Tutorial - Business Card Wallet with Fold Over Elastic Closure
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This afternoon I whipped up this cute little business card wallet. And then I wanted to make another, and another, and another.
Simple little projects like this are so satisfying to me! With as much running around, and here and there, and juggling priorities that make up most of my life, there's something about being able to sit down at your sewing machine for 20 minutes and walk away with a completed project.
The two pockets on the inside will hold business cards or credit cards, or maybe even some folded money. It would make a cute way to present a gift card!
If making this wallet has given you the inspiration to get even more creative, then why not make your own business card to put in the wallet as well? You can easily find the equipment you will need from suppliers like Duplo International and you can use some of the printers they sell to make creative yet professional business cards.
An elastic band sewn into the back makes a quick and easy closure.
With the flick of the wrist you can flip it around to the front to hold your wallet shut.
It's all small pieces of fabric, good for using your scraps! I really like projects that let me mix colors and prints, how ‘bout you?
For another cute way to give a gift card or hold your business cards, check out my DIY gift card envelope free pattern!
Here's how you can make one!
Cut your fabric:
- Wallet outside – 1 piece 6" x 4.5"
- Wallet inside – 1 piece 6" x 4.5"
- Pockets – 2 pieces, 4.5" x 4.5" each
- Fusible interfacing – 5.5" x 4"
- Fold over elastic – 4.5" (Regular elastic will also work, but fold over elastic is prettier.)
- Iron the fusible interfacing to the back of your wallet outside piece.
- Pin the fold over elastic to the front of the wallet outside piece, right sides together, 1" from one end. (We're sewing the elastic down with the wrong side up because it will end up being flipped over to keep the wallet closed.) Set the wallet outside piece aside for now.
- Fold the pocket pieces in half so you have two pieces that are 4.5" x 2.25". Press to crease.
- Place the pocket pieces on either end of the wallet inside piece (right side up), with the folded edges facing inward.
- Stitch around the outer (non folded) edges of the pocket with a 1/8" seam allowance.
- Place the wallet outside and wallet inside pieces right sides together. Sew around all edges with a ¼" seam allowance, leaving a 2" hole for turning.
- Clip corners and turn right sides out.
- Press the wallet flat, turning in the edges at the hole so they're even with the rest of the wallet.
- Top stitch around all edges with a 1/8" seam allowance, closing the hole and stitching over the elastic strap.
- Fold you wallet in half with the elastic band on the back, pressing to give it a good crease at the fold. Flip the elastic band to the front to keep the wallet closed.
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Hello, love it! Thank you for sharing.
Great tutorial! Thank you for sharing this project.
Could a lining be added to protect your cards? Maybe aluminium foil or if there is another material let me know.
I hadn't thought about that, but it's certainly worth experimenting with! You'd need a material that would protect the cards but that would also be something you stitch through, and flexible enough that you could turn it right side out without it tearing. --Anne
Hi Lyn I made a wee lipstick wallet big enough for just 2 lipsticks [or a lipstick and a sunblock stick] and because they sometimes melt a bit in the heat if I leave them in the car, I made another one and used the insulation fabric from one of those cheap insulated 'cooler' bags you buy at the supermarket. - the zipper had broken and handles torn off and it was headed for the bin when I figured I'd use it as a lining - You can sew through it, its foil lined and is used as an interfacing, between the 2 fabrics so is totally enclosed within fabric - am not sure if this insulating foil is good enough to prevent illegal scanning of credit cards, but thought you may like to try this cheap and inexpensie insulation lining for projects?
This looks so cute & easy. Thanks