Sunday, February 14, 2016

Card Wallet

Here's an easy card wallet that uses minimal fabric, and just a couple of those clear plastic photo/card sleeves.


Materials


Outer Fabric (1): 4.5" x 6.5"
Lining Fabric (1): 4.5" x 6.5"
Card Pockets (2): 4.5" x 3"
Closure Tab (2): 1.5" x 3"
Fusible Fleece (1): 4" x 6"
Clear Plastic card sleeves (2) - I picked up a couple of these at my local Walmart, near the mens' wallets and belts.
Magnetic Snap (1)
1/4" Bias Tape

Assemble Card Pockets

Take your card pocket pieces and attach the 1/4" bias tape to one of the long edges.


Lay the card pockets on top of your lining fabric with the bias tape sides facing in. Stitch the pockets to the lining on the left and right vertical edges, just to secure them for now.


Make the tab closure

Take one of your tab closure pieces (what you want to be facing down when the tab is closed and mark on the wrong side where you want the snap to sit. I put a couple pieces of interfacing where the snap sits for strength. Attach the snap with the nub facing out (on the right side of the fabric) according to the snap's instructions.

Get the other tab closure piece and place it right sides together with the snap piece and sew together, leaving the bottom open.

Clip the corners and turn right side out, making sure to get the corners poked out nice and neatly. Press with your iron.


On your outer fabric, lay the whole thing together and determine where you want the other side of your magnetic snap to be. Remember that when this thing is full, it will grow, so you want to make sure you leave a bit of room to account for expansion. Mark and insert the snap so the "female" side is facing up on the right side of the outer fabric.

Sew it Together

Arrange the pieces right sides together and stick the tab closure in between the outer and lining with the nub side of the snap down facing the lining fabric. Make sure you have the tab closure centered and at the right length to hit the outer snap. 

In the photo below, my lining fabric is actually on the top, so my tab closure is facing up towards the right side of the lining.


Sew around the edges using 1/4" seam and leave a gap somewhere for turning (just don't leave the gap on the side where the tab closure falls!). When sewing over the tab closure, I like to backstitch or zigzag to add strength. Clip the corners.

Turn it out, fold in the seam where you left the gap for turning and edgestitch that closed. You can also topstitch around the entire assembly if you choose.

Insert the plastic card pockets into the card slots and you're all set!