With the right materials and techniques, leather and fabric wallets are very easy to make.You can add more pockets and pouch for your money and cards if you create your own wallet.You can pick the colors and materials that suit you.Stitching together an elegant leather wallet isn't too difficult if you have the right cutting and punching tools along with a needle, thread and basic hand-sewing abilities.You can make a softer canvas wallet by sewing it together.
Step 1: Take a piece of paper and make a pattern for your wallet.
Print out your favorite wallet pattern after searching online and in leatherworking books.You can draw your own pattern with a few simple rectangles drawn out in pencil.Attach labels to each piece and cut them out of paper.If you're making your own pattern, the main wallet body piece should be about 19 cm wide.The main piece has 2 snap tabs.Each tab will have a square on all sides.Take the squares from the left side of the wallet body piece and put them in between the top and bottom.The pocket pieces should be about 10 cm long and 2 cm wide.The right side of your wallet has between 1 and 3 card pockets.If you're adding a change pocket, make this pattern piece by 3 in.
Step 2: The leather has pattern pieces on it.
To trace around the outside of the leather, use a colored pencil or chalk.Next, trace the rest of the pattern pieces at a time.Other animal leathers would also work, but a supple piece of vegetable-tanned cowhide leather would be ideal.Order a small piece, no more than 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) long, from an online retailer, a local fabric store that carries leather, or a specialty leather retailer.The leather thickness is measured in ounces.The leather weight for your wallet should be between 3 to 6 ounces.A slimmer wallet is a result of a lower weight.It is possible to use the same piece of leather for both the wallet and the pockets.
Step 3: Use a blade to cut the leather.
With the marked lines facing up, place your leather on a cutting surface.Place a metal ruler against the pattern line you just traced for the cleanest cut lines.Draw the blade along the side of the ruler by pressing it into the leather.Cut along the lines until the pattern pieces are free.Be careful not to slip while moving the blade.The finished edge of the wallet will be the cut edge.Go ahead and remove any nicks along the cut edge.If you don't have a sharp knife, try a utility knife.A self-healing cutting mat or a kitchen cutting board can be used to place the leather on.
Step 4: There are pockets on the wallet body.
The card pockets should be placed on top of each other so that the top is visible.There is a stack of pockets in the upper right corner of the wallet body.There is a change pocket in the center of the wallet body.To hold the pockets in place, use masking tape or push pins.Place pins in the corners of the pockets.Make sure you have the layout correct because this will puncture the leather.If you prefer to have more card pockets, just cut out a few more pieces instead of cutting out the change pocket.The change pocket should be on the upper left corner of the wallet.
Step 5: The wallet body can be punched into with holes around the outside edge.
To punch holes through the pockets and into the wallet body, use either an awl or a metal push pin.The wallet body should have holes in it directly beneath the pockets.Continue until you add holes to the sides and bottom of each pocket.When you're sewing the wallet together, your needle will go through these holes.Don't hit the top of the pockets.You don't have to put holes along the outside edge of the wallet body during this step.Make sure you don't move the pockets.It's important to keep the holes in alignment.If you're using a rotary punch, put a piece of thick leather under your wallet.It's easier to punch holes in the leather when you do that.
Step 6: Attach the pockets to the wallet body with a needle and thread.
Attach a hand-sewing needle to the knot.To sew each pocket to the body of the wallet, use a basic straight stitch.When you're done, tie another knot.Remove the pins and tape.To melt the wax together for a more permanent hold, burn the knot with a lighter.To hide the knot, start from the inside of the wallet.The straight stitch can be created by passing the thread in and out of the holes.The pocket holes should be lined up with the wallet body.For added strength, complete 2 rows of stitching.
Step 7: Do you know the position of your snap closure?
To close the snap closure, fold your wallet in half.The 2 square snap tabs should be folded over the edge of the wallet.Push a pin through the center of the tabs until it punctures the wallet body.The bottom half of the wallet should be folded up behind the top half to make it easier to fold.The tabs should line up.Next, close the wallet by folding it in half and touching the 2 sets of pockets.
Step 8: The snaps should be put into the snap tabs and wallet body.
The metal set-in snap has a front and back for the female and male parts.Attach the components to the leather with a metal cup and anvil.The bottom snap tab has a snap cap on it.The top snap tab has a snap stud on it.The leather of both snap tabs should be sandwiched between the cap and stud.The male part of the snap is created by these pieces.On the lower-right side of the wallet body is where the sockets will go, and on the other side is the open prong.The female part of the snap is created by these pieces.You can buy metal set-in snaps online.It needs to come with a metal cup and anvil that matches the size of the snaps you're using.
Step 9: There are holes in the wallet body.
Pin or tape the wallet in place once the set-in snaps are complete.You can use a metal push pin or awl to punch holes in the wallet body.The holes should go through the leather.Don't hit the top of the wallet.You will have a wide pocket for paper bills if you keep this open.
Step 10: Through the holes, sew the wallet body together.
To sew the wallet body in half, use a basic straight stitch.Pass the needle and thread through the holes until the wallet is completely sewn together.To hide the knot, start from the inside of the wallet with the pockets facing up.If you want a more durable knot, burn it to melt the wax.For additional strength, Stitch around 2 times.Sinew could be used to stitch along the outside of your wallet.
Step 11: Cut out the wallet pattern pieces after drawing them on paper.
There are 4 rectangular pattern pieces.The two rectangles are 8.25 in (23.5 cm) long and 10 cm tall.The pieces are labeled #1 and #2.Then draw a piece of paper measuring 8.25 in by 2.75 in.This piece is labeled #3.Finally, draw a 8.25 in (23.5 cm) long piece of paper.This piece has a number on it.Measure and draw the pattern pieces onto the paper with a ruler and pencil.
Step 12: Pick one or two wallet fabric.
The best fabric for this project would be canvas or cotton duck.A contrasting pocket can be created with either a single color for the whole wallet or 2 solid colors.Try using 1 solid color fabric with 1 patterned fabric for contrast.You will have enough to make 1 or more wallets if you purchase 0.25 yd of each fabric.Smaller fabric remnants can be used as well.It is not possible to make a very durable wallet with lightweight cotton quilting fabrics.
Step 13: Attach the pattern pieces to the fabric.
To secure the paper pattern pieces to the wrong side of your fabric, use sewing pins.Take a pencil and trace the edges of the pattern pieces.You can use your pencil to label them once they're traced.Attach the fabric shears to the pieces to cut them out.If you're using 2 types of fabric, pieces #1, #2, and #3 should be traced and cut out of your main fabric.You can use your contrasting fabric for piece 4.
Step 14: You can whip-stitch around the edges of the pieces.
This will finish off the edges of the pieces.To whip-stitch around the edges of your wallet, use a needle and thread.If you're sewing it on the machine, run a zigzag stitch around the edges.Don't sew the pieces together.These stitches are used to prevent the edges from unraveling.
Step 15: The top of pieces 3 and 4.
By folding over the top edges of piece #3 and #4, you will be able to see them.The edge of the fabric should be turned over.You can use an iron to create a crease.Attach 1 or 2 rows of straight stitches along the hem with a machine or hand-sewing needle.Don't connect the pieces together.If you're doing 2 rows of stitching, place the first row away from the fold and the second row close to it.
Step 16: Pin in the sides and bottom of pieces 3 and 4.
The inside pocket pieces will function as these.The right sides should be sandwiched together.Line up the bottom edges and sides of the larger piece on the smaller one.Straight pins are used to pin these pieces together.The hemmed top edges should be offset.
Step 17: There is a vertical line along the center of piece #3.
Determine the center point of the wallet with a ruler.It should be close to both sides.Use a ruler, pencil or chalk to create a vertical line.Place pins along the line to hold the fabric together.The bottom edge should be parallel to the line.The line should be extended from the bottom to the top of piece #3.Since this is a pocket for your paper bills, don't extend the line over it.
Step 18: A basic straight stitch is used to connect pocket pieces #3 and 4.
To run a straight stitch along the line you just marked, use a hand-sewing needle and thread or a sewing machine.Only sew to the top of piece #3.Don't sew over it.The billfold and credit card sections of your wallet are created by this.
Step 19: The pocket pieces should be pinned in between pieces #1 and #2.
Beneath the other pieces, place piece #1 and #2.The bottom and sides of the pieces need to be lined up.Place pins along the bottom, top, and right side of the fabric.Don't pin the left side of the fabric.
Step 20: Along the bottom, top, and right sides, sew together the wallet.
Use a needle and thread or a sewing machine to run a straight stitch along most of the wallet's perimeter, with a seam allowance of 0.125 in (0.32 cm).The wallet should be left at the left side.All four layers need to be sewn together.You can clip away the excess fabric at the corners of the wallet once it's sewn.
Step 21: The wallet should be turned right-side out.
Push the fabric through the opening on the left side.The right side of the fabric should be visible with the left side turned to the inside.Your border stitches and seam allowance should now be hidden.
Step 22: Press and pin the edge of the wallet.
The edge should be turned over by 0.125 in (0.32 cm).You have neat fold lines on the outside if you arrange the raw edges so that they're inside the wallet.To pin the front and back sides together, use an iron to press the fold lines in place.
Step 23: The wallet should be finished by stitching the folded edges closed.
The open side of the wallet can be closed with a hand-sewing needle and thread.Run your row of straight stitches away from the folded edge.If you want to add a crease to your wallet, give it a final press with the iron.