Alright, so I decided to make one of those antibacterial gel holders. It’s been on my mind for a bit, actually.
You know how it is, right? You buy those little bottles of hand sanitizer, thinking you’re all prepared. Then, poof! They vanish into the black hole that is your bag. Or, even worse, they get squeezed and leak all over your stuff. I’ve had that happen more times than I care to admit. Sticky phone, sticky keys… just a mess. It got pretty annoying, especially when you actually need the gel and you’re digging around for ages.
Getting Started
So, I thought, enough is enough. I’m gonna make something to keep this darn gel in check. First thing, I rummaged through my craft box. You know, that box where bits of fabric and old projects go to retire. Found some leftover fabric – nothing fancy, just some sturdy cotton I had from another project that went sideways a while back. Don’t even ask about that one.
I grabbed my little bottle of gel to use as a sort of guide. Laid it on the fabric and figured out how big a piece I needed. Didn’t get too technical with measurements, just eyed it, really. Cut out two rectangles, trying to get them roughly the same size. Roughly being the key word here, folks. Perfection is overrated for these little things, I reckon.
Putting It Together
Then came the sewing part. Now, I’ve got a sewing machine tucked away somewhere, but honestly, for small stuff like this, sometimes it’s just faster to do it by hand. Plus, less chance of a major thread-tangling disaster, which happens to me more than I like.
So, I threaded a needle – took me a couple of tries, my eyes aren’t what they used to be, or maybe the needle eye was just playing hard to get that day. Standard struggle.
- I put the two fabric pieces right sides together, so the nice side would be on the outside later.
- Started stitching around three sides, making a little pocket. Kept the stitches fairly small; didn’t want the gel bottle plotting an escape.
- Left the top open, obviously. That’s where the gel bottle actually slides in.
Once that was done, I snipped the corners a tiny bit, just the very tip. Heard somewhere that helps it look neater when you turn it right side out. Then, the grand reveal – flipped the little pouch. It looked okay, a bit homemade, but that’s the charm, right? At least it wasn’t falling apart.
I definitely wanted a way to attach it to my bag, because just having another loose pouch defeats the purpose. So, I cut a small strip of the same fabric. Folded it over lengthwise and stitched it down to make a little loop. Then, I hand-sewed that loop securely to the back of the pouch. This part was a bit fiddly, trying to get the needle through all those layers of fabric without stabbing myself. Nearly did, though. I remember one time I was trying to fix a strap on my old backpack, a similar fiddly bit with thick material, and I was half-watching some dumb show on TV, not paying full attention. Ended up jabbing myself right under the fingernail. Man, that smarted for days! Luckily, no such drama this time with the gel holder, just a close call that made me pay more attention.
The Final Product
Slid the antibacterial gel bottle in. It was a perfect fit! Well, mostly perfect. A little snug, but it works, and the gel isn’t going anywhere. Clipped it onto my bag strap with a little carabiner I had lying around from who-knows-what.
And there you have it. My very own, custom-made antibacterial gel holder. No more lost bottles, no more sticky messes inside my bag. Took me, what, maybe half an hour, tops? And it’s actually pretty handy. Plus, I used up some scrap fabric, so that’s a win too. Sometimes these little DIY things you just throw together are the most satisfying, you know? Does the job, and I made it. Good enough for me.
