How to Sew a Wallet: free sewing Pattern

Learn how to sew an easy wallet that’s great for kids or adults. This free sewing pattern for a Fold and Stitch Wallet has two card slots and a money pocket on the inside.

It’s a great sewing project for small pieces of fabric, even scraps! This is a great beginner sewing project and you’ll learn how to use plastic snaps.

And I was invited by It’s Sew Easy TV to teach it in one of their episodes. Take a look!

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Fold and Stitch Wallet Pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The PDF download is inexpensive and optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library to access anytime you want?

I’ve also written a NEW Fold and Stitch 2.0 Wallet Pattern with a completely different look – but still 2 card pockets! 

This particular wallet pattern has a small coin pocket on the outside. Both the money pocket and the coin pocket have a velcro closure.

It’s a great way to use up scraps and the wallet is a super little gift. I’ve provided instructions for using snap-setter snaps (such as Kam Snaps) or you can use sew-on snaps. Or no snaps at all.

{Download the free Fold and Stitch Wallet pattern}

You will need:

• small pieces of 2-3 different fabrics
• 1/4 yd or less of light to medium weight interfacing (I like woven interfacing)
• hook and loop tape (Velcro)
• 1 snap set (optional)

Tape pattern pieces A and C together using the instructions on the pattern sheet. The pattern pieces include a 1/4” seam allowance.

1. Cutting

To make the Fold and Stitch Wallet, cut:

• 1 from pattern piece A (wallet exterior)
• 1 from pattern piece B (wallet exterior accent)
• 1 from pattern piece C (wallet interior)
• 2 rectangles 4 1/2” x 16” of light to medium weight interfacing (I like woven interfacing)
• 1 set of hook and loop tape (velcro) 3 3/4” long – both sides

(this picture also shows my snap pieces.)

Cut the notches with your pattern pieces, or mark them on later like I did. Also mark the velcro placement spots.

2. Make the exterior

Pin piece A and piece B together matching up the single notch ends. Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Press the seam allowance open.

3. Stabilizer

Fuse the 4 1/2” x 16” pieces of interfacing to the backs of both pieces.

4. The Hook and Loop tape (velcro)

Cut the hook and loop tape pieces in half lengthwise to make two of each.

Each side of the wallet will get 1 scratchy piece and 1 soft piece.

Refer to the markings on the pattern pieces, and sew both velcro pieces on the exterior.

On the interior piece, only sew on the piece near the middle. Leave off the piece near the edge for now.

5. Wallet assembly

Pin the two wallet pieces right sides together. Make sure that you match up the ends with double notches. Stitch around three sides, leaving the side with no notches open.

Clip the corners after stitching.

Turn right side out, and press carefully. Poke out the corners with a chopstick and turn out the edges as well as possible.

On the open end, turn the raw edges to the inside by 1/2” (the first fold line on the pattern) and  press.

On the interior side, sew the remaining piece of velcro close to the edge, closing up the opening.

6. (Optional) Snap-Setter Snaps

If you are using snaps that require a snap-setter, install them now on the wallet exterior.

On the left side (the main print) the snap should be centered and 2” from the short end.

On the right side (the accent fabric) the snap should be centered and 1 1/2” from the other short end.

If you are hand sewing on snaps, you can do that now or later. Or not at all; snaps are optional.

7. Folding

You can refer to the fold lines on the pattern piece if you need to, but it’s pretty simple. Lay the wallet out with the interior side up.

First fold the money pocket together by matching up the two pieces of velcro on the interior.

Flip the wallet over so that the exterior side is up.

Close the coin pocket by matching up the other two pieces of velcro.

Fold back the flap on the right about 2”. You will still see about 1/2” of the interior fabric on the end.

Pin the flap in place if you need to, and then turn the wallet over again.

This last fold might seem tricky, but once you fold it, you’ll know. Fold along the dotted lines in the picture above.

This will make the accent fabric show about 1/2” on the other side as shown in the picture below.

If you peek on the other side, you’ll see this.

You can also snap the snap together to make sure it looks right.

Return to this side and pin the card pocket side together. The other side will stay closed from the velcro.

8. Topstitching

Note: If you aren’t using it already, switch to a heavy duty needle – at least 14/90. 

Topstitch all the way around the outside edge, going slowly and easing around the snaps.

After topstitching, mark the placement and attach sew-on snaps if that’s what you’re using.

And we’re done!

This quick wallet is great for boys and girls too.

Don’t forget you can catch a video tutorial for the Fold and Stitch wallet on my YouTube channel too!

Have fun!