Zippy Wallet Tutorial

The Zippy Wallet Tutorial is here!  Bear with me, this is my first tutorial.  Although I've probably followed and read a couple hundred tutorials, you never know.

Here's what you need:

1 piece of exterior fabric 5" x 9.5" (interfaced)
1 piece of lining fabric 5"x 11.5" (this is also the binding & lining for the exterior pocket)
2 pieces of fabric (same as lining) 3" x 1.75" for tab (interfaced)

Must have:
sewing machine
coordinating thread
7" zipper (you could use a 6" zipper or larger, but this is what I had)
interfacing
snap, button, velcro (we'll discuss this later)

It would be nice to have:
clear ruler
self healing mat
rotary cutter

Let's go!

Cut your exterior fabric into 3 pieces: 5" x 3.5", 5" x 3.5", 5" x 2.5" (for the exterior pocket)

Cut your lining fabric into 4 pieces: 5" x 3.5", 5" x 3.5", 5" x 2.5" (lines the exterior pocket), 5" x 2" (make into binding for exterior pocket)

Place the pieces for the tab right sides together, draw a semicircle where the curved bottom will be (you could also make this square or pointed, whatever floats your boat!).  Sew along that line.  Clip curves, turn right side out.  This can be a little tricky since it's pretty small.  I just shove it all into itself and poke a pencil to push it through.  Press and set aside.

Take your binding piece, fold in half, press, open up and press raw edges toward crease.  Press.

Place your exterior pocket pieces, one of exterior fabric and one lining fabric (5" x 2.5") WRONG sides together.  Take your binding and sew it into place along one of the long edges.  It's pretty easy, I'm assuming everyone can get this part, just let me know if you have any questions. 

Take one of the exterior pieces, place the exterior pocket along the bottom edge and baste. 

Now onto the fun part! Ready?

Take the exterior with the pocket basted to it and line it up with the top edge of the zipper (zipper teeth side down and the pull tab on the left).  You also add the tab here, sandwiched between the exterior piece and the zipper (just make sure about a 1/4" sticks above the zipper). 

Then take your lining piece and place it RIGHT side down also lining it up with the zipper.  Pin & sew with zipper foot.  Make sure you try to hold that tab in place.  You could baste it beforehand, but I didn't. Flip so fabrics are WRONG sides together.

Now take your remaining exterior piece and place it Right side facing you, lay the zippered layers you just sewed together aligning the top edge again zipper teeth facing down, but now the pull tab on the right hand side. 

Place remaining lining piece RIGHT side down once again aligning it at the top of the zipper.  Pin & sew with zipper foot. 

Flip so both sides of the zipper have the fabrics WRONG sides together and press!

Next, take the exterior fabrics and place them RIGHT sides together and the lining fabrics and place those RIGHT sides together.  Be sure to slide open your zipper now or you'll be doing some seam ripping later!  Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance all around the edge leaving a 2" opening in the lining for turning.  Clip corners.  Turn right side out through the opening. 

Stitch the opening closed with a very small seem allowance.  Push the lining into the exterior.  Press again!  You're almost done!

Lastly, add your snap, button or velcro to the tab and exterior pocket and presto! you have a new zippy wallet.  Perfect for stashing the essentials, and you're pretty stylish too.

Give yourself a pat on the back, you did it!

Hope that makes sense, let me know if you have questions.  I'd be more than happy to help.  Hint Hint, there's a giveaway in the works, so stay tuned...

Terms of use:  For personal use only, of course go ahead and make some to sell for charity/fundraisers!