I get a lot of requests for cool sewing projects for guys. And while looking at good ideas
I found the cool cork fabric craze going on. Today we’re doing this awesome streamline
wallet. Let’s get started.
That’s right, I’ve been experimenting with all kinds of cool ways to make a very
streamlined wallet. I don’t like having much in my pocket at all other than a little
bit of cash, well if I’m lucky I’ve got a lot of cash, right? And ID and a couple
of debit cards is really nice to do. Now cork is a fantastic fiber to be working with. And
it’s great for a bunch of these craft projects and the wallet I made I like the black canvas
from James Thompson. And a little bit of a, just a, gosh, a scrap from your stash, just
a little bit of one inch trim here. I’m showing us today how to do it using the gray
canvas because I think it will translate better on film and I’m looking forward to seeing
how it comes out with the cork on the back. Now it’s super simple to make. You’re
only going to need four pieces. You’re going to need three canvas, maybe a fourth if you
want to do an all canvas version like this, ok? But today I’m showing you how to use
the cork so we’re going to use the cork version. So I want you to have three pieces
made. And these are going to be 7 ¾ inches by 3 ½ inches. And you’ll have a fourth
piece made exactly the same size out of cork. And if you missed those numbers, don’t worry
you can bounce into the link below and we’ve got a wonderful printable you can follow right
along, right?
Now the next thing we’re going to need is we need a one inch trim piece. And with my
one inch trim piece, what I did before I even unfolded it is I’m just going to sub cut
these down into smaller little strips so they’re easier to manage. And these pieces I’m going
to fold so there’s no raw edges and trim out the top two pocket pieces. Oops and I
forgot to cut that side out, no problem there. So what we’re going to do is head to our
ironing board. And the first thing is we just want to press this in half to set our center
line. So first I do that. And then once that I come back in here and I start to set the
raw edges up into that center line so that I can trim out the top of the canvas. And
the reason we’re doing this, let’s talk construction a little bit. Remember I’m
doing streamline so I’m trying to figure out and engineer a wallet that will have as
little bulk in it and its seams as possible. So I didn’t want to fold over my canvas.
I want to trim out with this lighter weight fabric. But I also don’t want to have any
raw edges showing over time because I’m going to be pulling my cards in and out of
these pockets quite often. Ok let my iron heat up for a second because we’re going
to fold this over for the last step because this is where we’re heading. We’re going
to put the trim, like I said, right along the top. We’re going to talk about these
little tails here. And those little tails I use to help get started because this is
some micro sewing we’re going to do. And if you have to have a hard part in the project
this is probably it. I mean ironing it in half because it’s such a tiny little strip.
But boy it sure looks good when it’s done. Ok. Easy like that.
Now we’re going to head over to the sewing machine and I’m going to need this done
to two of the pieces of the canvas for the pockets. So I’m going to do the second one
right now. I’ve got the first one made for you. And as I said I start with the little
strip out just far enough that I can get a really nice bite on the blue fabric or my
trim fabric. And I’m trying to set that needle right along that folded edge. And I
also increased my stitch length just a little bit because this is a decorative stitch as
well as a constructive stitch. So I want it to look awesome. And I’ve got a matching
thread in the bobbin. And now that I’m approaching onto that canvas I’m going to really focus
on what I’m doing and I also don’t want to pull tension on this trim piece because
if I do it might cause the top of the wallet to bow just a little bit. So we want to do
no pressure just easy guiding. And I’m stitching through the top and the bottom part of that
trim I hope. Notice the word hope there. If you don’t catch the bottom layer I do recommend
you unstitch and try it again. And you’re doing such small pieces of fabric if you ever
have to just start completely over, it won’t take you long, promise. I know. Ok. So now
once these trim pieces are made, oop should we check? I haven’t looked. I’m too nervous
to check. We’re going to do it anyways. Awesome, we got all the edges, perfect, ok.
So now what we need to do is we need to trim these pieces down to make the pockets. So
let’s take those little tails off first. And then what I’m going to do is I’m going
to measure from this top edge right here down. The first one is going to be 2 ¼ inches,
2 ¼ double check. And I”m going to trim this, that’s the first pocket, ok? And then
the second one let’s take those tails off. Ok now the second one I’m going to measure
down from that trim. And we’re going to go 2 ¾. And the reason I did the trim first
is that way it looks really square, really nicely constructed even if the trim didn’t
go on perfectly straight now it’s straight with the pocket, right? Now what we need to
do next is we need to go ahead and set these stitches in here so we can create the little
double sleeve for the card area. But we don’t stitch it closed for we can put the cash in
when we’re done. So to do that I’m taking the now smaller piece and I’m setting it
on the top and I’m going to find center. Now the center is found by folding it in half
as I walk to the sewing machine. And now at this point I’m going to go ahead and I’m
going to swing my edge guide out of the way because it’s going to be in my way possibly.
And I’m just going to start, and I’m not starting on that center fold. I’m starting
just a few needle’s width over and I’m going to do both lines of stitching. Starting
at the bottom up. And then right as I hit that blue trim I’m going to backstitch a
couple times because there’s going to be a lot pressure there over time. Cut my thread.
Now I’m moving down to the other side of that fold. And I’m doing that again. A couple
of those backstitches so it’s really awesome.
Ok now what we have to do is we want to think about how this is going to really physically
work out, ok? So what I need to do is I need to have my cork which is going to be the outside
of the wallet like this, right? And funny enough I got thinking all away and I start
with the cork but I have to come and remember this is going to be facing canvas on canvas.
So I have all three layers here and my cork facing down. I am technically right sides
together and I’m ready to sew around all this leaving about a three to four finger
opening in the top because we are going to turn this back right sides out, ok? So what
I actually do with this is I make sure all of the fabric is lined up really nice down
here as I approach the machine. And I am going to swing the edge guide back in, and a quarter
of an inch seam is all we need for this, ok? So let’s take a second and make sure that
everything is perfectly lined up, wonderful. And then instead of sewing around all four
sides what I’m going to do is I’m going to start on that bottom edge and backstitch
all the way off the corner. Because this way I’m securing everything at once. And this
cork is just so easy to stitch through, I just love it. Ok, now at this point I’m
coming off the bottom corner, backstitching, backstitching at the cross too because we’re
going to cut the corners of the wallet off so it’s easier to fold. But for up here
I’m just going to backstitch until I’m at that quarter of an inch mark in my brain,
spin it, catch it in there. And then I want to obviously lock in that stitch at the end
there too. Now if I have to I can flip this over so I can do the same thing but from the
other side. Lock it in, up we go, lock it but just back up for our quarter of an inch,
swing it around, catch that extra stitch there. And then as I come through. And like I said
make sure you leave yourself enough room to make it easy to turn right sides out.
Now the next key to making this look sharp is I’m going to doggear these corners. So
what I want to do is right across, just just really close to where the threads cross, I
just took that corner off, here, here, here, there. And now we’re just going to reach
in and we’re going to start to, and I know it might feel weird but just push it through,
push it through. And I have been playing with this cork for a little while now. We even
took a piece and just walked around all day with it wadding it in our hands just to see
how everything is going to work out. And I’ll tell you what it is some great stuff. But
I better pay attention to what I’m doing here, ok? One of the things I noticed is I
often start turning it into the top pocket and I panic that I’ve stitched it wrong.
But I haven’t. I just not pulling on the right sections. Now I like to grab that trim
and pull here. I’m using my fingers at first to set the corners. And then of course you
know I’m always bragging about my new shark applicutter. And the shark applicutter is
a fantastic corner turner as well. So once I get the meat of this like this. Then what
I can do, come in here. Now I don’t even know if I should teach you this, because it
could be dangerous, right? There’s a blade inside of there. But put your cap on your
shark cutter, hold it like a dagger I guess because I come in here and poke at these corners
just like this. And the bottom corner due to some of the layers of those pockets is
going to have some of a rounded look. And that top corner you can get like perfectly
square this way. Here we go. Like that. And come over here and work this. And then as
we’re finishing we’re just going to top stitch this thing closed to finish it all
off. And when I’m doing that I’m going to run my stitching right along the edge.
And I’ll be ready to show you that here in just a second. And that’s how we catch
that opening too. And we’re all but there. But you really want to take a good slow approach
to get your corners awesome because that again it helps eliminate some of the bulk. And we’re
doing a streamlined wallet here.
Ok now if you were handling it a bunch you may want to come in here on the canvas side
quickly with your iron. And the other cool thing with the cork is you can certainly iron
it or near it I guess is more importantly. Some fibers that are special like that may
melt. This one does not. And I’m going to sneak, I don’t even know if you can see
me, but I’m sneaking the iron up in the corner here to press that canvas down. So
that as I topstitch it it’s working for me. And then as I come over here to the machine
again, the first section I want to capture is that opening. And I want to stitch as close
to the edge. Let’s trim any of those loose threads that might be hanging out because
this is where it goes from ok to awesome. And we want awesome today folks. Here we go.
So now I’m going to start just a little ways back on my topstitch. And I”m like
right on the edge, right there. I’m going to take just a couple stitches to lock it
but I’m going to catch that when I come back around. We’re going all the way around
this time. At the top corner I’m just going to pivot. But at the bottom corner I’m going
to shape it. I’ll show you what I mean here as we get there. So as we get there I’m
going to come around and that round gives me about two stitches worth, one, two, well
three. And then I can spin again. Awesome. Ok and I’ll show you that here. And we’re
going to go stitch, stitch, stitch, stitch, catch it and then up that edge. And right
there.
We’ll tie it in. I’ll trim those threads. I’m going to stuff it up with all my wonderful
things and slide it right in my pocket as I get ready to make some awesome cool cork
tutorials in the future. Because I love this stuff, right here at Man Sewing.
Thanks for being a Man Sewing fan. It’s great to have you out there encouraging me
to create fantastic new content. If you’ve missed any of the videos we’ve got links
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