each corner and pull it open so that the bottom seam forms two triangles over a larger triangle, as seen above.  Shift the fabric so the stitch line bisects the big triangle perfectly
    
13. As shown above, place your ruler on the triangle, putting the stitch line at 2.5 inches.  Then slide the ruler up or down so that one end is on zero and the other end is on 5 inches.  Mark that line with chalk or fabric marker.  Stitch the seam so the zipper lies flat. In the example above, the serged seam is to the right of the stitch line so the zipper will lie flat. 
    

    

    Stitch like this on all 4 corners, measuring and marking carefully.  When you are done, the project should look like the picture below.
14. 
15. At this point you can turn the project inside-right, to check that the shape looks kind of like a small loaf of bread.  If it looks good, turn it back to inside out and we will do the last step: Attaching the handle.  The handle can be either a 7 inch piece of thin one inch webbing or a handle you make from the upholstery fabric.  It needs to be sturdy.
    
16. To make the handle, turn under 1/2 inch on both long edges of the 7" X 3" piece of fabric. Put the edges together and pin.  Stitch 1/4" seam along that edge.  On the opposite side of handle, make another row of stitches 1/4 inch from that edge. 
17. On the end of the kit body where the zipper closes, use your seam ripper or small scissors to remove 1.25 inch of the stitches on both of those two corners, You want that opening to be slightly low below the end seam.  Take a look at the picure of the finished kit to see where you are going to put the handle, and open the seams so the handle is posititioned as it is shown.  (Attaching the handle before sewing the triangles is possible, but I think it is a little harder to position it correctly at that point.)
    
     
18. Once you remove the stitches, from the outside of the kit stick the end of the handle through the hole, as shown below, positioning it so the top edge of the handel is just slightly above the side seam and it is inserted approx. 3/4" inch. Pin and double stitch the triangle seam, which will also stitch through the end of the handle. Once one side is stitched, poke the other end of the handle through the hole on the other side.  Position the handle so that it looks level from the outside of the kit.  Pin and double stitch.  To give the handle extra strength, read on to step 19.
    
    
      
19. The handle attachment seams will need to be reinforced.  Double stitch over the handle and then do an extra set of double stitches 3/8 inch inside the triangle, also going through the end of the handle.  This will make the handle very secure.
20. Turn the kit inside right and YOU ARE FINISHED!!.  

I have some kits with pre-cut fabric that has been serged together and with a zipper.  Let me know if you want to stop by and I can put one or more in a bag on my front gate.  I recommend getting a kit because the fabric has been tested as heavy enough. 

If you would like to choose your own HEAVY upholstery fabric and zipper, many times Joann's has low cost remnants that will be perfect for the task.  One kit only takes 1/3 yard, Two kits takes 1/2 yd.  If the fabric is extra wide, you might get more kits out of it. I have several colors of zipper if you want to use one of them.  

Also, the lining and upholstery fabrics can be reversed! We just need one layer of heavy fabric to give the kits body. So if you can't find an upholstery fabric you like, find a great lining fabric and put it on the outside!  

Most patients are men at the veteran's hospital and the Chapter is buying men's toiletries in bulk to make the project affordable. Consider this when buying fabric.  If you would like to sew one for a female veteran, that would be great!  Please be aware, the V.A. hospital does not accept hotel toiletries, only brand name ones as are seen in stores.  

1. We need members who can sew, and we will also have a need for members who can write a nice note to each veteran, members who can help cut out fabric, a member who can assist in delivering the kits to the hospital.
2. All members who participate should record their own service hours on DAR.org.  Because this is a VA charity project, you can also record your hours by sending them to:  andrea.lennon@va.gov
3. If you have any questions, please Email me, April Hay, at DARVeteran@gmail.com or at my email address in the Chapter Directory.  Thanks for all of your help.