Hey everyone! I'm back with another DIY post this week! You might know that I have been a member on a website called Instructables for about 4 1/2 years now. Instructables is a site where you can learn how to make just about anything. Easy to follow step-by-step instructions, online classes, and a vibrant maker community are all main features of this user-friendly and interactive site.
Instructables also has contests where you can create DIY projects depending on the categories available for entry at the time. Currently, there is a Before & After Contest and an Unusual Uses Contest. I decided to make a wallet out of a coffee bag for entry. This idea has been done before, but only required measuring rather than use of a traditional paper template.
I decided that I wanted to remake the coffee bag wallet from 2009 in my own tutorial made completely from scratch! You can continue reading below for the full tutorial or click the link to my Instructables project.
Step 1: Collect Supplies
2. Scissors
3. Sewing Machine
4. Pen or Marker
5. Coffee Bag
Step 2: Preparation
1. Print out the template and cut out each piece.
** For the outer shell piece, cut along the bold black line, not the opaque line. **
2. Cut the coffee bag so that it lays flat. This can be done by cutting down one side of the bag and cutting along the entire bottom until it lays flat.
3. Trace each template piece onto the back of the coffee bag and cut them out, making sure the lines are as clean as possible. It is safer to trace the pieces on the back of the bag so you don't mess up the pattern with pen, but I wanted to make the pieces have a certain design on the bag, so I traced carefully on the front.
Step 3: Sewing the Pockets
1. Take the three left pocket pieces and stack them from biggest to smallest, with the middle card slot between the two. Line them up so that there is an equal amount of space between the three pieces.
2. Tape them in place so they stay secure as you sew along the inner edge. When you reach the end, back stitch it a couple times to keep it secure then cut it closely to the seam.
3. Repeat this process with the right pocket pieces.
Step 4: Constructing the Body
1. Using the outer shell template from earlier, cut along the opaque line, so the shape is smaller.
2. Trace the smaller shape onto the inside of the larger piece.
3. Crease along the lines so that they fold over and create a softer edge on the outside.
4. Tape each section down so that it doesn't come up as you sew.
Step 5: Putting it all Together
1. Start by placing the left pocket section on the left side of the outer shell piece, lining it up as closely as possible.
2. Make sure it stays secure as you sew a tight seam around the edges. Remove the pieces of tape as you come close to a new section.
** Do not sew over the tape! **
Thank you so much for reading this tutorial! I'd love to see your attempt to make this wallet if you try it! Also if you would like to see more original tutorials like this, let me know. Thanks again for reading!