Travel solutions for necklaces
December 1, 2024 7:34 PM Subscribe
I wear a lot of medium-large necklaces and I don't know how to travel with them without them getting tangled or broken. Ideas?
My necklaces are mostly glass or ceramic or similar. The pendants can be a couple of inches square and the chains might be actual chains or strands of 8-10mm beads or similar. They aren't huge statement pieces, but nor are they delicate gold chains with tiny dangles.
This Instagram photo is no longer accurate as to the particular pieces of jewelry I own, but the gist of sizes and such is still there.
How do I pack these so they don't arrive tangled around each other or broken?
Right now I mostly just put a few of them in a hard sided glasses case but that doesn't stop the tangling and it doesn't hold the larger pieces well. I could shove them each in individual ziplocs but that's not very protective.
Jewelry organizers that I find for sale tend to be for much more delicate pieces and much more varied types of jewelry. Other than necklaces, I have one ring and I travel with it by never taking it off my finger so it doesn't need to be organized - as a result, boxes meant to fit a bunch of earrings and rings don't help me. I have seen these necklace organizers but many of my necklaces won't fit in that kind of narrow channel.
My necklaces are mostly glass or ceramic or similar. The pendants can be a couple of inches square and the chains might be actual chains or strands of 8-10mm beads or similar. They aren't huge statement pieces, but nor are they delicate gold chains with tiny dangles.
This Instagram photo is no longer accurate as to the particular pieces of jewelry I own, but the gist of sizes and such is still there.
How do I pack these so they don't arrive tangled around each other or broken?
Right now I mostly just put a few of them in a hard sided glasses case but that doesn't stop the tangling and it doesn't hold the larger pieces well. I could shove them each in individual ziplocs but that's not very protective.
Jewelry organizers that I find for sale tend to be for much more delicate pieces and much more varied types of jewelry. Other than necklaces, I have one ring and I travel with it by never taking it off my finger so it doesn't need to be organized - as a result, boxes meant to fit a bunch of earrings and rings don't help me. I have seen these necklace organizers but many of my necklaces won't fit in that kind of narrow channel.
Would a set of velvet-like fabric bags of the kind jewelry is sometimes packed in like these on AliExpress (but perhaps a larger size) work?
posted by mdonley at 7:51 PM on December 1, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by mdonley at 7:51 PM on December 1, 2024 [1 favorite]
I think a necklace roll more like this, where there are the holders, but no channels, might work.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 7:58 PM on December 1, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 7:58 PM on December 1, 2024 [2 favorites]
I roll tangle prone necklaces up in saran wrap.
posted by potrzebie at 9:07 PM on December 1, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by potrzebie at 9:07 PM on December 1, 2024 [1 favorite]
The tip I see all the time is to thread the necklace chain through a drinking straw and fasten it. You can trim straws down if needed. If it is too big for a regular straw, a paper towel tube or toilet paper tube would serve the same purpose. I'd wrap each one in a separate t-shirt or sock.
posted by soelo at 9:44 PM on December 1, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by soelo at 9:44 PM on December 1, 2024 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: As I am reading the responses here, it is causing me to think more deeply about what I want in this item. I want to be able to easily pick up the thing and see them, and take out one item without having to unwrap everything or remove other things to get to them. It would be nice if the solution I use when travelling could translate to a solution for storing them at home, too.
With that thought in mind, I am sort of thinking of getting an zip-up A5 or A6 planner binder and a bunch of vinyl pouch inserts. I could flip through the pages and pick out what I want at any given moment.0
I could potentially move things around on my jewelry hanger at home so it would also hang vinyl inserts. I wouldn't want to keep them in a binder at home, because on the essential requirements for me remembering to wear necklaces is me seeing them in the morning while I get dressed.
My first thought was a zip-up CD holder, but I couldn't really find those anymore with removable sleeves in sizes smaller than a 4 disc size and that's too big to pack around.
Does anyone see a flaw in that plan? Or have a better idea for something that would do something similar?
posted by jacquilynne at 5:56 AM on December 2, 2024
With that thought in mind, I am sort of thinking of getting an zip-up A5 or A6 planner binder and a bunch of vinyl pouch inserts. I could flip through the pages and pick out what I want at any given moment.0
I could potentially move things around on my jewelry hanger at home so it would also hang vinyl inserts. I wouldn't want to keep them in a binder at home, because on the essential requirements for me remembering to wear necklaces is me seeing them in the morning while I get dressed.
My first thought was a zip-up CD holder, but I couldn't really find those anymore with removable sleeves in sizes smaller than a 4 disc size and that's too big to pack around.
Does anyone see a flaw in that plan? Or have a better idea for something that would do something similar?
posted by jacquilynne at 5:56 AM on December 2, 2024
There are two aspects to this. When I first read your question I was wondering how many necklaces do you pack for a typical trip? For trips up to a week I only bring a couple of necklaces unless I have to attend a fancy evening do. I tend to mix and match outfits so just pick two that work with multiple outfits. Of course you do you.
For serious necklace portability I'd look for something like this roll (pattern). Yes, it's a pattern but all I did was search for "chunky necklace travel roll". This is marketed as craft show display case. So perhaps that gives you something to search for.
There is also this one
posted by koahiatamadl at 6:34 AM on December 2, 2024 [1 favorite]
For serious necklace portability I'd look for something like this roll (pattern). Yes, it's a pattern but all I did was search for "chunky necklace travel roll". This is marketed as craft show display case. So perhaps that gives you something to search for.
There is also this one
posted by koahiatamadl at 6:34 AM on December 2, 2024 [1 favorite]
When I had to move my giant drawer of necklaces (I use an Ikea closet insert meant for other things to organize them) each necklace got put in it's own snack sized ziploc bag. Then all the bags got put in a box together. So I think your notion of a zip up planner with inserts is a good one. Then pack and unpack as needed.
posted by machine at 7:58 AM on December 2, 2024
posted by machine at 7:58 AM on December 2, 2024
Response by poster: When I first read your question I was wondering how many necklaces do you pack for a typical trip?
Typically one per day for trips up to a week, though some of the necklaces I wear together in layers, so maybe more than that. When I go home to visit family, it is often for up to a month at a time, and while I could bring one a day for a trip of that length, because I have that many, I don't actually bring that many. Then it's more like one necklace (or set of necklaces that I layer together) per dress packed.
I like my necklaces and I want to wear them more, not less, so my goal isn't to minimize the number of necklaces I need for a trip but to maximize the number I can reasonably and safely bring.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:40 AM on December 2, 2024 [2 favorites]
Typically one per day for trips up to a week, though some of the necklaces I wear together in layers, so maybe more than that. When I go home to visit family, it is often for up to a month at a time, and while I could bring one a day for a trip of that length, because I have that many, I don't actually bring that many. Then it's more like one necklace (or set of necklaces that I layer together) per dress packed.
I like my necklaces and I want to wear them more, not less, so my goal isn't to minimize the number of necklaces I need for a trip but to maximize the number I can reasonably and safely bring.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:40 AM on December 2, 2024 [2 favorites]
Starting with koahiatamadl’s pattern - a rectangle of canvas with small loops on the top edge to fasten necklaces through and ribbon at the bottom edge to tie through each necklace for travelling, so each one is always straight. A few extra loops at the top to hang on the wall while at home. Roll it around any soft non wrinkly garment when traveling, instead of the blue flaps.
That comes down to four straight seams - probably a neighborhood dry cleaner who does hems and repairs could do them for you.
posted by clew at 9:49 AM on December 2, 2024
That comes down to four straight seams - probably a neighborhood dry cleaner who does hems and repairs could do them for you.
posted by clew at 9:49 AM on December 2, 2024
How about this? (5 compartments)
or this? (15 compartments)
posted by sarajane at 10:15 AM on December 2, 2024
or this? (15 compartments)
posted by sarajane at 10:15 AM on December 2, 2024
A Dungeons & Dragons miniatures case might work. They're set up to keep each miniature in its own separate foam-cushioned compartment so they don't get damaged, but also easily accessible so the Dungeon Master can quickly grab the monsters etc they need.
An embroidery floss case might also work. They're usually semi-clear with little individual compartments. No padding/cushioning, though.
Try doing a "Shopping" tab search for those two products and see if they look like what you want.
posted by Jacqueline at 7:55 AM on December 3, 2024
An embroidery floss case might also work. They're usually semi-clear with little individual compartments. No padding/cushioning, though.
Try doing a "Shopping" tab search for those two products and see if they look like what you want.
posted by Jacqueline at 7:55 AM on December 3, 2024
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Place necklace on the felt so the necklace isn't touching itself
Fold felt hotdog style to enclose the necklace
Gently roll the felt up along its length
Tuck gently into your luggage
Repeat
posted by phunniemee at 7:47 PM on December 1, 2024 [7 favorites]