NEW Tutorial! Make your own Smart Phone Wallet!
Hello! Linda here, writing my first official post for cool cottons. After seeing some of the responses to our Instagram post earlier this week I've set to work creating this quick little tutorial to share. In all fairness I do have to say that my inspiration for the wallet I created is a combination of similar wallets found while browsing Pinterest, specifically these few: Mobile Case/Wallet, Smart Phone Wallet by kailochic on Etsy, and elements from this wonderful fabric wallet tutorial by Modest Maven. That said, not one of the tutorials I found had everything I was looking for, and the case that inspired me most didn't have a tutorial at all, so I played around drafting my own.
Folded Phone Wallet Tutorial
** Measurements given fit a smart phone that measures approximately 2.5” x 5”. If you need to adjust to fit your phone, alter the 7” cutting height to 1 1/2” MORE than you need for the height of your phone. The width of this wallet should accommodate a phone up to 3 1/2” wide (caveat – I haven't tried to fit a phone that wide into the wallet).
Materials:
Outer shell + phone pocket: ¼ yd
Inside lining + card pockets: ¼ yd
Tab closure: 2 1/2” x approx. 4 1/2”
Mid-weight fusible interfacing: ¼ yd
1 sew-in snap
Thread to match
*optional
Keychain tab: 3 1/2” x 3 1/4”
1” Key ring OR 1” D-ring
From your outer fabric and lining fabric each cut a 7” x 8 3/4” rectangle. Cut 2 pieces of fusible interfacing 6 3/4” x 8 1/2” (or 1/4” less than your fabric pieces). Fuse to wrong side of both outer shell and lining.
From your lining fabric (or an alternate contrast fabric) cut a 7” x 14” rectangle for the cash and card pockets. Fold one end WST (wrong sides together) 3 3/4” to the back. Press the fold crisp.
Take the long end of the rectangle and fold it up so the wrong side of the fabric shows and the fold is about 1/4” up from the raw edge you pressed under. Next, fold the piece back on itself leaving 1/4” - 3/8” showing from the first pocket fold, so that the end of the rectangle's raw edges line up with one another. Press.
Measure 3” and 6” from one of the edges, draw a line down both pockets and stitch through all the layers.
Set these pockets right side up on the print side of the inner lining, matching up the raw edges on 3 sides. Pin or machine baste 1/4” on the top and bottom.
From your outer shell and phone pocket fabric (or,again, another accent fabric if you like!) cut two 4 1/4” x 7” rectangles for the phone pocket and a 5 1/2” x 7” piece for another card or note pocket. Cut a piece of fusible interfacing 4” x 6 3/4” and attach to the wrong side of the front phone pocket fabric.
Place the two sides of the phone pocket RST (right sides together) and stitch along just one of the 7” edges using a 3/8” seam allowance. Flip the pieces so the right side of the fabric is showing and press the seam. Top stitch 1/8” from finished seam. Place pocket on the wallet lining at the opposite side from the card pockets, again matching up the raw edges on 3 sides. Machine baste pocket to lining at top and bottom.
Take the 5 1/2” x 7” pocket piece and fold in half WST so that you have a 2 3/4” x 7” rectangle. Press fold and place on top of card pockets with raw edges matched up. Machine baste.
Making the tabs:
To make the closure tab, take your 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” piece of fabric and apply a piece of fusible interfacing to the wrong side, cut 1/4” smaller in both dimensions. Fold the rectangle in half RST lengthwise. Stitch along the long edge and only one short end using a 1/4” seam allowance and backstitching at beginning and end. Clip the 2 corners at the shorter end with the stitching.
Flip to right side of fabric, using a tube-turner (or I sometimes use chopsticks) to push the corners out. Press and topstitch along 3 sides. *From here you can adjust the length to your preference, keeping in mind that you will lose 3/8” - 1/2” in the seam allowance. In my original sample I chose to take up the extra length as a pen/stylus loop at the side. Those instructions will be included at the proper time as an optional detail. Place tab on top of phone pocket and lining, centered along the short side of the wallet lining with the raw edges of the tab along the edge of the lining. Pin or baste in place.
*Optional keychain loop:
With your 3 1/2” x 3 1/4” fabric piece, fold in half WST for a 1 3/4” x 3 1/4” rectangle. Press center fold, then open up again. Fold in each side bringing the raw edge to the center fold and press along the new folds.
With raw edges enclosed fold the piece once again along that first center fold and press. Topstitch just along the two long edges. If using a D-ring you will need to thread the tab through the ring before attaching to the rest of the wallet. If you are using a key ring you have the option of adding it after the wallet has been completed, but may certainly put it on the tab at this stage as well. Fold the loop in half bringing the two ends together. Place on top of the lining and card pockets so that the short ends are lined up with the top raw edge and the loop lies on top of the first 2 card pockets, but not the outer-most pocket. Pin or baste in place.
Attaching Outer shell and Lining:
Place the outer shell fabric (with interfacing attached) face down on top of the wallet lining and pockets. Pin and stitch around the perimeter using a 3/8” seam allowance and leaving an opening of approximately 2-3” along one edge in order to turn right-side-out. Backstitch at both ends.
Trim bulky seam allowances to 1/4”.
Clip all four corners and turn wallet, using a tool to help get crisp corners. Press seams. Hand stitch the opening using a blind stitch or whip stitch. Top stitch 1/8” around edge of entire wallet. If you have an edge-stitching foot for your machine, this is the time to use it.
*Optional pen/stylus loop:
If you left your closure tab on the long side and would like to make a little loop to hold a pen or tablet stylus now is the time! Simply fold the tab in toward the lining side of the wallet, leaving a 3/4” loop off to the side. Stitch through all tab layers right where the tail of the tab meets the edge of the wallet, backstitching on both sides.
Attach a snap to the end of the closure tab and the front of the outer shell, being careful not to stitch through extra layers and therefore stitching any of the pockets closed. Voila!