Compact Wallet — Ra's Workshop

I’m travelling soon and I realised that my card wallet wouldn’t quite cut it, I’d need something that would hold cash (notes and coins) so I needed to whip one up pretty quickly. The main criteria for this project were that it needed to hold Kenyan notes (where I’m travelling to), Australian notes (just in case I need it here at some point), coins, and two cards. I don’t usually make wallets, so I decided to make a pretty simple zip pouch.

I started by cutting outer leather and lining pieces. These were 1cm larger all around than the largest note I would insert.

I skived the sides and bottoms of the main panels and the card strip. I stitched the card strip on one of the liner panels. On one of the outer panels I cut a zipper L-shaped window for what would become the coin pocket. After prepping the zip for the coin pocket and sticking it in place using double-sided tape, I placed the liner of the coin pouch. For this I used some synthetic fabric (the kind commonly used in tranche pockets). I attached the coin pocket gusset to finish off the outer panel. This outer’s lining leather was covered on the flesh side with another layer of synthetic fabric so that the inside of the coin pocket would be entirely fabric.

Next was to attach the main zip. I tacked it in place to the outer panels using double-sided tape, and did the same with both liner pieces. I glued the outer and liners together at the edges. At this point I stitched down one side of each panel because this side would remain open to accommodate any notes that might at some point be longer than I had planned for.

I pre-punched one panel fully, then tacked both panels together to how they would finally be stitched down. I marked the lining leather of the other panel by pushing the stitching irons by hand pressure. Then I opened up the wallet and punched the other panel. This method prevents the stitching irons from travelling through 4 layers and distorting the entry holes. There was a fair bit of angled skiving involved and another risk of punching layers together is that the exit holes would not be where they’re supposed to be. Using this method prevents the exit holes from moving. Last step was to simple match up the holes, glue both panels together and stitch up the wallet.

After rounding the corners and sanding the edges I finished up with some edge paint.