Make a wallet ...

This tutorial is for a wallet, suitable for carrying bank cards, receipts and money notes.  You need only use straight stitch on your machine.

The outside of my wallet is plain, with a simple button for closing, but you can add applique, embroidery, lace, buttons and bows!

Materials:
Fabric offcuts, curtain interlining, 7 cm elastic, 1 button + any of the above if you wish!
Scissors, pins, needle + thread, fish knife! (Fig 1)

Pattern Pieces:
Cut one of each from a newspaper supplement (4 pieces in total).

Wallet Cover & Lining:  23 cm x 13 cm
Large inside pocket:      23  cm x 16 cm
Small inside pocket:      23 cm x 13.5 cm
Interlining:                        20.5 cm x 10.5 cm

Fabrics:
I used 3 fabrics –  linen for the outside (curtain weight cottons & corduroy work well); crisp patchwork cottons for the lining and pockets.
I used the same fabric for the lining and the small inside pocket. (Fig 2)

Tip:  If you use lighterweight cotton for the outside, you could use iron-on interfacing to add firmness.

Step-by-step guide:
1      Cut out fabric pieces and interlining
2      Pin interlining to wrong side of lining. (Fig 3)
3      Stitch top and bottom 1 cm from edge of interlining (long edges) and from top to bottom at half way point  (Fig 4)
4      Press Large inside pocket and Small inside pocket pieces in half lengthways (right side showing); topstitch 0.5 cm from folded edge
5      Place Large and Small inside pockets together; mark half way with a pin and stitch them together (Fig 4)
6      With right side of lining facing up, place pockets on top.
7      Fold elastic in half, place on right hand side on top of pockets half way down and stitch several times to secure (Fig 5)
8      Place wallet fabric right side down on top of inside pockets; pin and stitch all around leaving an 8 cm gap. (Fig 6)
9      Trim corners and now, when you’ve turned the wallet inside out use the fish knife to do the corners!  It’s a brilliant tool for this job!
Check the interlining is not folded up anywhere.
10   Press carefully, especially the turning gap which should fold inside easily.
11    Carefully, with a long length stitch, top stitch close to the edge all around.  Be especially carefully of the ‘gap’.  Top stitch with wallet fabric on top and lining + pockets face down.
12   Add a button to fasten then money, cards etc!

Fig 1 Pattern pieces, elastic, pins, fish knife - what?

Fig 2 3 fabrics - polka dot linen + 2 crisp cottons

Fig 3 Interlining pinned to wrong side of lining fabric

Fig 4 Interlining stitched to lining - stitch right across from lining edges and down the middle; Pockets - folded, top stitched & stitched together in the middle

Fig 5 Secure elastic as shown - give it a tug to check. TIP: Use very small stitches & stitch several times.

Fig 6 Wallet fabric right side down on top of pockets. Remember the left side here will be the front so any applique should be on the left. Leave gap in stitching for turning.

All done - with a simple button fastening

Here are some others  …

Add embellishments before you sew up your wallet but add the button fastening after sewing up

Let me know how yours turn out.

Adaliza x