How to Make a Tri-Fold Wallet
Are you tired of lugging around a plain leather wallet or have always wanted a wallet to match every outfit? You can simply create your own with fabric of any texture or pattern of your choice. Make a few for yourself or give them as gift. You can even make holiday wallets by choosing Christmas, Halloween or Valentine's Day themed fabrics.
Things You'll Need
- 2 different pieces of fabric
- Fusible interfacing
- Scissors
- Needle
- Thread
- Tape measure
- Iron (optional)
- Ribbon (optional)
- Glue gun (optional)
Instructions
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1
Decide which of the two pieces of fabric you will use as the outside of your wallet and which piece you will use as the inside.
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2
Cut both pieces of fabric into rectangles, 4 inches by 12 inches. Set aside the fabric you will use for the outside of your wallet. Cut your fusible interfacing into two rectangles, each about 3 inches by 11 inches.
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3
Iron one piece of your fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric you will use for the interior of your wallet. The interfacing should be ironed to the center of the fabric so there is an inch of bare fabric on all sides.
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4
Cut a patch from the leftover interior fabric. For a change or card pocket, the patch should be about 4 inches by 3 inches. An extra pocket for bills should be about 4 inches by 8 inches.
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5
Sew the patch to the interior fabric by stitching the bottom edge and two sides of the smaller rectangles to the larger rectangle that will be the inside of your wallet.
If you are making a pocket for change or cards, sew the fabric to an area of the wallet that will not be included in a fold of the finished product. In other words, sew the pocket to an even third of the wallet so that the cards or change will not get in the way of the folds of the finished product.
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6
Pick up the fabric that will be used for the outside of your wallet and iron the second piece of fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric. Again, the interfacing should be ironed to the middle of the fabric so there is about an inch of bare fabric on each side.
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7
Line up the fabric that will be the outside of your wallet with the back of the interior fabric (the side without the pocket). Sew around the edges leaving the top open. You may also leave the left-hand side open if you desire.
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8
Fold the wallet into thirds and iron it if you like.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you would like to hide your stitching or simply add an extra frill to your wallet, glue strips of ribbon on top of the stitching on the inside pocket. You can even glue ribbon around the borders on the outside of your wallet.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images