Bi-Fold Wallet

I made this bi-fold wallet during my textiles class. It was for my final project, where we could choose what we wanted to make and the teacher would mark it based on how well we made it. The wallet I was using was becoming all tattered and it did not have enough card pockets, so I decided to sew me one.

I am quite satisfied with it. It has a big zipper pocket for coins, 6 card pockets (but you can easily put to similar cards in one of the pockets) and two sections for putting cash (behind the zipper pocket and behind the card pocket). All of these sections close nicely with a snap closure.

Also, this wallet matches with the sunglass case I made in the summer, because of the wooden buttons and the style of the fabrics.

I took photos at school for this tutorial, so the quality is kind of off, but let's get on with how to make it.

Materials you need:

From the grey polka dot fabric:

(1) 8.5 x 9" piece

(1) 2.5 x 5" piece

From the white patterned fabric:

(1) 8.5 x 9" piece

(1) 8.5 x 4.5" piece

(1) 8.5 x 3" piece

(1) 2.5 x 5" piece

From the pink striped fabric:

(5) 8.5 x 4.5" pieces

(1) 8.5 x 4" piece

(1) 8.5 x 3.5" piece

From interfacing (fuse them to the corresponding pieces):

(1) 8.5 x 9 heavy interfacing for the main piece

(1) 2.5 x 5" fusible interfacing for the latch

(1) 8.5 x 4.5" fusible interfacing for zipper pocket

From very thin interfacing (fuse them to the corresponding pieces):

(2) 8.5 x 4.5" pieces for back pocket pieces

(1) 8.5 x 4" piece for credit card pocket

(1) 8.5 x 3.5" piece for credit card pocket

(1) 8.5 x 3" piece for credit card pocket

You will also need snap closures, a button for embellishment, a 6" long zipper, and a needle and thread.

To make the zipper pocket:

1. Take one of your pink 8.5 x 4.5" pieces. On the wrong side of the piece, draw a line with a water soluble pen 1" from the top. Draw another line 1/2" below the first one. The length of these lines should be a little longer than your zipper. Connect the lines at the ends.

2. Place another 8.5 x 4.5" piece (white pattern piece that should be interfaced) right sides together with the piece you drew on. Sew around the box you just drew, using 1/8" seam allowance. Cut the middle of the rectangle about 1/2" from each end then cut to each corner to create triangles at the ends.

3. Flip the thing right side out through the rectangle, and press well.

4. Sew across the open ends of the zipper to make it easier to insert. Then pin and sew the zipper in place, topstitching close to the edge of the rectangle.

5. Take two more 8.5 x 4.5" pink pieces and lay them wrong sides together. Pin these pieces together with the zipper piece, so the zipper is facing the new pieces. Sew only the top edge together using 1/4" seam allowance, flip, and iron.

6. Topstitch the top edge you just sewed and baste the other three sides also using 1/4" seam allowance.

To make the credit card pockets:

1. Take two more pink 8.5" x 4.5" pieces and place them right sides together. Sew the top edge using 3/8" seam allowance, flip, and press.

2. Topstitch on the edge you just sewed.

3. Take the pink 8.5 x 4" piece. Fold the top edge over 1/2", press, and topstitch on the edge. Repeat for the other pink pieces, the 8.5 x 3.5" pink one and the 8.5 x 3" white one.

4. Line up the largest two pockets at the bottom edges. Draw a line 2.5" from the top edge and stitch over the line.

5. Repeat for the next piece, but this time draw the line 3" from the top edge. Then place the white patterned piece on top, and baste the three unfinished edges using 1/4" seam allowance. Find the middle of your pockets and topstitch over that middle line.

To make the snap closure:

1. Place the two 2.5 x 5" pieces (one of them should be interfaced) right sides together.

2. Sew around the edges using 1/4" seam allowance. Leave one short edge open. Clip corners and trim seams.

3. Turn right side out, press, and topstitch along the three edges.

4. Sew on a snap closure 1" from the short edge of the latch.

5. Take your main outer piece and make a mark 1.5" from the top edge, one of the 8.5" sides. Sew on the other side of the snap closure there.

To assemble:

1. Place the credit card slots and the zipper pocket on top of the 8.5 x 9" white patterned piece. Pin and baste all around the edges using 1/4" seam allowance.

2. Place the interior and exterior pieces right sides together and pin. Make sure the snap edge of the outer pieces matches up with the card slots of the inner piece. Sew around the perimeter using 1/2" seam allowance. Leave an opening at the zipper pocket side for flipping. Clip corners and trim seams.