Basic Wallet Tutorial

Hi there! I can't believe we are in September!  I have been able to spend quite a bit of time sewing lately since we are back in school and things have sort of settled down a bit!  

A little bit ago, I made this Birdie Sling Bag.   I had more than enough fabric left over, so I knew I had to make a matching wallet.   It took me some time to figure out how I was going to make it, and I finally decided to keep it rather simple and basic.  

This is what I came up with: 

This wallet includes: a small zipper pouch for change, 6 card holders, a cash/checkbook pocket, and a magnetic snap for the closure.  Nothing too fancy going on here, but it is very functional! 

The tutorial may seem a little long-winded....but I promise you this is not very difficult.  It took me a while to put together, but that's because I had to figure out measurements and make the pattern, but I think for a relatively new sewer, this shouldn't take more than two hours to complete! 

So let's get started! 

For this wallet I used the following fabrics:

Falling Cloudberry - Art Gallery - Interior 

Femme Metale Sapphire - Art Gallery - Exterior

Drift Island Droplets - Art Gallery -- Card Pockets and Zipper Extender

Fusible Fleece - Purchase HERE

SF 101- Purchase HERE

Supplies and cutting: 

1/4 yard  of exterior fabric

1/4 yard  of interior fabric

1/4 yard  of pocket fabric

1/4 yard fusible fleece

1/4 yard SF 101 Interfacing

You will need to cut out both pattern pieces out of paper -- Download piece 1 HERE and piece 2  HERE

For the INTERIOR of wallet:

• cut pattern piece 1 out of fabric and line with interfacing (SF 101)
• cut pattern piece 2 out of same fabric as piece 1 and line with interfacing (SF 101)
• 8 1/2" x 20" piece of coordinating fabric (for card pockets) - do not line this piece.
• 2 - 2 1/2" squares of same fabric as your pocket fabric- line these with interfacing (SF101) interfacing (these are your extenders for your zipper)

For EXTERIOR of wallet:

You will need to tape pattern piece 1 and 2 together to create your pattern piece for the exterior of your wallet.  So that you have one piece for your exterior

• Cut your exterior piece out of fabric and line it with Fusible Fleece.  This will give your wallet structure. 

Other supplies needed:

• 7" zipper
• Magnetic snap
• Pins

Now let's start sewing!

Step 1: Start with your zipper, 2 small square pieces and your interior pattern piece 2:

Step 2: Place your two square extenders 1 1/2" from each edge of the zipper right side down and sew them on:

Step 3: Press them open and then trim off all the excess fabric so that you now have an 8 1/2" long piece for your zipper:

Step 4: Now place your zipper piece and interior pattern piece 2 right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam.  Press open and then top stitch a 1/4" from the edge of the zipper piece and then set aside. 

Step 5: Now grab your long piece for your card pockets.  This is kind of tricky to explain, so hopefully you'll understand!  You will want a credit card on hand so that you can properly measure where you will press for your pockets.  

You will want to double fold the top edge and sew a hem about 3/8".   

Now grab your card and line it up at the edge of the fabric:

Step 6:  Now with your card firmly in place (you will use your fingers to keep it in place) fold over the bottom edge of the fabric and press be sure to not iron over your card! You might melt it:

Step 7: Now fold your fabric back over, holding your card securely in place and expose about 3/8" of your card and press. Take your card out before you press!  The best way I can explain this is by folding a paper fan--it's the same technique used here. 

Step 8: Follow the same steps as above to make your other pockets, so that you have three pockets total:

Step 9: Now you will measure the halfway point (4.25") of your pockets piece and mark it and then sew a seam on that line.  You will also sew a stay stitch on either side of the pockets-- 1/4" seam.

Step 10: Now place your pocket piece (If you have any hanging over the interior piece, just trim it off) on top of your interior piece and pin 4 3/8"  down from the top and sew another stay stitch along the left and right sides--1/4" 

Step 11: Now you will attach your zipper piece.  Place right sides together with the bottom edge of your pocket piece and then sew a 1/4" seam.  Press open:

Step 12: Now it's time to attach your magnetic snap to your interior piece.

Line up your ruler with the top edge and 1 1/2" down.  Then mark your fabric at the 4.25" mark-- that's exactly the center.  

Step 13: Now take one of your flat pieces of your snaps and place the middle circle on the dot you made.  Now you will mark either side in the little rectangle spots: 

Step 14: Now you will carefully use your seam ripper and rip open the tiny marks you made *except the inner circle mark. 

Step 15: Now put your snap part through the holes:

Step 16: Turn it over to the back and add your disc piece and then fold the prongs over to secure your snap.

Step 17: Now take your exterior piece. We are going to add the other snap.  Place your ruler 3" from the bottom of your piece and mark the 4.25" spot from the side. You will follow the same steps as above to add your other part of your snap. 

Step 18: Now place your two pieces - the exterior piece and your interior piece right sides together and pin all the way around.  Make sure you leave your zipper OPEN! (My zipper is not open in the picture, but I did open it when I stitched around it)  Now stitch all the way around the perimeter of your wallet using a 1/2" seam.  

Step 19: Once you have stitched all the way around clip your corners and then clip around the rounded edge at the top.  You will then turn the wallet right side out through the zipper opening. 

Step 20: Press. Top stitch all the way around your wallet and then stitch about 1/2" from the top of the zipper--this will be seen on the other side of your wallet so be sure to use matching thread.  This seam is to keep everything that you put into the zipper portion--within that part of the wallet--so you don't have anything floating around!

And there you have it, a cute and functional wallet! 

Talk to you soon!