If you want to save a little cash this holiday season and still give someone a gift they’ll really enjoy, then you might consider making a leather wallet yourself. If you’re handy with a needle and thread, or a sewing machine if you prefer, and like to take on different kinds of projects, then this can be a great opportunity for gift-giving and making.
Here are the steps required to make a leather wallet:
1. Get the materials
The first thing you need to do is buy the materials that will be used to make the leather wallet. Materials needed to make a basic wallet include leather, soft polyester-type material for the inner pocket lining, and sewing supplies like a needle and thread. You probably want to use a dark colored thread like black or dark brown.
2. Measure and cut the material
The next step after gathering all the materials needed for the project is to measure and cut the leather and inner pocket lining material to size. Your wallet pattern will depend on the style of wallet you want to create. For this task, we’re going to create a tri-fold wallet, so you’ll want to cut the leather into two 43 x 93 pieces. This will give you a wallet that’s just the right size for just about any pants pocket, jacket pocket, or wherever. keep your wallet.
With the two pieces of leather cut to size, fold over the edges so there is about an eight-inch lip on all sides. Use a hammer to compress the wrinkled edges you created by folding the leather. This will make it easier to glue and match the edges.
3. Cement and sew the edges
When you have the edges of both pieces of leather wrinkled and fully compressed, use rubber cement to glue the edges together. Do this for both pieces of leather. When you’re done, you should have an inside edge that completely surrounds the inside of both pieces of leather. Give the cement enough time to dry so the edges don’t come apart when you try to join them together.
Once the cement is completely dry, sew the edges of both patterns together. This will help further reinforce the edge so it doesn’t come undone.
4. Create the inner pocket divider
This step is optional. If you want a divider in your wallet, take the polyester type material and cut a piece that is just under 4″ x 9″. Trim this piece to match the size of the two leather halves you will be gluing and sewing. Glue the spacer piece to the inside of one of the leather halves, then sew it on once the cement has dried.
5. Putting it all together
Cement together one long side and both ends of the two leather halves and place them together with the inside facing each other. Do not cement both long sides of the leather halves because you want one side to remain open. Make sure they match exactly and apply pressure to ensure they stick securely. Allow adequate time for the cement to dry.
Finally, sew the two halves together on the same sides where the cement was applied. This extra seam will help reinforce the wallet so it doesn’t come undone easily. When you’re done, fold it evenly into thirds and place it under a flat, heavy object, such as a book, for a long period of time. This will help create the folds and will compress the wallet so it stays in the folded position.