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I made a travel tea bag caddy for all of my tea-loving family members for Christmas (but they're not limited to the holiday gift-giving). These make great presents...and I made one for myself, too. Because I just can't travel without my tea, y'all. See how to create your own below.

Do you travel with tea? I have to. I feel like it's bringing a small comfort of home with me. I've made a friend or two on an airplane when I share one of my bags of tea...flight attendants are always happy to bring a hot cup of water for steeping a bag. This little travel tea bag caddy keeps me well stocked with my bags of Bigelow (and a couple of my sweeteners...since I use a kind that isn't always readily available). See how to make one of these below (your tea-loving friends will adore these!).

Travel Tea Bag Caddy

As I have mentioned on here before, I'm a tea big drinker. Constant Comment, from Bigelow is one of my favorites, and I love to bring it (along with others) along with me when I travel.

This little travel tea bag caddy can hold up to 12 standard bags of tea. The bags can stack on top of each other, two per compartment. If you're like me and travel with sweeteners, too, it can hold eight bags of tea and quite a number of sweeteners. 

How to Make a Tea Bag Caddy

Supplies:

• To make your own travel tea bag caddy, you'll need two coordinating fabrics (I chose a holiday pack of fat quarters and pulled two of my favorite patterns out of it). Cut your fabric into the following dimensions:
• 3-7"x5" rectangles of the "inside fabric"
• 1-7"x6.5" rectangle of the "inside fabric"
• 1- 7"x6.5" rectangle of the "outer fabric"

You'll also need:

• about 12" of 1/2" grosgrain ribbon
• coordinating thread (I went with a contrasting color so my thread shows, but you can totally go a bit more subtle, if you prefer)
• pins or wonder clips
• sewing machine, scissors, other standard notions

Directions:

Please note: we'll be using the basic stitch on your machine on all of this project's stitches.

• Start by folding the three 7"x5" rectangles in half, the long way, and giving them a good press. 
• Then give them a top stitch across the folded edge, about 1/4" in from the fold. Do a small backstitch on both sides, too.

• You will lay these three pieces on top of the larger rectangle in the same fabric (as shown above). The first piece will go an inch and a quarter from the top, then the next an inch and a quarter down from that, and then the last piece, lined up with the bottom of the larger rectangle. 
• I clipped the first piece in place (you can use pins, if you prefer). 
• Take the bottom two pieces of fabric back off (you were just lining them up for spacing purposes). 
• Sew across the bottom of the first strip, with a backstitch at each end (see below).

• You can see above where I sewed that first piece down. 
• Lay the next one on top and sew it in the same manner. 
• You will not have to sew the last piece in place...we will catch it when we sew the entire piece together. 

• Fold the entire piece in half, lengthwise, and press it closed. 
• Open it back up and use that press line as a guide for your center stitch (as pictured above). Use a backstitch at each end. 
• My stitches aren't perfect...but I like the lil' handmade vibe they have going on. If you're not confident doing super visible stitches, switch to a thread that blends in with your fabric, rather than contrasts.

• Set aside your inside piece for a bit. 
• Cut your ribbon in half. 
• You'll pin the ribbon on your outer fabric, facing inward (as pictured above). 
• I also like to pin the ends in place, so they don't get accidentally stitched up in the process (that's super easy to do, y'all!). Just make sure to pull the fabric taught when you attach it to the inside...the bulk of the ribbon pile can make that a bit tricky (not too crazy, just watch for it). 

• Lay your inner piece on top of the outer fabric (right sides touching). 
• Pin or clip into place. 
• I purposefully put clips over the spots where the ribbon ends are, so I can back stitch over them a couple of times. 

• Stitch around the entire perimeter, leaving about three inches open on the top of the piece (where there is the least amount of bulk). 
• I place pins in the spot where I don't want to sew. 
• Be sure to go over the ribbon areas a couple of times with your backstitch to give it some extra hold. 
• Once it's sewn, clip your corners (as you can see in the image above), so your points come out nicely.

• Turn the piece right side out through that opening you left at the top. 
• Be careful with the pins, especially the interior ones holding the ribbon in place. You can remove all pins at this point, too. 
• Push out your corners with a pointy(ish) object, taking care not to poke through the fabric. 
• You'll now do a topstitch around the entire perimeter, with 1/4" space from the edge, and catch the opening you left at the top to close it up.

Fill with your favorite tea! 

Like I mentioned, I made multiple tea bag caddies. I'll never travel without one. Knowing I have something familiar (and comforting) with me when I travel is so nice. And yes...I can make a friend on a plane by offering them a bag of tea!

While the tutorial above shares the method for making these with a ribbon, I also made one with snaps, too. I found the ribbon worked a bit better, but for those of you who prefer snaps, that's definitely a closure option, too.

When this little travel tea bag caddy is closed, it's nice and compact. Perfect for a carry-on bag or purse.

I think filling up your travel tea bag caddy with tea is the perfect little gift. These would be perfect for teachers, neighbors, friends, and more. 

And if you're traveling by car, just bring along a thermos of hot water to go with your travel tea bag caddy.